2007 upgrade

[havefun79]

I'm starting to plan an upgrade from my 2007 build. I would like to keep it under 300 dollars for now.
Here's my current specs:

Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 Quad-Core

EVGA 640-P2-N821-AR GeForce 8800 GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Ready SLI Support Video Card

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3R LGA 775 Intel P35 ATX Intel Motherboard

SUPER TALENT 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model T800UX2GC4

1 x OCZ GameXStream OCZ700GXSSLI 700W ATX12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply

I am currently running winxp and part of the upgrade is to windows 7 64bit. I dont want to change the motherboard and processor yet, but i'm open to this if I can stay within budget. I'm thinking just a better video card and more ram. any suggestions on video card and any other upgrades I should think about?
I originaly buit this as a gaming rig. I still want to be able to play a few games with it like fallout new vegas, but mostly use it for picture editing and web.
Thanks

 

[dassox]

another set of 2x1GB ram sticks, assuming you have the open slots on your mobo (just be sure to get a similar pair to the one you have in your system)

as far as the vid card goes, to stay within budget, I'd say a gtx460 if you're an nvidia person, or a radeon 5830 if you're ATI. Can't go wrong either way IMO.

The ram will run you about $50, the cards are ~$200. Those would be the logical upgrades for price range. You can always go bigger on the ram since you're going 64bit if you want to go to 6gb instead of 4. That just might take the vid card down a step, so its up to you.

 

[gordon_81]

i wouldnt go for a 5830 even though im a bit of an ATI person take a look http://www.anandtech.com/bench/Product/171?vs=180 if you still want to go ATI then try to go for a 5850

 

[havefun79]

Best answer selected by havefun79.