Newbie... can my rig run and more..

[Naysayer]

Ughmahedhurtz is one of the most helpful dudes around here, and he's usually spot on when he posts tips for the noobs. Just wanted to point that out. If you disagree you're wrong and probably a lying asshole.

[Naysayer]

Tovya, can you post a more detailed spec's list and what kind of budget you have? I bet you'll get some really good upgrade suggestions if you take the time.

[Tovya]

Tovya, can you post a more detailed spec's list and what kind of budget you have? I bet you'll get some really good upgrade suggestions if you take the time.

Absolutely! Here's my Belarc Advisor print out, hope it's enough detail

Operating Sysytem: 
Windows XP Home Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)

System Model:         
SYX snc302eeh 
Enclosure Type: Desktop

Processor: 
2.67 gigahertz Intel Core2 Duo
64 kilobyte primary memory cache
3072 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Main Circuit Board:         
Board: MSI G31M3-F Intel G31
Bus Clock: 267 megahertz
BIOS: American Megatrends Inc. V1.2B3 01/15/2009

Memory Modules:
3072 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'DIMM1' has 1024 MB
Slot 'DIMM2' has 2048 MB

Drives:
1500.06 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
706.17 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

COMBO 52X32X52X [CD-ROM drive]
MagicISO Virtual DVD-ROM0000 [CD-ROM drive]
MagicISO Virtual DVD-ROM0001 [CD-ROM drive]

Hitachi HDP725050GLA360 [Hard drive] (500.11 GB) -- drive 0
WD 10EACS External USB Device [Hard drive] (1000.20 GB) -- drive 1

Local Drive Volumes:
c: (NTFS on drive 0)      500.10 GB     309.70 GB free
g: (FAT32 on drive 1)    999.96 GB     396.47 GB free

Controllers:
Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 27DF
Intel(R) 82801GB/GR/GH (ICH7 Family) Serial ATA Storage Controller - 27C0
Primary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x)
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x)

Display:
        NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT [Display adapter]
AOC LM942 [Monitor] (19.1"vis, s/n 93069CA001959, September 2006)
HSD Hanns.G iX191 [Monitor] (19.1"vis, s/n 841CH1NA00634, October 2008)

Multimedia:
        Realtek High Definition Audio
USB Audio Device

Bus Adapters:
MagicISO SCSI Host Controller
Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27C8
Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27C9
Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27CA
Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB Universal Host Controller - 27CB
Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 27CC
Sony Ericsson seehcri Control Device

As for my budget, it's pretty much non-existent right now full time student + part time job = just enough to scrape by. Whoever said it's never too late to go back to school should have said "Except when the economy crashes" lol. Anyway... gradual expenses I can handle ($75 for two new sticks of DDR2 2GB RAM today, $150 for whatever next month, etc) just nothing major really.

Ughmahedhurtz is one of the most helpful dudes around here, and he's usually spot on when he posts tips for the noobs. Just wanted to point that out. If you disagree you're wrong and probably a lying asshole.

lol I kinda gathered that from reading his posts on the forums. I'll always take helpful advice =)

[Naysayer]

As for my budget, it's pretty much non-existent right now full time student + part time job = just enough to scrape by. Whoever said it's never too late to go back to school should have said "Except when the economy crashes" lol. Anyway... gradual expenses I can handle ($75 for two new sticks of DDR2 2GB RAM today, $150 for whatever next month, etc) just nothing major really.

You say you're already upgrading to 4g of ram, which is what you need to do, but you won't notice much of a performance increase until you upgrade to windows vista 64 or windows 7. Your motherboard maxes at 4g, and you should switch it out for a better one, but that isn't necessary if you're happy with it's performance while running 4g ram and vista/7. It would just allow you to eventually drop in more ram, which would let you run everything at a better level of settings, faster loading of all 4 guys, and smoother framerate. You're running the MSI G31 while the G41 will run 8g ram at only $60.00 on newegg.com, and everything (processor, current ram, ect) will transfer over easily.

Just a little overview of what I'd do if I were you.
-buy vista 64
-increase ram to 6-8 gigs
-buy new motherboard
-overclock the processor to a fairly safe speed with no extra cooling required. (lots of easy to follow guides to do this)