New processor needed?

[sziha]

Hello everybody!

I want to ask you to help me upgrading my computer.

Until November my computer looked like that:

OS: Windows 7 professional 64-bit
Motherboard: Asus P5LD2 (LGA775)
Processor: Intel Pentium D830 3GHz (2 cores)
Graphic card: Gigabyte nVidia Ge-Force 6600 GT
RAM: Kingston 3Gb DDR2-533 MHz
HDD: WD Caviar Black 1TB

And on the first December I bought a new graphic card: Gigabyte nVidia Ge-Force GTX470 (GV-N470SO-13I)

After installing new graphic card (and new PSU - corsair AX750) (oh, and 2 more fans on my case) I run FSX and... i didn't see any huge increase of performance. What's more I on not much detailed scenery and on crowded airport my framerate don't exceed 4fps...
So I checked how much the CPU and GPU are used during the game.
CPU is always 100% used, both cores, GPU is used maybe in 10-20%.

I have also played new Need for Speed Most Wanted and also the problem is the same, framerate is very low.

So I decied to buy a new processor. I have following options:

1) Buy a faster processor, LGA775 in order not to change motherboard
I'm thinking of Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650
2) Buy a new motherboard and think about Intel i5 or i7.

The problem is that I don't really have enough money to buy a new motherboard to, so I'd rather buy just processor LGA775.

I just want you to give me your opinion is my understanding correct, and maybe you have any other propositions??
I'll appreciate any constructive opinion. Thanks in advance!

[fxsttcb]

I'm thinking of Intel Core 2 Extreme QX9650

The Asus website "CPU support list" for the latest BIOS upgrade stops at the Core 2 Extreme X6800, and the Core 2 Duo E6700 is probably the fastest you might find available.

A newer CPU than the E6000 series will not only require a new mobo, but RAM also. Everything else should be OK.

Those components upgraded to the LGA1156/1366 standards with DDR3-1600 RAM will last for quite some time. Performance is dependant on your budget.

If things are really tight you could opt for a new LGA775 mobo and E8000 series CPU to save a little, but your RAM will still need replacing.

It also will depend on availability near you to avoid expensive shipping...Don

[sziha]

Thank you for the answer!

I went through E6700 specification and it's the same as my poor old D830. It just needs less energy. U were right, X6800 is unavailable. Pity, I'd buy one^^
U concentrated on processor, so I assume that it's the main cause of my problems.

OK, so let's assume that I hmm... won on a lottery. Great perspective.

Should I buy one of i7 (e.g. 950 - it costs almost the same as 930) or e.g. QX9650? Is there big difference between them?
And what motherboard should I buy in this case? I need a place for second GTX470 for 2-way SLI in future.
For motherboard I need also USB 3.0.
Besides, do u think that e.g. gigabyte motherboard or any other is more reliable than asus' ? After 4 years my asus motherboard has broken ethernet port and soundcard(integrated one).