Best bang for buck PC upgrade

[fr0g]

Ok, I haven't really kept up with CPU advances in the last few years.

My desktop PC is currently a socket 775 with Core2 Duo E8500 @3.16 GHz

I have Windows 7 Ultimate and 4GB of DDR2 (PC2-6400)



Will a memory upgrade to 8GB improve performance? That's cheap and simple.

Or would I be better upgrading CPU (and motherboard) and memory?

I wouldn't want to spend more than £300 (UK, so maybe $400 or so) or so on CPU and mainboard.


My main use is Photoshop (currently CS4).

 

[al360ex]

Hello !

Do you have a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows 7 ?
If you have the 32-bit version, you cannot have more than 4GB of RAM.

Also, I've checked and your CPU is 64-bit compatible.

Good luck,
al360ex

 

[fr0g]

Yes, I am running 64 bit Windows.
My worry if I buy RAM now is I'll want to upgrade again soon and my memory will be useless as I'll need DDR3

 

[abekl]

You're right on about the memory issue. If you're going to upgrade, do the memory, cpu, and motherboard at the same time. It's just more efficient that way overall.

 

[fr0g]

Yep. That's the conclusion I have reached. I wonder which is the best CPU/mobo combo right now?

 

[sarinaide]

Sub $300 Board and CPU combo;

FX 8120 + Asrock Fatality 990FX

Sub $400 Board and CPU combo

i5 3570k + ASUS P8Z77 V-Pro