cheap upgrade or full

never upgraded before but had 4600ti - got fried (my sys is old and needs upgrading later)
cpu athlon xp 1800
mobo msi kt3 ultra2-c
chip via vt8367 apollo kt333
memory ddrsdram pc2100(515mb)

so interim card needed
METHOD 1 CHEAP

Novatech GeForce FX5500 256MB 8XAGP Graphics Card TV Out - at £47 inc vat or
Novatech GeForce FX5500 128MB 8XAGP Graphics Card TV Ou... - £36 inc vat

METHOD 2
or get new cheap mobo MSI K7N2 Delta? runs at 8x and better card 6600?

METHOD 3
or mobo could be asrock939dual
g,card? 6600? pci?agp?
cpu ath64 3200?
ram do i have to upgrade now or can i wait?
keeping it all cool? extra psu?
and then come overclocking new to that as well!!

thanks guys for any advice

I wouldn't buy a FX5500; They're horrible. A 9600 pro would be alot better but besides offering DX9, won't be a performance boost to your Ti4600. Better yet, a used 9700 pro or 9800 pro would be a real upgrade. You could always step up a little higher to a 6600GT. How beefy is your powe supply?

Forget option 2. No need to buy a new mobo just for AGP 8X, and the XP1800+ is getting weak.

If you go all out and do #3, yes you will want new RAM. 1GB dual channel kit of PC3200 is pretty cheap now. ALso, I wouldn't suggest the Asrcock dual for you as you do not have a decent AGP card. Just go NF4 and a PCI-e card.


Anyway, on the cheap, option #1 with a better card. Otherwise, option #3 if you have the cash.

AMD doesnt support DDR2 (yet). So you'll be sticking with DDR.
The 6600GT is a great card and you'll definetly see a difference when compared to your 4600.

EDIT:

As for the NF4 board, well it would depend if your going 939 or 754.
DFI makes great boards for both sockets, and IMHO the best for 939 (lanpary series)

However, if your on 754 (most likely) then Asus, MSI and Abit and ECS make nice boards as well.

Mobo = DFI or Epox. Best enthusiest boards out for 939.
Both companies also make 754 as well...so look @ the two.

As for your RAM. PDP, OCZ some XMS maybe. Crucial has the Ballistix line, but those sticks are up to 512mb only. So no 1GB module's are available from them (thats assuming your looking for 2GB of RAM)