Upgrade Suggestions - Need this PC faster

[DSee]

Hello,

I'm looking for spend up to $300 on making my computer faster.

I'm not into games but I would pretty much like to install any game and play it at medium-high without problems.

This is the current setup, and I would like to get suggestions on what could I do to make it e better/faster...

ex: New CPU, New Video Card, SSD?, or just a new build...


Specs:
Mobo: GIGABYTE GA-EP45-UD3R LGA 775 Intel P45
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (G0) w/ XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler
Mem: OCZ Fatal1ty Edition 4GB (2x2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400)
Video Card: BFG Geforce 8800GT 512MB
HDD's: Samsung F3 1TB (not being used, could be used as OS HDD?), 2x 320GB, 1x 250GB).

Everything is at stock, I've never OC'd in my life (could give it a try..?)...

 

[Dangman]

What PSU do you have?
State SPECIFICALLY what you're doing with this PC that makes it seem too slow for you needs/wants.

 

[DSee]

PSU: CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W ATX12V V2.2 80 PLUS Certified
Monitor setup: 2x 23" Samsung @ 1920x1080 ?

- I feel it's kind of slow extracting compacted files(.rar,.zip)
- Installed Crysis once, it was slow and freezing up..

There really isn't a single reason or time it's slow, I just want to make it FASTER in general
I use the PC for browsing, listening to music, transferring large files @ network, downloading Linux ISO's.. etc

 

[Dangman]

Well let's break things down shall we?
1) In order to play games at medium settings at 1920x1080, you're gonna need a new video card. The fastest video card that won't require you getting a new PSU would be the HD 6850. That's about $200 right there.

2) In order to keep up with games at the resolution, your CPU should be OC'd to at least 3Ghz. If you can't or won't OC, don't bother with the above GPU upgrade. Here's an excellent guide on how to OC with Gigabyte socket 775 motherboards:
http://hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1169366

3) For faster file extraction, that depends on the hard drive's speed as well as CPU. As such you should use that Samsung F3 1TB drive as the OS drive and see if you get a huge improvement there. Also, overclocking the CPU will help here as well.

4) For faster network transfer, that's entirely dependent on your network setup i.e what router and/or switch you're using, etc.

Though for optimal transfer speeds, you should have the following:
- Intel NICs on all the PCs that will be doing heavy file transfers. That's about $30 per NIC.
- A good switch or router that supports jumbo frames. That could range from $60 to $100.
- Fast hard drives like the Samsung F3 1TB you have.

 

[DSee]

This is what I'm going to do:

- OC CPU to at least 3Ghz.
- Use Samsung F3 1TB as OS drive.
- Buy HD 6850

Thanks for your help.