Hardware freaks assemble again plz :) update, not new machine, needed

[Thorgrim]

I have no idea why the other ones are small, but you get the Idea

Basic LGA775 P4 520 2.8 processor with 16x pipe PCI express on the i915/i915G type motherboard

1 gig of Corsair DDR2, 512 on slot 1, 512 on slot 3 (slot 2 and 4 open)

Video Card is a half broken 6600 GT (GPU fan keeps making noises, but my case is a aspire xdreamer so it lets me know my case is under 75 F at all times)

Music card is an audigy 2, speaker system is a 4.1 logitech, dvd burner

160GB hard drive at 7200rpm

basic logitech wireless mouse and keyboard

have a huge 20+inch cornerstone p1600 monitor, run it at 1280x960 on games


I can run HL2...CS:S like its nothing, my system handles all HL2 stuff great, which makes me think I have pretty decent hardware

However, in games like Oblivion, Prey, and hell even Total War big matchups...i feel like im running a bucket of bolts

I couldn't even run FEAR or TC's new squad-FPS, the framerates were that horrible on even the mid settings, and the low settings were so ugly i couldn't even see who i was shooting

I'm scared that come December, when Medieval Total War 2, Gothic 3, or some new FPS comes out...im gonna be forced to abandon it like I did FEAR

What can I change and update that wouldn't cost a lot (currently a lack of cash flow as I'm switching graduate schools)

I keep thinking a new video card would solve all my problems, but then others tell my CPU is too outdated and it would bottleneck there, and I should just tough it out with a crappy system...suchs cuz Medieval Total War 2 is going to be the ultimate relaxer (next to sex, which is a pain sometimes because you can't be completely selfish when you're with another person)

[JaJae]

HL2 is more processor based than those other games. Are you running 1280x1024?

[Thorgrim]

Originally Posted by JaJae

HL2 is more processor based than those other games. Are you running 1280x1024?

1280x960...AS 16x, AA 4x.....smooth as glass

[Thorgrim]

anyone?

[beez]

Go for whatever's cheaper first I guess .

[motivez]

I would say it's your video card, but I don't think purchasing AGP is a good investment tbh.. PCI-E is the way to go, and with the new intel processors kicking AMD's ass in everything they've released so far, it might not be a bad investment to go ahead and get a new mobo, processor, and video card all in one shot.

I think you can get the Intel one for ~330ish