New Card or New System?

[NFS_Addict]

Hi,

Here's my dinosaur system.

MSI 945GM2
Kingston 1GB 667 (Single Stick)
Inno3D 7600GT
Seagate IDE 80GB
Dynamo Pro 600W PS
19" Viewsonic VA1916
Intel Pentium D 2.8GHz

Objective: Play NFS Undercover at maxed out non HD settings

Budget: $300

Question: What can I upgrade?

Thank you for your suggestions.

 

[IH8U]

Nearly the entire PC

MB: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131354R
$61 ASUS M3N78-EM (Open Box)(onboard GFX is still better than what you have)
CPU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103211
$50 AM2 X2 5000+ Dual Core (retail)
RAM: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227334
$36 OCZ Fatal1ty DDR2 800 2x2GB
HDD: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136074
$55 WD3200AAKS 320GB HDD
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371019
$40 Antec Basiq BP500UB (better, and more stable than yours)

Total $242 + S&H (save up about $50 more and get a 9600GT too)

 

[jerreece]

Definitely needing an entire new system I'd say. The system IH8U built above would do the trick to get you playing NFS Undercover, but wouldn't really be what I'd consider a "gaming machine" by today's standards. The CPU is quickly becoming outdated.

For the $300 budget, it would get you running though. It looks like that motherboard will also support the Phenom AMD processors (and hopefully the Phenom II) which would give you some room to upgrade there (which you'll need soon).

Course this all depends on if you do any other PC gaming. It's more expensive to get a good Gaming PC setup (versus XBOX/PS3), but it's worth it in the end in my opinion.

 

[blackhawk1928]

Yes upgrade your PC. Not enough ram, weak processor, and weak videocard.

 

[NFS_Addict]

Thank you all for your replies.