Upgrade question

[alphasigmookie]

I've got a question about a potential upgrade. I'm comming across some money that can only be used in the next month or two for a laptop and upgrades for my desktop. I'm am currently running a socket 939 3200+ OC'd at 2.4ghz and 2gb of DDR 400 and a 7600 gt. I originally was looking for a x2 4200+ but it looks like the supplies are drying up which leaves the x2 3800+ as the only upgrade option without buying a new Mobo and ram. I am also looking for a new video card either a 3850 256mb or 512mb or 8800 gt 256 mb.

I'd perfer to spend most of the cash on the new laptop, but I'd still like to be able to play most current and near future games on the desktop. Is it worth it to stick with the current system and just get the x2 3800+ which will run about $60 or less or go all the way and get new mobo, cpu and DDR2 for $250-300+. Does anyone know how much the processor affects gaming these days? Can I get most of the benifit of a higher-mid range card with a x2 3800+?

 

[alphasigmookie]

if it helps my current 3d mark06 ~3100, PC mark05 ~4200

 

[teh_boxzor]

Processors affect mostly physics in game nowadays, but if you get the 8800gt 256mb it comes with the Nvidia quantum physics engine hardware, so if you get the 8800gt i think you'll be fine with your cpu. You won't notice an increase in gaming by going dual-core as games today are still only single threaded. If you can try to get a 8800gt 512 as 256 is becoming obsolete.