Upgrade Time!!!

[mrewildstyle]

So I am preparing to upgrade parts to my system. I want to upgrade the video card, ram & cpu. I have $350 to spend and here is what I have and what I have in mind. Also...should I get a aftermarket CPU cooler?? Are there any compatibility issues?? Is there anything else I should consider getting/upgrading??

Any and all feedback is appreciated.


Parts I have...

ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard- http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131406

XFX PVT95GZAFG GeForce 9500 GT 1GB 128-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 Video Card-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150322

AMD Phenom II X2 555 Black Edition Callisto 3.2GHz Socket AM3 80W Dual-Core Desktop Processor-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103846

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231277

Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148433

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner -http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136147

Thermaltake SMART M Series SP-850M 850W-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153158

OCZ Vertex 3 VTX3-25SAT3-120G 2.5" 120GB SATA III -http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=20-227-706&ParentOnly=1

COOLER MASTER HAF 922 RC-922M-KKN3-GP-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119197


HERE ARE THE PARTS I'M THINKING TO UPGRADE.....

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 -http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black Edition Deneb 3.4GHz Socket AM3 125W -http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103727

SAPPHIRE 100355L Radeon HD 7850 2GB 256-bit GDDR5-http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102998

 

[djangoringo]

You can just add more 4GB, dual channel : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231427
And spend more on the gpu : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814202025

 

[mrewildstyle]

So is the CPU uprgrade a good idea, or no need for it??

Also...compatibility okay???

 

[djangoringo]

Well if you have the Phenom II X2 555 unlocked to a quad core, it has about the same performance as the X4 965 be, so you don't need the cpu, unless it's not unlocked, you can unlock the other cores in the bios.
Yes, it's all compatible, you can add more 2x2GB in the other channel and get 8GB.
You have a psu with enough amps for any 7870, i would get the 7870.

 

[mrewildstyle]

OKay...so my cpu is unlockable...I already did it, but there is no way to monitor the temps of the cpu. Is this wise?? What risks do I run??

Also...reguardless if I keep the 555 unlocked to 4 or go to the 965, should I get an aftermarket CPU cooler??

One more thing...is this a decent mid range gamer or should I ditch the idea of spending the cash and save up for next year??

Thanks again for all your help djangoringo.

 

[djangoringo]

If you want to overclock it yes, get an aftermarket cooler, you can find a cheap but good one at newegg : http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233082&Tpk=xigmatek%20gaia

And there's no risks involved, you have the x4 955 with the cores unlocked, so there's no point in getting the x4 965, save for a better cpu and motherboard, and just get a new card for now.