im considering upgrading my CPU. right now it is a AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual core processor  5600+ running at 2.8 ghz. i think this is a bit aged but i really dont know. My motherboard is Asus m2n32 sli premium. i dont think a brand new processor will fit in to the socket but i just want a little upgrade. If i do this will i notice an improvement in how my games run on my computer?

Figure out what is bottle-necking your game performance; GPU, ram or CPU. Your CPU sounds alright for average performance in the games currently going around but you may want to look at upgrading in half a year or so.

Upgrading your CPU is rarely an effective route to take.  I would focus first on RAM. You need at least 2 GB for games, although 4 GB would be an optimal amount. Once you get above 6 GB, your returns start to diminish drastically. Your motherboard can handle up to 8 GB assuming that you are running a 64-bit OS. A somewhat recent video card isn't a bad idea. I would go to tomshardware.com and look up their monthly list of best video cards for the money. This month the card in the lowest price bracket was an ATI Radeon HD 4650 for ~$50. Even a relatively lower end card like that can still play most games at medium to high settings on normal-person resolutions.

" Upgrading your CPU is rarely an effective route to take.  I would focus first on RAM.

What amd cpus does your mobo support? Does it support am2, am2+ and amd3?

I'd be turfing that CPU, the Athlon X2 is long past it's use buy date and will pretty much bottle neck any new card you may happen to through in the box.

It's always worth upgrading a computer, in my book.

" im considering upgrading my CPU. right now it is a AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual core processor  5600+ running at 2.8 ghz. i think this is a bit aged but i really dont know. My motherboard is Asus m2n32 sli premium. i dont think a brand new processor will fit in to the socket but i just want a little upgrade. If i do this will i notice an improvement in how my games run on my computer? "

"

What amd cpus does your mobo support? Does it support am2, am2+ and amd3?

"

" @nixatron said:

" im considering upgrading my CPU. right now it is a AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual core processor  5600+ running at 2.8 ghz. i think this is a bit aged but i really dont know. My motherboard is Asus m2n32 sli premium. i dont think a brand new processor will fit in to the socket but i just want a little upgrade. If i do this will i notice an improvement in how my games run on my computer? "

@HitmanAgent47 said:

"

What amd cpus does your mobo support? Does it support am2, am2+ and amd3?

"

That motherboard supports the modern Phenom X3 and X4 and Phenom II CPUs in AM2+ packages.  I Think that would be your best bet, something like the Phenom X4 9950 Black Edition would be a good upgrade.   How much RAM do you have? "

Hmm, then it does sound like a CPU bottleneck, also coodos for getting 5870 in december, they weren't manufacturing enough to supply Australia, so I've had to settle for a 4980. But I'm afraid I don't know too much about AMD cpus.