Looking to upgrade....

I'm seriously thinking about upgrading my PC but I don't have a bunch of money... maybe $150 to $200 max. My current rig:
AMD64 X2 5400+ 2.8ghz; 3gb DDR2 (already upgrading to 6gb); 512mb Geforce 9600GT factory OCd to 720/2000; Antec EA650 power supply.
With memory being so cheap now, I've already doubled my RAM since I'm going to be installing Win7 x64. So, the upgrade I'm looking at is either a new video card, or faster CPU. I'm not a serious gamer, but I do like shooting stuff. Lately I've been playing Frontlines Fuel Of War, and I still play Serious Sam 2 on a regular basis (it's just too fun!). I also play STALKER (the first one) and Crysis. Everything runs pretty well, except Crysis which I have to turn the in-game settings down a bit and then it runs fine. So, I'm thinking about a new Phenom or Phenom II processor, or maybe a Geforce 9800GTX or maybe a 260 series.... so, anybody have any thoughts or opinions or input? Should I just save my money for a complete rebuild next year?
THANKS! :-D

[dlb]
:major

 

I say save your money for next year. Any CPU upgrade will hardly be noticable except on a benchmark, more memory won't help, you didn't state your mobo but I assume you can't plop a quad in there. As to a GPU, friends rave about the 260s with Crysis running at max (I don't game). Anyways, an i7 quad with a 260 or better GPU will be much cheaper next year.

 

See if a 4870 runs the games you like better, reasonably cheap upgrade.
Some games like nVidia, some like ATI. I went to ATI for the price point and speed in the games I play but would grab a 260 in a heartbeat if I played games it ran better.

Another option is to go a little over budget and get a SSD, they really make a big difference if you replace an older hard drive.

 

Actually, I can drop an x4 into the mobo. I'm just not sure that I want to at this point. From the little bit of CPU research I've done (I've been looking at GPUs more than CPUs) it seems that very little software takes advantage of dual cores, nevermind quad cores, but I may be mistaken. So, in theory, I could add a quad, but I'm really thinking that video card is the route, or to just wait 4 months or so. I know the AMD quads will drop in price, as will the nVidia 260s. Then again, in 4 months I might just decide to wait another 4 months and just buy all new gear..... but I see that Newegg has many 260s at under $200 (link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...048 106792634 1067940781&name=GeForce GTX 260 )

 

DLB,what is your mobo-asus,gigabyte,msi....

 

Hey, if you can afford a 260 now then go for it! :drool Seems you like gaming so... At any rate, if you do get the 260 then it's a moveable card when you get another rig. What was I thinking?

LOL, you're almost the last guy that I would ever give advice for upgrading to!:-D

 

Biostar TA780 M2+ - more info available here

LOL Nahhh... I like to get other people's opinions and thoughts, sort of a new angle or different light on things so to speak. Many times an 'outsider' will bring up something I haven't even considered. And I'm always happy to hear from you auggie!
:-D

 

I have a Q6600 with a 260GTX, and I likey! I also have a E6600 dual core with a Nvidia 9800GT. I think the Quad core helps, but the video card would be a good upgrade. I might have some stuff laying around, if interested, shoot me a PM.

I think going to a better GPU would keep you up and gaming for a while.