I need serious help...PLEASE!

OK, hi everyone, i really really need some serious help on upgrading my PC.. any help will be extremely appreciated! OK:
I'm currently running a Dell Dimension 4700 with the following specs:
Intel Pentium 4 3.00ghz (hyper threaded)
Nvidia 8800 graphics card
3GB of ram (ddr2)

I just bought GTA IV for my PC and it runs like sh*t...even when hyper threaded the game is laggy...its playable but TBH im not pleased, Ive got my mind set on upgrading to a Core 2 Quad...obviously my old Pentium 4 supporting mobo needs seriously upgrading to a quad core supporting mobo. Well, that's the thing...im on a budget of £200 to get a quad core processor and a supporting mobo..so basically could you please tell me what i should buy and whether it will fit in my Dell Dimension 4700? Im really worried about the motherboard not fitting inside it.

BTW once Ive upgraded im expecting to be playing all the latest games for 1-2 years without having to EVER get another upgrade for anything.

So thanks in advance for your help!

Ok, that's ~$261 USD.

In all honesty, you don't need a quad core to game. The dual cores can run nearly every game just as good if not better than the quads.

I would recommend something like this:
E8400 ~$167 USD
GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3L LGA 775 ~$94 USD
That comes to $261 USD. The prices may vary depending on where you are located and where you buy from. But the total price should be close to your 200EU.

Because it's about the cores' frequency. Most games at this point, don't utilize more than 2 cores. There are several dual cores that run at a higher frequency than the quads.

For example the E8500 @ 3.16Ghz vs. Q8200 @ 2.33Ghz (both 1333fsb)

If the game is only using 2 cores, the one running at 3.16Ghz is going to toast the one at 2.33Ghz.

The minimum specs are speaking in general. Meaning a p4 isn't going to run that game.

What about an overclocked Phenom X4 940 vs your E8500? clock em at the same?

That is the same price for a quad core that can clock to atleast 3.6ghz

The Phenom would have a longer future at this point

I'm not sure if that case will hold a standard atx board or not. It's a mini tower, so it will be a bit cramped. Measure the dimensions inside the case for the mobo. Even if you have to get a micro atx board, some can still support a quad cpu.

this is the dimensions for the actual tower: Width 7.2 in
Depth 16.7 in
Height 14.5 in
help on wat mobo to get? it needs to support quad......

You should measure the dimensions of the mobo currently in your case. It appears by the dimensions of the case you listed that a standard atx board may fit. That will really open your options. This is a great mobo if you can fit an atx board.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128372

would that mobo you listed above support an Intel core 2 quad?

The board I linked above is an Intel board. Yes, it supports all socket 775 quad cores.

That's an atx board, so yes, another atx board will fit.

Yes, it will run well. If you are dead set on the quad core, I would recommend the q9550 or higher.

I would recommend the e8400 or e8500 to get you closer to your budget. I realize they are dual core, and you want a quad. The best performance for your budget is the high end dual core.

The q6600 is an old and slow quad.

E8500:
fsb - 1333
frequency - 3.16Ghz
Cache - 6Mb
45nm
$189 USD

q6600:
fsb - 1066 (slower bus)
frequency - 2.4Ghz (slower cores)
cache - L1 Cache 128KB+128KB (less available cache)
L2 Cache 2 x 4MB
65nm (more heat)
$215 USD

The q6600 is slower in every major area when compared to a high end dual core. It's also more expensive than the dual core. A more comparable choice to the high end dual core is the q9550 and up.

The same mobo will run either the quad or the dual core. They are all socket 775. If you choose a dual core now, and decide you want a quad later, you can still do that. However, the new i7 quad core cpu's are a different socket type. The boards that support the i7 also require DDR3 memory. So the hardware you are looking at is no more future proof by going with the socket 775 quad core. You can't expand on it from there.

eventually the i7 will also be a dinosaur like the p4. It's just a matter of time.

w0000 a dual core v quad debate! exactly wat i wanted lolz i just realised before your post that is was the q9550 that i wanted.............so im getting that....a good choice right?

kk tyvm