To upgrade or not to upgrade?

Hi guys,
I've been wondering if I should maybe upgrade my gaming rig that i bought about two years ago, I can run all games that I know off but can't run for example GTA4 on best quality.
Windows vista score of 5.6
Processor:
Intel core 2 duo E6850 @3.00Ghz
Ram:
(DDR2) Corsair 2gigs
Video card:
Nvidia 8800GTX
Motherboard:
Gigabyte X38-DQ6
Nothing's overclocked, I run vista 32bit.
Do I have enough juice to keep playing the newest games on decent quality or is upgrading recommended?
If upgrading is viable, what should I upgrade?Can I still upgrade (can my mobo handle it)?

join the cool kids and get vista 64! + 2 more gigs of ram. your computer will probably handle games for a while to come. GTA4 was made very graphically intense because they wanted to optimize it for future systems so no big deal there.

GTA4 is one of the very few games out there that reportedly runs better on a quad core... also running Vista (even 32bit) with just 2 GB of RAM is like towing a trailer with a Chevy S10... maybe you can do it, but it's slower and sluggish. Vista needs 2 Gb just to run well by itself. Get 4 GB of RAM (even if it's 32bit you will still benefit allot, esp. for games and 3D programs). Depending on what games you play you might want to upgrade your video card as well. The 8800GTX was a beast of a card, but it's mid end at best right now. If you have a decent power supply already then you could shell out $200 and get a tremendously powerful video card (comparatively at least) & a RAM upgrade which = BIG BOOST in gaming, esp, newer titles.

Thank you for replies.

My biggest concern with upgrading the video card is that technology moves so darn fast!
Are there any new things graphics-wise coming up that would totally be THE new hype so I don't buy a new high-end card that's after a week worth nothing anymore?
Well, the RAM upgrade was already decided half and half cause indeed, I've got still more sockets and RAM is Gored!ing cheap!
Maybe I should shell out the big guns and go directly for a Nvidia 295GTX?
Is the extra bucks really worth the difference?
Maybe one of you tech gurus could propose a decent card for me?
Processor-wise, I will probably wait for that, I'm not into the whole quad-core thing...
One question, if I buy a nvidia 295GTX will it be like only one year untill i end up buying another graphics card?Does it have future?
Going to the shop later to get me some highspeed ram.

id go ahead and upgrade the video card along with getting a better powersupply neither would hurt you if say in a year you decide to upgrade something else say you motherboard and cpu. thats how i tend to update my stuff a few things a year. as for ram its dirt cheap i say why not youll see more performance afterwards 2 gigs is the ultra low i recommend for vista anymore.

Your current setup is fine.

However, one thing that concerns me is that your motherboard uses the ATI chipset and you're running an Nvidia card. If you plan on upgrading your graphics card, I'd suggest getting an ATI card.

Buy the following and relax knowing that you can handle any game out there including Crysis on high and will be fine for the next couple years or more.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboD...t=Combo.193020

now you didn't list your PSU, but you ought to have at least a 600watt with 2 6pin connectors and at least 18A on the +12V rail(s).... if you don't have that then get the following:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139006

that gives you enough juice that you could even run an SLI setup if you wished....


****there is not an issue in this day and age with running NVIDIA on AMD chipsets or with running ATI on Intel chipsets.... any combination of the above is valid****