I've got £300, what do I spend it on?

[kain222]

I'm running a pretty low-end PC at the moment, but I've recently got a bunch of money to spend so I thought I'd get an upgrade.

My specs are:
Microsoft Windows XP
Home edition
Version 2002
Service pack 3.

Intel(R) Premium(R) Dual CPU.
E2160 @ 1.80GHz
1.79GHz, 2.00 GB ram.
Physical Adress Extension.

GeForce 8500 GT

(That's about all I could actually find, I'm not all that technology-minded.)

I've no idea what to actually get, or what needs improving, though.

Also, how hard is it to upgrade your computer? I've never done something like this before and I'm afraid I'll screw something up. Should I just pay a proffesional to do it for me?

Thanks in advance.

[SnOwBunZz]

I guess you won't let me go off easy as well.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...d=6&subcat=567
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...14&subcat=1854

You need thermal grease for the CPU, but you can get that in nearly every small PC store for like 5eurs/usd/gbp.

As for it being hard, search for guides on youtube or tomshardware.com or so. If you really feel uncertain get a professional AND DO IT TOGETHER.

Edit: what brand and wattage is your PSU? You'll have to screw your case open for this.

[kain222]

It's not so much being worried about getting the things -in- there, so long as I have some kind of guide which shows me what goes where I think I'll be fine, I was just a bit concerned on the software side of things - as in programs I need to install, ecetera.

I'll probably go ahead and grab the video card and install that to just get a feel for it all, then check out the CPU at a later date, as that seems fairly simple and a good way to get started.

I've no idea what brand/wattage my power supply unit is, how should I find out?

Also, will making these upgrades speed up my gaming considerabley? At the moment I'm having to run Mass Effect 2 in 800x600 resolution with toned down graphics, and some games such as global agenda have some terribad framerates at times.