Upgrade advice. :hello:

[jako800]

Well I am new here , and would like to ask for some advice.
I have an computer I would like to update and would like to know what new main board and CPU I should purchase.
I have a budget of $600.
(Thanks in advance!)

Here are my system details:
● OS: Windows 8 64bit
● Motherboard: NVIDIA nForce 790i Ultra
SLI SPP Socket 775 LGA SATA 3/6GB
● CPU: Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 3.00GHz
3000 Mhz Socket 775 LGA
● Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.11
SATA 3Gb/s NCQ 500GB 16MB Cache
● GPU One: NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT
512.00MB Stock
SLI
● GPU Two: NVIDIA GeForce 9800GT
512.00MB CALIBRE
● RAM: Corsair 2x2GB CMZ4GX3M2A1600C9
● Power Supply: 1000W 80 Plus
● Monitor: Asus VS228H-P 22"

 

[avenseth12]

You are upgrading for what reason(s)? Are you gaming and want more performance. The reason I am asking if you are wanting more gaming peformace you may want to upgrade mobo/ram/cpu, for example:

Intel Core i5-3570K Ivy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo) LGA 1155 $214
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116504

MSI Z77A-G45 Thunderbolt LGA 1155 Intel Z77 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI $159
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813130665

CORSAIR Vengeance 16GB (2 x 8GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 $74
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820233310

Total: $447

 

[tiny voices]

If you are looking for better gaming performance, You want to go less processor and more GPU. Gaming is 90% GPU and 10% CPU. I would do something like this:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3470 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($184.99 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4-M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ares Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($37.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 7870 2GB Video Card ($257.28 @ CompUSA)
Total: $570.25
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-11 13:44 EST-0500)

 

[jako800]

I encode and edit HD video, and play strategy games. Such as Civ 5.

 

[tiny voices]

In that case, you could look into an i7 + 16gb RAM and like a 7850.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i7-3770 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor ($289.98 @ Amazon)
Motherboard: ASRock H77 Pro4-M Micro ATX LGA1155 Motherboard ($89.99 @ Amazon)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($64.99 @ Newegg)
Video Card: XFX Radeon HD 7850 1GB Video Card ($183.43 @ NCIX US)
Total: $628.39
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2012-12-11 13:56 EST-0500)

If thats too much over then drop to a 7770 or 8gb RAM. whatever is less important to you.

 

[jako800]

Best answer selected by jako800.