Might upgrade my PC for christmas....

Here are my current specs

MS XP Home Edition

Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 @ 2.20 GHz

3326 MB RAM

ATI Radeon HD 4800 Series

I am pretty sure my processor is lacking any suggestions? and is it easy to install myself? Is it a good idea to upgrade to Windows 7? Any suggestions from you guys will be greatly appreciated

I agree with your ideas to upgrade the CPU and OS. What brand and model motherboard do you have?

That CPU is a bottleneck. You could try overclocking, but I'd build a new PC with bits of your old one; what 4800 card?

CPU's and motherboards are probably the hardest parts to change out on a PC. Upgrade options all depend on what socket type you currently have and/or what speed ram you have - as you might be better off trying to save money to upgrade to some kind of quad-core and DDR 3 which would mean a new motherboard.

The main reasons to upgrade to Windows 7 would probably be security and - if you have 4GB of ram - the 64-bit support is much better than what it seemingly was for XP 64-bit. But honestly, the better upgrade right now might be your OS. I'm assuming you have 4GB of ram but XP is only reporting less due to being 32-bit and subtracting your video memory from the total.

If you do change to Windows 7, you will want to back-up your files as it's not a direct upgrade from XP to 7.

I agree with your ideas to upgrade the CPU and OS. What brand and model motherboard do you have?

hartsickdiscipl

I have a EVGA motherboardI'm not sure the model? How do I find out

That CPU is a bottleneck. You could try overclocking, but I'd build a new PC with bits of your old one; what 4800 card?

desertpython

It's the 4850

[QUOTE="desertpython"]

That CPU is a bottleneck. You could try overclocking, but I'd build a new PC with bits of your old one; what 4800 card?

chikenfriedrice

It's the 4850

You could use that and then build a new cheap system around an Athlon x4 640 + Gigabyte 870A-UD3 + your current GPU. Add some DDR3 and Windows 7 x64 Home Premium OEM.

CPU's and motherboards are probably the hardest parts to change out on a PC. Upgrade options all depend on what socket type you currently have and/or what speed ram you have - as you might be better off trying to save money to upgrade to some kind of quad-core and DDR 3 which would mean a new motherboard.

The main reasons to upgrade to Windows 7 would probably be security and - if you have 4GB of ram - the 64-bit support is much better than what it seemingly was for XP 64-bit. But honestly, the better upgrade right now might be your OS. I'm assuming you have 4GB of ram but XP is only reporting less due to being 32-bit and subtracting your video memory from the total.

If you do change to Windows 7, you will want to back-up your files as it's not a direct upgrade from XP to 7.

Stinger78

yikes I was afraid of that...I changed out my graphics card and I was scared to screw that up lol

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

I agree with your ideas to upgrade the CPU and OS. What brand and model motherboard do you have?

chikenfriedrice

I have a EVGA motherboardI'm not sure the model? How do I find out

-Download a program called CPU-Z

-Run the program, and go to the "mainboard" tab.

-It should tell you your exact motherboard model number and BIOS version. This will tell us your CPU upgrade options. I was thinking one of the cheaper Core 2 Quads.. like a Q8400.

[QUOTE="chikenfriedrice"]

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

I agree with your ideas to upgrade the CPU and OS. What brand and model motherboard do you have?

hartsickdiscipl

I have a EVGA motherboardI'm not sure the model? How do I find out

-Download a program called CPU-Z

-Run the program, and go to the "mainboard" tab.

-It should tell you your exact motherboard model number and BIOS version. This will tell us your CPU upgrade options. I was thinking one of the cheaper Core 2 Quads.. like a Q8400.

cool I'll do that!

[QUOTE="chikenfriedrice"]

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

I agree with your ideas to upgrade the CPU and OS. What brand and model motherboard do you have?

hartsickdiscipl

I have a EVGA motherboardI'm not sure the model? How do I find out

-Download a program called CPU-Z

-Run the program, and go to the "mainboard" tab.

-It should tell you your exact motherboard model number and BIOS version. This will tell us your CPU upgrade options. I was thinking one of the cheaper Core 2 Quads.. like a Q8400.

Model #NF77-HDMI

BIOS Version 6.00 PG

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

[QUOTE="chikenfriedrice"]

I have a EVGA motherboardI'm not sure the model? How do I find out

chikenfriedrice

-Download a program called CPU-Z

-Run the program, and go to the "mainboard" tab.

-It should tell you your exact motherboard model number and BIOS version. This will tell us your CPU upgrade options. I was thinking one of the cheaper Core 2 Quads.. like a Q8400.

Model #NF77-HDMI

BIOS Version 6.00 PG

Ok. According to the EVGA website's CPU compatibility list, your motherboard will only support Q6000 series quad-core CPUs. That would mean a used Q6600 would probably be your best bet (think ebay or craigslist). I'm not sure where you would find a new Q6000 series chip anywhere. The problem is that Core 2 Quads are generally overpriced in comparison to AMD's current quad-core processors. So...

The other option (maybe better option) is to replace your motherboard and CPU. I would get a Socket AM2+ motherboard and an Phenom II X4 or Athlon II X4 CPU. That way you can use the RAM that you currently have.

[QUOTE="chikenfriedrice"]

[QUOTE="hartsickdiscipl"]

-Download a program called CPU-Z

-Run the program, and go to the "mainboard" tab.

-It should tell you your exact motherboard model number and BIOS version. This will tell us your CPU upgrade options. I was thinking one of the cheaper Core 2 Quads.. like a Q8400.

hartsickdiscipl

Model #NF77-HDMI

BIOS Version 6.00 PG

Ok. According to the EVGA website's CPU compatibility list, your motherboard will only support Q6000 series quad-core CPUs. That would mean a used Q6600 would probably be your best bet (think ebay or craigslist). I'm not sure where you would find a new Q6000 series chip anywhere. The problem is that Core 2 Quads are generally overpriced in comparison to AMD's current quad-core processors. So...

The other option (maybe better option) is to replace your motherboard and CPU. I would get a Socket AM2+ motherboard and an Phenom II X4 or Athlon II X4 CPU. That way you can use the RAM that you currently have.

sounds like my motherboard is not so great so I might just wait and upgrade the MB and CPU like you suggested...I appreciate the info and help :)

don't be so hasty and wait a little bit until around January/February until the new chips are released. Damn Ive already said that at least 4 times.