Do I need to upgrade my CPU, and if so, to what?

[robertcloud]

Im currently running a dell 2.2 ghz p4 with a radeon 9200se pci. my current motherboard has no AGP.

I am going to buy a new motherboard so I can install a new video card(6600GT)

If I am going to go to the trouble to change out the who system, would I benefit from upgrading to a newer cpu?

this system would be used purely for gaming. I have heard AMD makes good gaming cpu's. So, in the gaming system, would my p4 be holding me back? Obviously if I would be OK with it, I don't want to spend the money on an upgrade.

Thanks in advance

p.s.
I have 768 MB of pc2700 ram. would it be worth the money to upgrade to 3200? again,solely for gaming.

 

[eyeballkid]

Depends on your budget, but your current CPU can easily handle a 6600GT. If I were you, I'd keep the CPU and memory.

 

[robertcloud]

thanks for the reply.
Would I notice a great difference between my CPU and a newer(not top line) AMD CPU?

edit
sorry for the off topic, but can anyone recommend a CHEAP agp motherboard and a CHEAP case with an ok power supply?

 

[o1die]

I'd go with a Just Pc 350 watt case ($24.95 plus shipping at newegg). I use one for my backup system. For the motherboard, the abit is7-e2 ($74) will work fine. For memory, your pc2700 will work with your current cpu, but you'll want to switch to pc3200 eventually. If you're serious about gaming, I would sell your current system intact, and build one from scratch using the athlon 64 3000, socket 939 ($150 at monarch computers).

 

[Sylvanas]

Originally posted by: o1die
I'd go with a Just Pc 350 watt case ($24.95 plus shipping at newegg). I use one for my backup system. For the motherboard, the abit is7-e2 ($74) will work fine. For memory, your pc2700 will work with your current cpu, but you'll want to switch to pc3200 eventually. If you're serious about gaming, I would sell your current system intact, and build one from scratch using the athlon 64 3000, socket 939 ($150 at monarch computers).

agreed