Need your uprade suggestions!

[DCVL]

If I wanted my computer to play the new Battlefield 3 in full graphics. What would I need to change on this current set up (besides the obvious graphics card). I'd need to know what to change and what to change it to. I'm looking for the CHEAPEST solution and minimal upgrading. If it doesn't need to be upgraded then I don't want to. I'm guessing a ram upgrade would be needed as well.

500GB internal HD
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

Intel core 2 quad 2.4GHz Quad Core
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115017

ASUS PK5-E Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131225

Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133154

Geforce 8800 GTX graphics card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814143080

700w power supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153039

4 GB total of this ram
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134218

Also, how do i tell if my computer can use a single or dual slot graphics card? I'm thinking it's a single, but im not sure.

 

[Dangman]

It would help if you answered the following questions:
3) Where do you live?
7) What size monitor do you have and/or plan to have?

But basically you're looking at replacing the GPU, CPU, mobo, and RAM. Now did you want actual recommendations on what new parts to get or an idea of what you have to replace? if the former, then please answer the next few questions:
6) Will you be overclocking?
8) When do you plan on building/buying the PC?
9) What features do you need in a motherboard? RAID? Firewire? Crossfire or SLI support? USB 3.0? SATA 6Gb/s? eSATA? Onboard video? etc.

Did you mean dual video cards or dual slot video card? There's a big difference between the two.

Oh and is your Q6600 OC'd?

 

[DCVL]

I'm in the US and yes, I'd like actual recommendations on new parts to get. I have been out of the game as far as comp hardware goes so I'd have to start from scratch. Knowing what's out there would help me. I'm looking to get the most bang for my buck. I don't want it just because it's expensive. If there is a cheaper solution that gets pretty near the same results, I'd rather have that.

7) prob a 21" monitor
8) Probably in a year
9) dont need RAID, don't care for firewire, prob won't use SLI either
Would like USB 3.0

I meant dual SLOT video card. My Q6600 is not OC'd

Just curious, but would it really be that necessary to upgrade the MOBO? I figured the GPU would need a change after being over 3 years old. Are you saying that the RAM would have to go to DDR3 instead of 2? Or just more DDR2 RAM?

Thanks for the help.

 

[tiraides]

What's the resolution of your 21" monitor?

Are you ready to buy/build everything now?

To answer your earlier question, your board can handle both dual-slot cards and dual-GPU cards, but the former depends largely on the cooling capabilities of the case and the latter on you having a strong enough PSU.

If you're considering buying a new motherboard at this point in time, I recommend that you overhaul everything (save for the case). If you want USB 3.0, you either need to buy an add-on card or get a new motherboard. However, if you're pursuing the latter option and you're currently using an OEM version of Windows, then you'll also have to buy a new copy.

You could just buy a new video card and call it a day, but you have to overclock the Q6600 to beyond 3GHz to prevent it from being a bottleneck. Even then, depending on the card(s) chosen (I'm talking about the high-end and dual-GPU/CF/SLI cards), the Q6600 may not be enough. You may also have to check to see whether or not your Thermaltake PSU can handle the increased power requirements; many power supplies, over time, degrade in quality and can no longer handle what they're rated for. (Then again, some PSUs are using "inferior" design models and could never handle their rated loads.)

 

[Dangman]

8) Probably in a year

Then way way too soon to start asking for upgrade help. We can barely make sure that the parts we recommend in a month from now will still be good choices in that very month. A lot can and will change in the hardware world in a year from now. As such, if you want specific hardware recommendations yet can't buy till another year, then just come back in a year man.

And don't worry about most bang for the buck. That's pretty much the unofficial mantra of this subforum anyway: Best Bang for the Buck.

Just curious, but would it really be that necessary to upgrade the MOBO? I figured the GPU would need a change after being over 3 years old. Are you saying that the RAM would have to go to DDR3 instead of 2? Or just more DDR2 RAM?

RAM would have to go to DDR3 because thats what all the current CPU platforms uses. 4GB of RAM is enough. But DDR2 RAM is not compatible at all with the current platforms. Yes it is necessary to upgrade the mobo as you need a new CPU to keep up with the newer GPUs as well as games.