in my opinion the risk is minimal, the gain isnt, i got a system set up, bone stock,a 8500le/xp1.4, i got ~7500 points in 3dmark 2k1, overclocked the chip to 1.6, and the card to 300/300 and i get almost 9000 now, if you have played empire earth you know that even a new system will be stressed...