Gamer - Looking for help

[martindh2005]

Hi there folks. I've been thinking the past few days and I've decided to upgrade my system. Is quite old and I don't notice anything extraordinary playing games as it used to about a year ago. My system specs are as followed:

CPU: Core 2 Duo E6600 @ 2.40GHz
Memory: 2x1GB OCZ DDR2 800MHZ
Board: EVGA 680i :)
HDD: Seagate 320GB 7200rpm
Card: 8800 GTS 320MB memory (forgot the clock speed)

Now here's the issue. Lately, a lot of games are coming out and I can't play them anymore at high settings (not even decent) and now this new AoC that I'm really getting into, is just great. I'm running the game at like really low settings, not even my current display resolution (1680x1050) and getting crappy FPS, game gets stuck a lot waiting for the video memory to load, etc.. you get the idea. Anyway, I'm trying to find out what the biggest upgrades (for gaming really) I could do to my PC to bring back that feeling when you get to play a game at high settings. I'm stuck basically between these 2 options.

Option #1:
Buy the Q6600 (http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=12200BD3212&vpn=BX80562Q6600&manufacture=INTEL) + G.SKILL DDR3 1600 MHZ memory (http://www.directcanada.com/products/?sku=15380BD2865&vpn=F3-12800CL7D-2GBHZ&manufacture=G.SKILL) + some random DDR3 support board.

Option #2:
Get a new video card + Q6600.
I'm sort of stuck on the card though. Don't know which one to choose between the 9800GTX, X260 or a second one of the same model I currently have. Although I think that would be a waste considering how old the card is and upcoming games will just take me back to the situation I am in right now.

If you guys could help me out that would be great. Sorry for the somewhat long post.

[zanzabar]

what about, new MB and ram, then new grafix when it shakes out

that would let u OC your cpu and since most games are 1 or 2 threads it will be more cost effective than the ddr3 option and let u get a new card aswell

[WrigleyVillain]

Yeah you don't need a quad and you especially don't want one on a 680i. Overclock your e6600.

Great new video cards coming out soon from both ATI and nVidia.

[railmeat]

hi there,
first off i had that card about 2 years ago and its good til 1600x1200 at med settings(forget crsis,cod4 tho).then i got the 640mb version good for about the same running bf2,quake4 med settings 30-40 pretty solid.then i moved to the 8800gtx and runs all games except crysis cod4 at 2048x1536 med settings 50-60fps.the key is firepower pushing the card,hence my e6600 at 3.6 pushing it VERY nicely.dont listen to ppl here telling u to o\c the card etc.just o\c your cpu and u should be fine for what i said.u want more performance for $150 get the 8800gt 512,its amazing up to 160x1200 med-hi settings 50+fps most games.

[Tonucci]

If you OC your CPU and get an newer card, at least HD4850, you will get an huge FPS increase. 2 more gigs of ram would help as well, in some situations.

[jcool]

Yeah, the only thing that really needs upgrading here is the GFX card, 320MB vram just isn't enough.
Now, for 1600pix resolution, the 9800GX2 is a great card, and if you buy it now from someone who wants the GTX 280 you can get a hell of a deal.
On the other hand, you can get a big improvement with the new price/performance winner, the HD4850. Your call..

Also you need to OC your CPU if you get a new card, more ram is a bonus but not mandatory (yet).

Oh and do NOT buy a quad unless you want to change mobos.. quads aren't needed for gaming anyways.