after about a year of generally not being kept up to scratch (haven't been defragging as much as I should, haven't done a format evar, no hardware upgrades) and it's starting to tell, things are definately getting sluggish. maybe they've just been improving the graphics engine, but I could swear I've lost 10-20 fps in TF2 o_0 so it's time for a spring clean, even if it isn't spring yet. what do you guys do in these situations?
- carrying out a backup if I were to format everything shouldn't be too much of a problem, we've got an external HDD 250gb (same size as my hard drive) kicking about somewhere, but that wouldn't be ideal as it's already got some stuff on it. thing is, I don't know where to start. after uninstalling/reinstalling windows, could I really just plonk back everything into C drive and it would work fine and dandy?
- would it be worth getting another 250gb and putting it in RAID with my current one (how the hell do you do that anyway)? get a faster HDD? a combination of the two? for speed more than for storage space, but it would be nice if I could use it to make this backup easier.
speaking of hardware upgrades, RAM - got 2x1gb sticks of DDR2 in, this stuff I think (or something very similair)
http://www.ocztechnology.com/products/m ... al_channel. I have room for another 2 DDR2 sticks, and slots for dual channel DDR3. what's the most cost-efficient improvement I can make here?
- another set of dual channel DDR2 and hope it doesn't upset my overclock too much (pretty inevitable that it will)? does it have to be the very same kind as the ones I've got already?
- or the DDR3 option? I'm wary of DDR3, partly because of the price tag, partly because I have a feeling that the only real use for it is to do major overclocks on faster processers than mine.
SYSTEM SPECz
CPU - Intel Dual Core E2180 overclocked to 3.0ghz (not getting any more out of it any time soon. I can look into what the mobo can and can't take it you want, but I know it won't manage i7's or anything)
RAM - see above
graphics card - 8800gt, 512mb, updated drivers (I'm pretty sure). don't really want to replace it yet.
- I hear that you can overclock these things a bit? tell me more!
HDD - Western Digital 250gb 7200rpm. wouldn't mind something faster, depending on price. storage space isn't a problem.
power - big meaty corsair that can take any upgrades you want to put on this.
monitor is running at 1680x1050. rig is for gaming obv :p
at the end of the day, looking to spend as little money as possible for maximum effect, so budget doesn't really come into it.
phew. that's a pretty major lot to take in, but if you can give me any advice at all, or answer any of the questions (even if it's just a couple of random ones) it would be very much appreciated!
edit: seperated out my actual questions to make it a bit easier to digest