Need suggestions on Processor and Motherboard?

[SuperStarr]

Hello Lovelies. :heyhey:


I have a custom built PC that I've had for some years that I keep upgrading here and there. After frying my Power supply today I decided to take an approach on boosting my Processor or CPU. If I'm confusing you as much as I confuse myself, then the real question is how can I make my computer even faster?

The real reason in me doing this is I'm a Sims 2/3 hoarder, 14GBs downloads and hate the lag of my PC when running the game and the scare of overheating when I run it. :blink: Plus I study 3D Animation and am always rendering and in and out of Lightwave. That's why my 500W Power supply fried, I now have a 760W and with it I know I can keep upgrading. I don't know much about computers and that is why I am asking.

My Specs:
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit (6.1, Build 7601) Service Pack 1 (7601.win7sp1_gdr.110622-1506)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: System manufacturer
System Model: System Product Name
BIOS: BIOS Date: 10/07/08 10:19:30 Ver: 08.00.14
Processor: Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU E5200 @ 2.50GHz (2 CPUs), ~2.5GHz
Memory: 8192MB RAM
Available OS Memory: 8192MB RAM
Page File: 2229MB used, 14150MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
User DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
System DPI Setting: 96 DPI (100 percent)
DWM DPI Scaling: Disabled
DxDiag Version: 6.01.7601.17514 32bit Unicode
---------------
Display Devices
---------------
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce 9500 GT
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_0640&SUBSYS_0643196E&REV_A1
Display Memory: 4069 MB
Dedicated Memory: 997 MB
Shared Memory: 3071 MB
Current Mode: 1680 x 1050 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor Name: Generic PnP Monitor
Monitor Model: FPD2185W
Monitor Id: GWY088A
Native Mode: 1680 x 1050(p) (60.003Hz)
Output Type: DVI
Driver Name: nvd3dumx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvwgf2umx.dll,nvd3dum,nvwgf2um,nvwgf2um
Driver File Version: 8.17.0012.8026 (English)
Driver Version: 8.17.12.8026
DDI Version: 10
Driver Model: WDDM 1.1
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/3/2011 06:50:00, 15064168 bytes
WHQL Logo'd: Yes
WHQL Date Stamp:
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4500-11CF-8465-4F261FC2C535}
---------------
EVR Power Information
---------------
Current Setting: {5C67A112-A4C9-483F-B4A7-1D473BECAFDC} (Quality)
Quality Flags: 2576
Enabled:
Force throttling
Allow half deinterlace
Allow scaling
Decode Power Usage: 100
Balanced Flags: 1424
Enabled:
Force throttling
Allow batching
Force half deinterlace
Force scaling
Decode Power Usage: 50
PowerFlags: 1424
Enabled:
Force throttling
Allow batching
Force half deinterlace
Force scaling
Decode Power Usage: 0

Sorry if this is too much info, or too less of information. What is the best move here? I don't need the best, just need more than what I have. :lovestruc
[Edit]: I have an Asus motherbord

[ellacharmed]

What's the motherboard model? And Power Supply model, for that 760W?
Good with that GPU, and playing at that resolution? Or planning to get a bigger monitor a few months/years down the line?
What's the budget? Country of purchase? And you are OK with assembling stuff yourself?

If you're doing 3D stuff, you'd benefit from a Quad-Core processor. Changing processor means changing motherboard and RAM (different motherboard chipsets, different processors and RAM). But, once you do that, you'll be bottlenecked by that GPU.

If you just want to get a new processor, still need the motherboard brand and model, to see what other dual-cores are still available out there in the market for that chipset.