Royaltramp

Option 1)
Gigabyte GA-EX58-D24 Motherboard - http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Gigab...00-SATA-II-ATX - £190.54
6GB (3x2GB) Corsair Dominator PC3-12800 - http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/6GB-(...-CAS-8-DHX-EPP - £193.34
i7 920 2.66Ghz - http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Intel...-Cache-8MB-OEM - £229.05

Option 2)
3.0Ghz E8400 for around £130
Antec 900 for around £70
CPU cooler + thermal compound for around £35

Option 3)
AMD Phenom II 940 AM3 (when the DDR3 AM3 edition comes out)
A decent AMD DDR3 mobo
6GB (3x2GB) Corsair Dominator PC3-12800 - http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/6GB-(...-CAS-8-DHX-EPP - £193.34

I can't afford any of the above right now. Obviously Option 2 is the cheapest, and the one I'm leaning towards since I already just bought 4GB DDR2 Corsair 800Mhz recently. But I'd like to hear your opinions. It'll be a while before I can afford any of these though.

-Matt

gamer11200

Personally since you're budget is tight and you can't afford any right now and you already have 4GB 800mhz, I would recommend option 2. Option 1 would be the best, but instead of spending the high price for it, buy the option 2 for now and then 2 years from now, you can get the i7 rig

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skorched

Option 2.

Option 1 can and should wait, especially with a tight budget.

Acreo Aeneas

I also suggest Option 2, but instead of a E8400, swap in a C2Q quad-core. Then you could save up for a new rig.

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Acreo Aeneas
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br3nd064

Agreed, option 2 is probably the best for you.

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Ld05204

Option 2 is the sensible choice. But then everyone likes to aim high and go for the best. There would be a signifigant gain going from your current proc to a E8400 but then there is a bigger jump going to the i7 920. To be honest i don't think your system is slow enough to justify a complete overhaul (might just be me), so i would save your money and go for the big leap to i7 when prices drop and it becomes more mainstream. It would be more fun/beneficial to do a massive upgrade in 6-10 months time than doing a small upgrade now and waiting longer for newer tech.