Advice: Upgrading Gaming Desktop

[boozie]

So I’m trying to determine how I should upgrade my computer (for gaming) or if I should wait a year or two longer and start anew. Also open to considering some upgrades now and then some later (after another year or two). I’d like to make a hard cap of $300 for the upgrades to be bought now (in the US). Now being between present date and Christmas. I’d prefer closer to $200, but I’m open to all suggestions.

Here’s a quick rundown on my system specs:

CPU: Q6600 2.4 ghz quad core – Stock fan/stock speeds currently, I don’t feel the need to overclock yet but maybe in another year or two

RAM: 2 x 1 GB Dual Channel PC2-6400 (DDR2 800 Mhz)

GPU: 8800 GTS 512 MB - superclocked or factory overclocked, I plan to leave it that way

OS: XP Pro (SP3) - I have student access to Win 7 so don’t count that towards upgrade costs.

Mobo: Can't remember but I will edit it in, it has SATA II.

Is this computer worth upgrading? I can still play all my games just fine but ever since I installed Bit Defender it’s felt sluggish at times. I can’t even find 2 x 512 MB PC2-6400 on newegg to hold me over.

My initial thoughts are get Win 7 64-bit and more RAM (I’ve got 2 open slots). I’m not particularly fond of formatting my HD as I only have my 80 GB IPOD and a ~40 GB external HD for backup purposes. So then I thought how about buying an SSD, removing my current HD, installing Win 7 64-bit on the SSD and then reconnecting my old HD. Will this work (for non applications)?

I’m not entirely sold on the SSD since they are fairly expensive and I’m still very unfamiliar with them in general. It seems like I would be best off getting the SSD when I change to Win 7 to save myself an extra format (I don’t really trust myself with the cloning stuff to prevent reinstalling OS).

What route do you suggest?

In case the upgrade suggestions depend on the game, I would say order of priority on game styles are Diablo III, Heroes of Newerth (DotA type games, probably CPU intensive), FPS games. Also resolution of 1280x1024.

Hopefully I provided enough information without a wall of text feeling. Thanks in advance for any help!

edit: I'm currently using a 500 GB 7200 RPM HD and would also consider RAID 0ing with another since I will be formatting if I update to Win 7. I'm not terribly familiar with RAID 0 but I could probably figure it out.

 

[darkewaffle]

At that resolution, your GPU and CPU are just fine.

Here are the DDR2 kits for you to consider, if you can get some more information on your current RAM it would be beneficial to match them or at least find one with similar specs.

Really what your computer is probably in need of is a clean start, Windows is notorious for performance degradation over time. I think adding more RAM and an SSD would be a good way to augment that, and an SSD will definitely help address that 'sluggish' feel. Depending on how much space you need, two more GB of RAM and a good 60GB SSD would probably run you just under $200, with 80/100/120GB probably possible within $300.

Also if you take some time to search and learn about what windows services and programs are [un]necessary and fiddle with Window's visual effects, it may make it feel more responsive. I had to go through that on Win7 and I always revert XP to the 'original' windows look as well.

 

[mfenn]

Agree with Darke.

2x1GB DDR2 800 $40
Corsair Force 60GB $145

 

[boozie]

Okay. Is this including upgrading to Win 7 then for the 64-bit? If I have the extra money would it be a good idea to get 2 x 2 GB DDR2 800? I only ask so I won't be throwing away RAM if it's ever a good idea to upgrade beyond 4 GB for gaming.

Thanks a lot for the help!

 

[mfenn]

Okay. Is this including upgrading to Win 7 then for the 64-bit? If I have the extra money would it be a good idea to get 2 x 2 GB DDR2 800? I only ask so I won't be throwing away RAM if it's ever a good idea to upgrade beyond 4 GB for gaming.

Thanks a lot for the help!

I would definitely move to Windows 7 64-bit regardless of whatever else you do. I doubt that you will need more than 4GB of RAM within the useful life of this machine. By the time gaming needs more than 4GB, you will likely want to update your platform anyway.