Looking to get more speed from my Gigabyte GA-M57SLI-S4

[mRoy62]

Looking for advice on how to make my PC faster...

Typically use my computer for PS CS4 and Lightroom 3. I occationally do slideshow movies using Photostory 3 and bring in the videos to Premiere Elements and add the sound and piece together the individual Photostory movies with transitions.

Still on XP! Current system has 2GB RAM (2 x 1 GB, has 4 slots though so room to expand there). The motherboard (GA-M57SLI-S4) supports AMD Socket AM2. (I believe that AM2+ and AM3 CPUs will work in an AM2, but with some reduction in power????). Graphics card is an ATI Radeon 2400.

I've receive some "advice" from Tiger Direct that said I do not need to upgrade my Processor as it is fast enough and the difference in speed from a newer processor would not balance the cost. If that's correct, I'm happy, but surely a faster pocessor like the Phonom II X4 955 would provide a speed increase. Wouldn't it?

I'd like to keep the current mobo, but what would be a "sensible" upgrade to achieve more speed given the software apps I use.

Thanks for any help...

 

[rolli59]

Upgrade to 4GB of ram would be the first step. The board if all revision only supports AM3 95watt CPU's if you plan an upgrade. http://www.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/cpu-support-popup.aspx?pid=2287
A fast X3 or X4 would be a good upgrade from an AM2 Athlon 64 X2

 

[mRoy62]

Best answer selected by mRoy62.