upgrade cpu or memory?

[mangled]

I currently have a home built system with an Intel 2.6ghz processor, 1gb pc2700 RAM, Geforce 6800 graphics card running XP. I'd like to try and get a little more oomph out of the system for gaming and heavy photo editing for the next 8 months but can't really afford to upgrade everything right now. My board will support up to a 3.4ghz processor and also supports pc3200 RAM. I can get a 3.4ghz processor or 2gb pc3200 RAM but not both right now.

If you had to choose, what would be the better upgrade choice first?

 

[eXx08]

Overclock your CPU and get 2GB of RAM.

 

[bchivers]

Go for the ram.

 

[JMoore]

ram for photo editing

 

[Jiggz]

Originally posted by: Opteron Guy
Overclock your CPU and get 2GB of RAM.

You can easily oc the cpu to at least 150 FSB or equal to 3.0 Ghz as long as the ram can handle it. If the ram cannot handle it then you might want to replace the ram with 1GB of PC4000. If the present ram can handle the 150FSB then, upgrade the HSF to make sure the cpu does not overheats and stay stable.

 

[diapickle]

RAM RAM RAM
OC OC OC

 

[Blain]

* 1GB of DDR should be plenty for now.
* The 3.4 would be my choice for an upgrade.

Fly in the ointment...
The 3.4 will require PC3200 :roll:

BTW, Make sure your MB will support a 3.4 Prescott before you buy one.

 

[Kaspian]

Originally posted by: Opteron Guy
Overclock your CPU and get 2GB of RAM.

Yep

 

[mangled]

Thanks. I've overclocked to 3ghz and all is well. With just surfing the web it's staying at 31C. Gonna try some heavy gaming and see where it goes to. A HSF upgrade would be good and then maybe I'll get the new RAM. I'd like to see if I can get this processor to 3.4ghz.