Need Upgrade Advice

[south_valhalla]

I use my system mainly for gaming and I am looking for the most effective way to improve performance with a budget of around $200.

I am currently running:

-Windows 7 Pro 64-bit
-Gigabyte M61ps3 Motherboard F7g BIOS ( http://ee.giga-byte.com/products/mb/cpulist/ga-m61p-s3_10.html )
-AMD Athlon x2 5200+ CPU
-3 Gigs DDR 2 800 RAM
-1 250 Gig Sata 2 HDD (Windows installed here)
-1 250 Gig ata 133 HDD
-Sapphire ATI HD 5770 512mb (Recent upgrade from Gigabyte NVIDIA 8800GTS 320mb)

My initial thoughts were a faster CPU such as a Phenom X4 or X3, but which one offers the best value for money on my older Motherboard?

 

[hunter315]

You can get a 95W Phenom II 945 and it will run on that board with a BIOS update. You can pick on up for $140 at newegg and it will give you the best performance that your board supports.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103809&cm_re=945-_-19-103-809-_-Product

 

[south_valhalla]

Thanks very much!