Upgrading my PC, but where do I start?

[Dizzam]

So I want to upgrade my computer so it can run games better. I'll give you what I currently am running and then some ideas
I've had for upgrades. Hopefully some of you that are more
computer savvy can help me out.

My System:

Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)


Motherboard:
CPU Type AMD Athlon 64, 2033 MHz (10 x 203) 3200+
Motherboard Name Abit AV8 / AV8-3rd Eye / RocketBoy AV8 (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 DDR DIMM, Audio, Gigabit LAN, IEEE-1394)
Motherboard Chipset VIA K8T800Pro, AMD Hammer
System Memory 1024 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type Award (07/28/05)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port Printer Port (LPT1)

Display:
Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 (256 MB)
3D Accelerator nVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Monitor HW191D [NoDB] (625GH30CA0649)

Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Creative SB Live! 5.1 Sound Card

Storage:
IDE Controller VIA Bus Master IDE Controller
SCSI/RAID Controller VIA SATA RAID Controller
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive VIA SATA RAID 0 SCSI Disk Device (298 GB)
Optical Drive SONY DVD RW DW-D22A (DVD+R9:2.4x, DVD+RW:16x/4x, DVD-RW:8x/4x, DVD-ROM:16x, CD:48x/24x/48x DVD+RW/DVD-RW)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions:
E: (NTFS) 305242 MB (221951 MB free)

Input:
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse Microsoft USB IntelliMouse Optical

Network:
Network Adapter VIA Networking Velocity Family Giga-bit Ethernet Adapter (24.117.236.186)
Modem Standard Modem

Peripherals:
Printer Auto HP DeskJet 895Cse on DELL
USB1 Controller VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB1 Controller VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB1 Controller VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB1 Controller VIA VT83C572 PCI-USB Controller
USB2 Controller VIA USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller
USB Device Microsoft USB IntelliMouse Optical


I guess my question comes down to what are my options for upgrading? My budget is 400 to 600 but the cheaper the better. Of course I want to be able to run games like Oblivion at good settings (not necessarily highest) smoothly. If I should replace my motherboard as well can I use the same tower and hard drive I am currently running? Thank you so much for all of your help.

[flanzig1]

You best bet for an upgrade is for a video card. Something like an Nvidia 7600GS. Wouldn't spend too much on an old AGP system. That mobo is probably a 939 socket and the few CPUs around can be pricey and maybe not much of an increase of performance.
If you go with a mobo upgrade, you will need a new CPU/motherboard/ram/PSU/video card. Which will blow your budget.

[shadowpr]

might want to try another gb of ram. not sure how much that would help, but it might.

could someone else confirm that?

[Cricket]

What kind of computer is this? Home built or name brand?

Cricket

[Krazeee]

Depending on how many DIMMs have been used, I'd get another Gig of ram and a new Vid card. Based on older technology, that's about all I'd bother doing with it to be honest.

Corsair ValueSelect 1gb 184-pin DDR 400 (pc3200) - $55
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145505

Or get a matching pair of ram sticks
OCZ Patinum 2gb (2 x 1gb) 184-pin DDR 400 (pc3200) - $140
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820227210

Here's my 'bang-for-your-buck' AGP choice

HIS Hightech Radeon X1950PRO 512MB - $180
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814161071