Best upgrade option?

[blackersabbath]

Hi everyone,

My current rig is in my signature. I am looking to upgrade but unsure of where to go with it. I think I can use the CPU on the AM2+ boards with my DDR2 RAM but unsure. I am planning on getting a new case in the next week or so then getting a new PSU the following week. I want to game and do some video editing in the near future. I am pretty much wondering what would be the best way to go since I am going to be uprgrading slowly. I can't afford to buy everything at once but would like to still use my PC while upgrading the components and making sure that they all work. I have been looking into this board http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128387 which seems to support my current CPU. I would like to get a quad core for it as the money comes in but would also like some different options as far as the board goes because I might not have the funds to get a graphics card right away. A single graphics card setup would be ok but I want to try out a multiple card setup as well. I am open to opinions/recommendations.

Thanks in advance for everyone's advice

 

[blackersabbath]

My question is: What would be a good solid ATX board that I can run a 3800 on with onboard graphics that I can later put an AM3 quadcore in later on and supports either SLI or Crossfire?

 

[Marshmallow64]

Probably the best upgrade path is the cpu. Upgrade to one of the AM3 ones that are backwards compatible with AM2+ boards usually with a simple bios update.

I recommend the phenom II 550 or 720. You will see great increases in your computer speed for about 100-120 bucks.

 

[ArcticPenguin]

Once you get the other items set in place (CPU and GPU, etc) i'd definitely look at a harddrive upgrade if youre looking into video editing.
Not sure how crazy you want to get with it...I'd say something along the lines of a 640 WD Black they are fast and pretty decently priced.
Otherwise SSD might work if you wanted to go that route.

 

[blackersabbath]

Thanks for the suggestions. I have to get a new motherboard before a CPU. My motherboard is an AM2. Does anyone have a recommendation for a solid AM2+/AM3 board that supports DDR2 and has onboard graphics? I would like to go crossfire or SLI eventually and would like to spend around 100 bucks (give or take 10-20 bucks)