Upgrading my desktop

You're fine with that CPU, upgrade later.

so your just suggesting i upgrade to windows 7?

Only if you want to use more than 4G of RAM. For gaming and the usual stuff, 4G is fine. Post all your specs.

well like i said, im not really good with computers, what more would you need to know? i got that info from doing dxdiag.

You can use this

http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/PC-Wiza...

alright i installed that, what is it i should post from it?

System summary (you can select and copy it)

Both vista 32bit and win732bit are limited to a max of 4gb of memory, like 8gb will show up as only 4gb, and 3gb in winxp.

The windows 7 32bit version usually can upgrade vista 32bit without doing a reinstall.

Windows7 64 bit can only do a format/install.

-you can get the cheaper win7 32bit upgrade instead too.

-I would stick with the 32bit version since most of the vista 32bit drivers will work ok with win7.

The board should be am2+, most have a auto update for the bios on the board's site. It should say which cpu's are supported on that board.
There is a good chance that a newer phenomIIx4 will work on that board.

-You might be better off buying the cpu and win7 32bit oem disk local at a local computer store where they will do the bios flash and cpu change and win7 upgrade for a fee, usually around $60. Some might take your phenom tri core in exchange for the labor charge if they can resell it.

Maybe a new PSU? Can't really say without know your computer specs.

Mainboard : Asus NARRA3
Chipset : nVidia GeForce 6100V
Processor : AMD Phenom X3 8400 @ 2100MHz
Physical Memory : 4096MB (2 x 2048 DDR2-SDRAM )
Video Card : NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460
Hard Disk : Western Digital WD32 00AAJS-65VWA SCSI Disk Device (320GB)
Hard Disk : Western Digital WD32 00AAJS-65VWA SCSI Disk Device (320GB)
DVD-Rom Drive : Optiarc DVD RW AD-7201S5
Monitor Type : Samsung SyncMaster - 20 inches
Network Card : Linksys RangePlus Wireless USB Network Adapter
Network Card : NVIDIA nForce 10/100 Mbps Ethernet
Operating System : Windows Vista (TM) Home Premium Home Edition Media Center 6.00.6002 Service Pack 2 (32-bit)
DirectX : Version 11.00
Windows Performance Index : 5.3 on 5.9
and my psu is 550w

http://www.cpu-upgrade.com/mb-ASUS/M2N68-LA_%28Narra3-G...

You will have to check the net for info, you need the full model number too,

OK, you have a Phenom I not a Phenom II, you can consider upgrading the CPU/mobo/RAM.

GIGABYTE GA-Z68P-DS3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
Intel Core i5-2500K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...

$374.97

And you probably need a new case, your current mobo is mATX.

No i think if you verify it first, the 95 watt phenomII x4 925 works. and the 955 looks like it will still work anyway.

The phenom I cooler will still work on a oem too.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$89 oem 925. 2.8ghz

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$99 retail box with cooler AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$119.99 AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor

Someone was saying in the thread above that it worked ok with a 955 but it says unknown cpu in the bios but still works ok.

-Make sure you check the exact model number of the board and stuff first.

- i suppose the worst is you have to buy a board like this that can reuse your ddr2 memory. (if it fails to work)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
$44.99 ASRock N68C-S UCC AM3/AM2+/AM2 NVIDIA GeForce 7025 / nForce 630a Micro ATX AMD Motherboard DDR2/3, Unlock CPU Core, Phenom II X6 Support

If you get a new board you might as well get win7 oem 64 bit instead. (i think the vista os is tied to your oem motherboard, so if you swap the board you need a new os, sometimes if you phone the computer maker and complain that your old board died and you replaced it they will unlock the oem os and give you a unlocking code, it worked a couple of times before for me so it's worth a try)

I am not sure if there are 64 bit drivers for your current older board and you will have to do a fresh install to go to 64 bit.

2.1ghz is pretty slow i think that is what your trouble is. Vista might be ok after the cpu swap.
Vista also has a bug with the phenom I cpu that makes it run slow. amd fixed that with the phenomII. But by the time vista got a bad rap, the phenomII and win7 were out already.

so your suggesting i buy that 45 dollar motherboard and one of those processors? if so which one?

Buy the cpu first and try it, but don't buy the board or win7 64 bit.

-If the cpu works ok on your current board, you wont need that board.

-The new cpu should also fix the troubles with vista too, so you can keep just using vista. Vista 32bit and win7 32bit are almost the same os anyway.

-Only buy the board and win7 if the cpu doesn't work out on your board, put your old cpu back in while you are waiting for the board and win7.

-People are saying your board works with the phenomII x4 but it shows up as a "unknown cpu" but still works ok anyway. That is fine, i ran a athlonxp before like that on a unsupported board for years and it was fine.

- I only had part of your model number for the board, so google it and read what people are saying.

This cpu is on sale again with a $10 off promo code so its $109 after you enter the rebate code. It comes with the better heatpipe cooler too. It is the fastest of the three.
$119.99 AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor

It's a really common cpu, you should be able to find it locally for around the same price so you don't have to wait to find out.

-amd will soon stop making the phenomII, so when they sell out, they will be gone.(in about 6 months)
This is your last chance to do a cheaper cpu swap with your current board.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...
-If the cpu swap works out ok with your current board, stick with oem win7 32 bit since it can often upgrade vista 32bit rather than do a full reinstall. (sometimes you still get stuck doing a reinstall if it wont work) I doubt that older board has 64 bit drivers. (vista should be ok, but if you want to upgrade that's fine too)

-If you get a new board, you will have to do a fresh install anyway, and the new board has drivers for 64 bit, so you might as well move up to the oem 64 bit version.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E168...