Serious Gamer Needs Advice on Upgrade PLZ HLP

[sierra6]

My computer hardware specs are ATI 5870, 6G DDR2 RAM, Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.40GHz, 1000W Power Supply, ASUS P5Q Motherboard(5+yr old) and an Cooler Master Hyper TX3 cpu heatsink as well as a mid size tower with 200mmx2 fans for air circulation.

My problem is that I'm finding games like Badcompany 2, Fallout NV and Total War Shogun 2 are lacking FPS on the high/highest video settings. Im bearly getting a solid 40FPS when im intensive CPU/GPU situations.

My question is should I replace my CPU, MOBO and RAM to stop the bottlenecking or is that normal framerates? If I was to upgrade I was thinking of a Quad core CPU around 3.2GHz ($200.00-250.00 ish), obviously the 5+yr old MOBO has to go and finally the DDR2 too DDR3. What do you people think and thank you very much!

 

[4745454b]

He has a Q6600, 65nm tech. 1.4V should be fine. Max is 1.5V for 65nm right? It would be high if he has a 45nm chip, but he doesn't. Lower is always better, but I wouldn't be concerned if he is using 1.4.

 

[sierra6]

OK so I'm trying everything to drop my loading tempature that I can think of. I've cleaned from top to bottom every fan as well as reapplied high grade thermal paste. I've also lowered my cpu voltage from 1.4 to 1.3 and yet when I run Prime 95 it creeps up to 70C which I'm using Core Temp, CPU-Z and Speed Fan to monitor. The cherry on top is when my cpu is idling the tempature is 35Cish that's pretty cool in my opnion. I read in a thread about Prime 95 which stated below:
Prime 95
Small FFTs = CPU
In-place Large FFTs = IMC/Memory
Blend - CPU + IMC/Memory
can anyone agree with this?

 

[ghatt]

I don't mean to hijack your post but I clicked "solved" on my post by mistake and don't want to annoy people by making a new thread. Since my computer shares similar specs I figured I'd post my intended upgrade here.

http://www.mysterybyte.com/latest-builds/74/

So far I'm thinking of upgrading the video card to a 95, swapping out the i-7 for an i-5. But beyond that I'm at something of a loss.

 

[sierra6]

Ghatt that setup is more then enough to play any game out there for a long time...It's not necessary to make a thread about something only yourself can make the small decision about in the end. It comes down to preference really.

 

[sierra6]

ok so after spending the whole day tuning my oc from 3.0ghz to 2.8ghz to finally 2.6 which is .2 faster then my stock settings. Ive come to the conclusion that I'm just going to buy a new CPU/MOBO/RAM instead of buying a new after market heatsink that will sound like an airconditioner in the room I share with my wife. The two 200mm fans and the heatsink I currently have are already somewhat loud but anyways THANK YOU ALL for helping me in this thread OCing isnt for me sorry!!!!!

 

[geofelt]

ok so after spending the whole day tuning my oc from 3.0ghz to 2.8ghz to finally 2.6 which is .2 faster then my stock settings. Ive come to the conclusion that I'm just going to buy a new CPU/MOBO/RAM instead of buying a new after market heatsink that will sound like an airconditioner in the room I share with my wife. The two 200mm fans and the heatsink I currently have are already somewhat loud but anyways THANK YOU ALL for helping me in this thread OCing isnt for me sorry!!!!!

If your budget will allow a $200 cpu, then look at the 2500K. At stock, it is about the best gaming cpu around. The "K" suffix gives it an unlocked multiplier. All you do is change it from 33 to 40 -45 and you have an easy overclock. That is what it is designed for.
Don't give up on the OC idea , The sandy bridge "K" chips make it easy.

 

[manu 11]

oc is hell easy with sandy bridge k models.