Opinions needed about this CPU upgrade

[Loud_Silence]

My CPU is right now my computer's achilles heel. It does fine most of the time, but with cpu-heavy games like ArmA2, MS Flight Simulator X, Black Shark and -the poorly optimized- Star Wars: The Force Unleashed it gets short. These are my current system specs:

OS: Windows XP Pro SP3
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4800+
MoBo: ASUS M2A-VM w/ socket AM2, DDR2 slots and PCI-e 16x v1 (or 1.1 maybe)
GPU: nVidia GeForce GTS250, 512MB GDDR3
RAM: 4GB DDR2-667 (OS only uses 3,25GB, but I have to use 4GB because of dual channel conf¡guration requirements)
HD: Seagate 500 GB SATA2
Optical: SONY DVD-R/RW
PSU: CrapTech 410W

I suspect the PSU is already near its limits, but replacing it could cost up to 200$.

Replacing the CPU with an AM3 would require also replacing the MoBo, the RAM and the PSU. All that could cost up to 800$. Even using an AM3 in my AM2 socket would mean not being able to use it at its full capability and would mostly require upgrading the PSU as well.

But then I came across this:

http://www.alternate.es/html/product..._7850/390903/?

(sorry, the site is in spanish)

Its an AM2+, so the performance wasted is not as much as with an AM3. Plus its a dual core, with which i'm familiar. And finally the maximum power consumption is 95W (my current CPU's max is 75W). It costs 60-60$, about 80$ including the thermal paste and shipment costs (i think the CPU pack already includes the heatsink).

There are other triple core AM2+ CPUs on that site for a bit more money, but I'm not so sure about performance benefits with triple-cores in XP, and this dual core has the fastest speed per-core.

But it still could be too much for the PSU...

And I have a REALLY low budget. I will have to make a considerable effort even to get enough money for that AM2+ CPU.

[Arclight]

Imho incremental steps up aren't worth it. Going from a dualcore to a slightly faster dual core puts you in the same situation in 6-12 months, if not earlier, and if it helps at all.

I went from a 2.66 dual to 2.8 quad, and to be honest I can't really say it made an impact on ArmA 2 performance. Think you'd be better off saving up money for a more substantial overhaul at this point.

[Herr-Berbunch]

I agree with Arclight, once you start chasing for more power it's one thing after another... just the CPU, then the PSU, then I may as well get a GTX460 because my PSU can take it, now the RAM needs upgrading but I can't do that because my Mobo won't take any more so I need a new one. Then I'll be needing another CPU. And PSU... And that's not even mentioning trying to keep things cool and organised in there!

Save your money, for now

[Loud_Silence]

Thank you all. I will keep saving money for an all-new rig.

[Castout]

You''ll need new PSU and a fast quadcore.

But a new rig is much better option and saving.