I found out that my current video card/system won't run Unreal Tournament 3 (releases in November). Is there a good enough AGP video card for the following system requirements and is there an easy way to upgrade my CPU from 2.4 to 2.8 or do I need an entirely new processor?

Preliminary (unconfirmed) UT3 System Requirements

► Minimum Requirements
CPU: 2.8Ghz Intel CPU or AMD equivalent
RAM: 512MB
Graphics: GeForce 6 series

► Recommended System
CPU: 3-4Ghz Intel CPU or AMD equivalent
RAM: 1024MB
Graphics: NVIDIA 6800GT/Ultra or 7800GT/GTX SLI

► UT3 Technical features and requirements
* Dual-core CPU: Multi-threading is supported and should provide much better performance
* 64-bit version to be available with better textures
* Rendering Support: SM3.0, 2.0, possible DX8 rendering
* HDR supported
* Physics: Novodex Physics Engine
* AGEIA PhysX PPU supported.

My Core 2 system w/8800GTS works pretty well in Bioshock, which iirc is UT3-based.

EDIT: Whoops, AGP. Well, AGP is the new ISA, get with the PCIe program :)

you could spend 200 bucks and get a x1900 derivative (xt or pro or something... look @ toms hardware video card reviews for august. theres a top end one that only 1 company makes).

but you're probably better off just spending ~600 and building a new midrange system than struggling to keep a dying one alive. trust me. i know. i'm on a 7800gs for agp. its on its last legs. i haven't tried bioshock on it yet, but i suspect that when i do, my beloved socket a system will play some roulette.

Yes, I recommend getting on slickdeals.net and looking through the forum for the "build your own sub-X dollar intel/amd pc" threads. Build a new system. I build a near-top of the line system for just under 1100 at the start of the summer:

Core2Duo E6600 (2.4Ghz stock, overclocked to 3.6 on air cooling)
2GB XMS Corsair RAM
8800GTS 320MB
DFI P965-S Motherboard
2x160GB SATA HD
DVD Burner
Heatsink/Fan Combo (Arctic Freezer 7 Pro)
Antec 900 "Gaming Case" or something

Save your bucks. You could do that for a couple hundred cheaper now...and you really don't have to go with all that power, you could get something even more reasonable for your CPU, like an E4400 for 100 less. All Core2 CPUs kick butt, spend more on your video card in my opinion.

UT3 site launched btw:

http://www.tehwire.com/news/640/unrealt ... l#comments

Maybe it's a sign from God that you should spend less time playing retarded video games and more time doing homework.

asshole comment + worthless bump? take a chill pill, quickly now, before the lock.

If you are looking for a cheap new 8800 GTS .

http://r01ajrhc8.desktop.umr.edu:8000/p ... hp?t=19417

Go with the new 8800GT 45nm, its like a 200$ price range and because of the 45nm its just as good or sometimes better then the 8800gtx for less then half the price

Or so the press releases claimed. I haven't seen it anywhere that low, more like $270-$300 similarly priced to an 8800gts.

I suppose in a few months it will actually be the price they claimed $199