Best bang for buck performance upgrade

I have got the upgrade bug recently more than likely since I have started reading this forum. I Thought that I would buy myself some more Ram, Have 4GB installed already was going to take it to 8 GB but motherboard wont have it! So I am stuck with 4GB unless I change the motherboard I am running a intel Q6600 775 Socket So seems quite limited with that socket config, So I am guessing would have to get a new processor and what would I get? and to make things worse I am running a micro ATX case. I am guessing the motherboard and Processor is going to be the most costly option too! What about a SSD people seem to rave on about these but I think my motherboard is limited to 3GBs I have recently upgraded graphics card just because it was the lowest thing on WEI Score!!

Any help and advice would be very welcome
System spec to help

Hi there, do you really need to upgrade?

And if that's the case, would you consider switching to AMD?

A Phenom II X4 975, an AMD 870 Chipset Motherboard, 8GB RAM DDR3 @ 1600Mhz and the same rest, would make a hell of a difference, and of course a little SSD.

Maybe a SATA II OCZ Vertex 2 (small one, just for the OS)

That'd bump up the scores on your WEI, but still, that WEI is nowhere near the "Real Life" test, if you think you need to upgrade, then do it.. but if you don't feel like it, then it's not deadly necessary :)

My .02 cents

EDIT:

Here you have some links:

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition Thuban 3.2GHz 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDT90ZFBGRBOX

Newegg.com - ASUS M4A87TD/USB3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 AMD Motherboard

Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL

Newegg.com - OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

That'd be a grand total of 525$, is that too much of an upgrade for you? you could pick up a cheaper processor, but at 200$ the Phenom II X6 1090T seems like a deal to me.

There you have some things to think about :)

Golden said:

A SSD will without a doubt give you the single biggest improvement. Well worth considering. Its the only thing that will get your disk about 5.9 on the WEI.

Would it still work well even though MB can only transfer at 3GBs Dont I need a MB that can transfer a 6 GB's to get the best out of a SSD?

Sorry This might seem like silly question but I really dont understand it!

yes it will work.....I wouldn't worry about the sata 6 gig till it's motherboard time....

Punkster said:

Hi there, do you really need to upgrade?

And if that's the case, would you consider switching to AMD?

A Phenom II X4 975, an AMD 870 Chipset Motherboard, 8GB RAM DDR3 @ 1600Mhz and the same rest, would make a hell of a difference, and of course a little SSD.

Maybe a SATA II OCZ Vertex 2 (small one, just for the OS)

That'd bump up the scores on your WEI, but still, that WEI is nowhere near the "Real Life" test, if you think you need to upgrade, then do it.. but if you don't feel like it, then it's not deadly necessary :)

My .02 cents

EDIT:

Here you have some links:

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition Thuban 3.2GHz 6 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Six-Core Desktop Processor HDT90ZFBGRBOX

Newegg.com - ASUS M4A87TD/USB3 AM3 AMD 870 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 AMD Motherboard

Newegg.com - G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL9D-8GBXL

Newegg.com - OCZ Vertex 2 OCZSSD2-2VTXE60G 2.5" 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)

That'd be a grand total of 525$, is that too much of an upgrade for you? you could pick up a cheaper processor, but at 200$ the Phenom II X6 1090T seems like a deal to me.

There you have some things to think about :)

Wow I was looking at those processors at a web site while waiting for reply seems like best way would be to try and sell my old machine and buy a new one and build it to my spec! I really dont need such a high spec PC but this place gives me bad ideas LOL I never mind spending money if I am getting a upgrade!

Even though you could go with the 1100T processor but that's only 100MHz higher, and i believe its 30$ extra, so i don't think that's a great choice.

Actually the best bang for the buck is the Athlon II X4 640 @ 3.0GHz, lists on Newegg at 100$ that's gotta be the cheapest Quad Core around, but given the fact that you want an upgrade.. i don't think there's too much of a difference between your current processor and the Athlon, so the best choice would be the Phenom II X6 1090T, given the fact that is listed at 200$

Think about it :)

I think I will poss go with a new MB and SSD!!

I will try the AMD Phenom II X6 1090T Black Edition Thuban 3.2GHz this will be my first non intel processor I just need to make sure it will all fit in my Micro atx Box I think the one Punkster recomended is ATX MB So I have looked on the net and I can buy a mini atx board £80-£100 both look the same cant work out what the difference is can anyone explain how MB numbers work ?
these are the two boards I am looking at if anyone has any better idea please let me know
MSI 880GMA-E45 AMD 880G (Socket AM3) Motherboard
The other one is 880GX



Thanks again