[Joe_]

Ok here goes.

I rarely ever ask for advice on computers, but I am in a REALLY tight situation.

I have no way of money income, asking parents is just LOW and, they themself seem like their having financial problems, just keep that in mind when you say "get this and that and you're good to go!".

Here's the thing:

I have a Dual core E2140, stock speed is 1,6GHZ. Front Side Bus stock is 200 MHZ, with a multiplier of 8.0.
I've had this stable overclock for quite a while, of only 1.95GHZ.

I have one stick of 1GB DDR2 800MHz RAM.

My EPIC letdown is my motherboard.

When I initially brought the computer, I was on a budget, and knew rather little on the things I'd need for what games I run.

Here's the information from the MB.

Motherboard: ECS G31T-M7
Chipset: Intel G31 (Bearlake) + ICH7
BIOS Date: 07/31/08
BIOS Version: 080014

Ok, so the two Only games that I get problems with performance, are ofcourse, the infamous FSX and FS2004.

FSX Pretty much uses raw CPU speed, that being said, I had yet another go of overclocking, and as usual, the same results.

Changing the FSB past 240, the Computer POSTs, but does not boot into windows, instead hangs at a black screen.

So I'm assuming this crappy mobo has a 240 FSB wall.

Now all other things / ideas that come to mind are the following:

RAM Timings
Change VCORE

Big problem, this BIOS does not have vcore settings nor RAM settings, the only settings for RAM are changing the frequency (auto, 667, 800), tried all with no positive outcome.

So then I thought I'd update the BIOS, which to my supprise, I've never done a BIOS flash, so doing some intense research on how to and the negatives turned out really bad.

You could possibly kill your CMOS battery / stop your mobo working all together.

Looking at that, you get to that common "Should I or not?" stage.

I then looked for other people with the same problem(s).

Most people suggested a BIOS update, the user then did, with no positive outcome, so I ditched the BIOS updating, and YES. I Did check to see if they had the same mobo/BIOS manufacturers.

So I am REALLY out of options.

I have a overclocked 9800GT (1GB GDDR3 SDRAM) which made, to my supprise, a 20FPS difference (!!!) to a extremely CPU bound game, for those who play FSX/FS9 you will understand better.

Now having some advice from a computer tech (he's a MSN friend of mine, works on the same server as I) he recommended a budjet gaming computer for me, in a rather good price range (Ј500-Ј600).

But I have no INCOME! and begging parents, is LOW, and it is EXTREMELY LOW when they are having Financial issues, as you can guess.

If I ever reach a streak of luck, and get Ј600, I'd probably go by my own instinct and buy what I want to fit my gaming needs.

I'm not one to go around buying uneedless crap for the sake of it, and buying every new game out there.

Afterall, I am still playing GTA SA & FS2004.

Ofcourse with FSX being released in the (late 2006's?) I am going for a dual core.

Not only, in my opinion do older games run better on the hardware they were officially MEANT to run on, but Dual cores are cheap nowdays, due to the release of the i7's.

Here's what I would personally buy.

Core 2 Duo E8400 @ 3.0GHz
4GB DDR3 (Maybe 2, depends on what fits the situation) RAM
I'd fit my 9800GT in, and get a cooler.
And if still on budjet, Windows 7 home premium.

Now mainly the E8400 because of its overclock abilities.

"WHY?? E5200 > E8400 NAAB!!!!11"

E8400 Starts off at a fast CPU speed, overclocking should be rather more stable, and I'm planning on keeping this computer until I'm 18, which is around ( 3 3/4 ) years.

SOO.. I really need some guidance on what I should decide to do.

Thanks in advance, Joe.

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