Essential parts to upgrade?

So a few days ago I made a thread about purchasing a computer with these specs:

Intel Pentium Dual-Core 2.4 Ghz

4Gb DDR2 Memory

Nvidia 8800GTS Video Card

Windows 7 64-Bit

I was given the advise to upgrade the cpu and gpu for the best performance, but I only have $200 that I can spend to upgrade my rig. What would be the best parts to put my money towards to get the most out of my system?

Thanks in advance for the help! :)

Well do you know that Pc is a socket 775 motherboard? Find out what brand and model it is they we can know whats the best cpu to get for it. Also what 8800GTS is it the 320mb/640mb model or 512mb model?

I honestly dont know about the motherboard or what model the 8800GTS is. I had bought this computer used from a local computer shop.

This is the main unit that they then added the aftermarket parts to though, http://www.dell.com/us/dfb/p/precision-t3400/pd

I listed whats written on the specs list they gave me when I bought it, so as far as I know thats all thats been done to it. Its an allright computer right now, Ive been playing Fallout:NV on high settings with no drops in framerate, but I wanna be able to play newer games like Skyrim. I went on this sitehttp://www.systemrequirementslab.com/cyri/intro.aspxand it told me that I couldn't even run Skyrim on the minimum settings.

If that Pentium dual core is one of those stripped down Wolfdales, you might be able to get away with just a processor overclock (though I'm not sure how feasible that is if you're using the original Dell motherboard).

E5500 (Link 1) would probably be an upgrade over whatever CPU you have in there... And if you could get a bit more money a Q8300 (Link 2) would be a significant upgrade. The motherboard does support Core 2 Quad (Link 3). And then a GTX 460 (Link 4) is a large upgrade (Link 5) over an 8800GTS on the cheap side. Links (I can't post actual links yet): 1 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116367 2 - http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Q8300-Processor-BX80580Q8300-LGA775/dp/B0037HPZAI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1333591228&sr=1-1 3 - http://www.ascendtech.us/dell-tp412-precision-t3400-motherboard_i_mbdelltp412dsmb.aspx ----------- (Motherboard from that model) 4 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125412 5 - http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/521?vs=542 ----------- (Compares an 8800GT to a GTX 460) Oh and 7750 or 550ti are also upgrades over the 8800 (though not as much as a 460) and are cheaper than the 460.C2N2

Sweet those are all in my price range. So in your opinion which one would be the best?

Also how hard is it to install one of those? Ive never installed computer parts before.

[QUOTE="C2N2"]E5500 (Link 1) would probably be an upgrade over whatever CPU you have in there... And if you could get a bit more money a Q8300 (Link 2) would be a significant upgrade. The motherboard does support Core 2 Quad (Link 3). And then a GTX 460 (Link 4) is a large upgrade (Link 5) over an 8800GTS on the cheap side. Links (I can't post actual links yet): 1 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116367 2 - http://www.amazon.com/Intel-Q8300-Processor-BX80580Q8300-LGA775/dp/B0037HPZAI/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1333591228&sr=1-1 3 - http://www.ascendtech.us/dell-tp412-precision-t3400-motherboard_i_mbdelltp412dsmb.aspx ----------- (Motherboard from that model) 4 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125412 5 - http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/521?vs=542 ----------- (Compares an 8800GT to a GTX 460) Oh and 7750 or 550ti are also upgrades over the 8800 (though not as much as a 460) and are cheaper than the 460.killertrumpet92

Sweet those are all in my price range. So in your opinion which one would be the best?

Also how hard is it to install one of those? Ive never installed computer parts before.

as for the cpu.. youtube search: "intel 775 install" and you will find dozens of videos (1 will likely even be official) on how to replace it.

if you go with an amd videocard btw you can youtube search: "amdunprocessed video card install" and find amd's official install video starring their product manager david nakechuck

If it's a 640MB or 512MB 8800GTS then keep the GPU and upgrade the CPU.

If it's a 320MB 8800GTS then upgrade the GPU and overclock the CPU.

If it's a 640MB or 512MB 8800GTS then keep the GPU and upgrade the CPU.

If it's a 320MB 8800GTS then upgrade the GPU and overclock the CPU.

Gambler_3

How can I tell which one it is?

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

If it's a 640MB or 512MB 8800GTS then keep the GPU and upgrade the CPU.

If it's a 320MB 8800GTS then upgrade the GPU and overclock the CPU.

killertrumpet92

How can I tell which one it is?

GPU-Z should give that information.

[QUOTE="killertrumpet92"]

[QUOTE="Gambler_3"]

If it's a 640MB or 512MB 8800GTS then keep the GPU and upgrade the CPU.

If it's a 320MB 8800GTS then upgrade the GPU and overclock the CPU.

GS550L

How can I tell which one it is?

GPU-Z should give that information.

Ok I downloaded GPU-Z and it tells me the memory size is 320 MB. Is that what I am looking for?

[QUOTE="GS550L"]

[QUOTE="killertrumpet92"]

How can I tell which one it is?

killertrumpet92

GPU-Z should give that information.

Ok I downloaded GPU-Z and it tells me the memory size is 320 MB. Is that what I am looking for?

I'm not very familiar with Nvidia's 8800 series, but I'm guessing that means that you've got one of the older G80-based 8800GTS 320MB cards.

[QUOTE="killertrumpet92"]

[QUOTE="GS550L"]

GPU-Z should give that information.

GS550L

Ok I downloaded GPU-Z and it tells me the memory size is 320 MB. Is that what I am looking for?

I'm not very familiar with Nvidia's 8800 series, but I'm guessing that means that you've got one of the older G80-based 8800GTS 320MB cards.

So likeGambler_3 said I should buy a new GPU and overclock the CPU then?

[QUOTE="GS550L"]

[QUOTE="killertrumpet92"]

Ok I downloaded GPU-Z and it tells me the memory size is 320 MB. Is that what I am looking for?

killertrumpet92

I'm not very familiar with Nvidia's 8800 series, but I'm guessing that means that you've got one of the older G80-based 8800GTS 320MB cards.

So likeGambler_3 said I should buy a new GPU and overclock the CPU then?

If you live in the US I would buy a used Core 2 Quad and a used GPU off Craigslist or Ebay. You should be able to get both for about $200. Maybe an AMD HD5770. Those don't use much power and would be a nice upgrade from your old 8800gts 320mb.

Ok so I just ordered this gpu http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814125412and it should arrive in a few days. One last question,

How do you overclock a CPU?

Hopefully you have enough PSU to run that GTX 46004dcarraher

I probably won't lol. can you recommend me a good cheap PSU that I could buy? Preferably off of newegg

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"]Hopefully you have enough PSU to run that GTX 460killertrumpet92

I probably won't lol. can you recommend me a good cheap PSU that I could buy? Preferably off of newegg

[QUOTE="killertrumpet92"]

[QUOTE="04dcarraher"]Hopefully you have enough PSU to run that GTX 46004dcarraher

I probably won't lol. can you recommend me a good cheap PSU that I could buy? Preferably off of newegg

Thanks alot for all the help.

Over clocking is fairly simple as long as you have the motherboard for it. The difficult part is installing an aftermarket CPU cooler which if you have never done is a bit of a daunting thing.

What motherboard you have and what speed of DDR2 Ram?