suggestions for CPU, and video card upgrade

[jcon89]

I built a new computer about a year ago, and i slacked off on the processor, so I'd like to upgrade. I would also like to upgrade the video card soon.

My system specs currently:


-CPU: AMD Athlon 64, 2015 MHz (10 x 202) 3200+

-Motherboard: Asus A8N-SLI (3 PCI, 2 PCI-E x1, 2 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR DIMM, Audio, Gigabit LAN)

-Motherboard Chipset: nVIDIA nForce4 SLI, AMD Hammer

-RAM: 2GB Corsair RAM

-Video Card: NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GT (256 MB)

-Disk Drive: Maxtor 6Y160M0 (160 GB, 7200 RPM, SATA)

-Operating System: Windows XP Home


My budget:

CPU: $300-350 USD
Graphics Card: $250-300

I would like to know any suggestions, please find products that will be completely compatable.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

[b1gapl]

For the graphics card, you can go for an 8800GTS 320mb.

 

[jcon89]

I've heard some good things about the 8800GTS, would it be smarter to buy a Newegg.com - MSI NX8800GTS-T2D640E-HD OC GeForce 8800GTS 640MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail
(640mb version)

 

[Ridlyn]

OC your cpu and put the money together to buy and 8800GTS 640MB and some after market cooling, and possibly a new PSU if you need it.

 

[jcon89]

I have never OC'ed a CPU before, its kind of something I avoided doing. How far can you OC a 3200+?

 

[b1gapl]

Probably 2.5 to 2.7GHz...2.8 if you're lucky.

 

[hmammen]

what kind of PSU do you have??
I wouldnt reccomend any less than 450 watts.....

i would reccomend this cpu-
Newegg.com - AMD Opteron 170 Denmark 2.0GHz 2 x 1MB L2 Cache Socket 939 Dual Core Processor - Retail

and this GPU-
Newegg.com - EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card - Retail

and you will be set....

BTW that CPU only shows to be 2.0ghz, but remember that it is dual core and that opterons are overclocking beasts....im sure you could push it to 2.8ghz+.