[MinorInfluence]

This is My Old System that i bought about 2 years ago now, i was wondering to keep me from buying a whole new system what should i upgrade, and dont just say all of it...like the most important to the least, im trying to stay away from buying a whole new system but if all of this stuff is too old then no need to upgrade it.

Diablo Silver Samurai ATX Mid-Tower Case:
http://images.tigerdirect.com/SKUima...050-Silver.jpg

Intel P4 Prescott 3.0Ghz 800FSB Socket 478:
http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggIma...116-027-02.jpg

Chaintech SPT800 Socket 478 Motherboard:
http://img.shopping.com/cctool/PrdIm...c/22550508.JPG

Ultra 512MB DDR Memory / x2
http://images.tigerdirect.com/skuima...10-3904-a1.jpg

Radeon 9600se:
http://images.tigerdirect.com/SKUima...A271-9600b.jpg

Western Digital / 160GB / 7200:
http://images.tigerdirect.com/SKUima...D-2000JB-P.jpg

Logitech X-530 70-watt 5.1 Speakers:
http://images.tigerdirect.com/SKUima...-6322-main.jpg

Fan Card:
http://images.tigerdirect.com/SKUima...m/V13-4200.jpg

Thanks in advance.

[b1gapl]

Yea it's a pretty old system, but if you really don't want to get a new system....then I guess adding another gig of ram and upgrading the graphics should do. Or you can just save up for a better system later on.

[TheOtis]

Yea it looks like you're hurting most in the video card and memory department haha. But if you want a big upgrade and want to run PCI-E, save up for a new computer. But keep that hard drive for a storage one later on, im guessing its IDE.

[Trotter]

Gotta echo the above.

You're pretty much topped out as far as CPU goes, so bumping up to 2 gig and replacing your graphics ought to give you a bit of longer life.

[MinorInfluence]

You're pretty much topped out as far as CPU goes, so bumping up to 2 gig and replacing your graphics ought to give you a bit of longer life.

yea, thats what i was kinda leaning towards but this might sound dumb but with the new processors out like the AMD 64 x2 and Core 2 Duo i dont understand why they are 1.8 ghz - 2.4 and yet they are faster than my 3.0 ghz, is it just since its new technology its better though the numbers are lower, do numbers not matter as much? Are they just More Efficient?
This is probably a question that is too hard to answer unless i read about processors more.
I know how to build a pc and know things about hardware but Ive been away too long to remember anything about this.

One day I have a really good system and then I dont pay attenstion for a year and Im blown away lol.

[b1gapl]

Yes the AMD 64 X2 and C2D are way more efficient. The reason for their lower speeds, is that they can accomplish and process more in a cycle then your processor.

[Trifid]

To say it more technically, the C2D and AMD's do more calculations per clock so although at a lower clock speed they are doing more work.

What are you actually doing with this system and what do you see the new one accomplishing?

[MinorInfluence]

Games mostly, BF2, CSS, which run already but some games like FEAR dont run the best and new games coming out like Crysis are going to need more from my machine than what it has of right now.
If i got a new system i would keep my old one and maybe upgrade it, im not really sure tbh.

[Trifid]

OK, 2Gibs of RAM and a new card. A new CPU can come with your next PC.

[MinorInfluence]

yea thats been the general consensus