Graphics card.

[Greyblades]

I've been noticing that my computer has been performing less than a quad core processer should be doing and I think it's the video card so I've got some money ~£400 and I've been thinking of a GeForce GTX 560TI (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Asus-GeForce-560TI-DirectCUII-Graphics/dp/B004K8R8DA/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1329584611&sr=1-1) but I'm not sure my computer is compatable or that the GTX is a good choice.
Here's my specs as far as I can figure out with CPU-Z:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600
Motherboard: BIOSTAR TP45 HP
Ram: 2X4GB DDR2
Graphics card: Radeon HD 4870
Power: Seasonic SS-600HT

Can I get it or are there any good alternatives that will work with it?

[naut]

Hmmm. Your CPU clocks at 2.4ghz? In single threaded applications that'll cause some slowness not related to GPU. But a CPU upgrade would likely involve a mobo too. On the GPU side a 6970 or a 7770 are probably best value for money currently.

[Greyblades]

Eh, the CPU seems to serve, I have noticed some lagging in none graphic intensive stuff, but I always thought that was due to not wiping the disk I have windows installed on for more than a year and most games these days are multi core compatable. Also I really, Really, dont want the bother of installing a new motherboard.
Value for money isnt much of a concern, the higher graphic cards are about £200 and I have £260, more than enough. Though the chances of me getting the same amount in the near future is somewhat slim after this purchase so I want to know I'm getting a keeper.

[Whacker]

You'll get some additional performance, but your CPU/mobo/ram will be your choke point. Games these days are much more cpu limited than gpu. You can get an Intel 2500k, decent Asus mobo and 8gb of g.skill ddr3 for not a whole lot, and the 2500k will overclock like a beast even on stock cooling.

[Greyblades]

I honestly didn't expect that, I'd normally think my quad core and 8gigs of ram would be pretty good.

[Furunculus]

Games these days are much more cpu limited than gpu.

i'd say the opposite personally.

my mum has my old pc with a Q6700 (the one up from here) paired with a GTX460 (the one down from 560Ti) and she is going great-guns on skyrim with graphics maxed out and all that jazz.

if GB were going to spend £450 on a top of line AMD 7970 then i would agree that his Q6600 would be a bottleneck, but, a £150 560Ti should be more than worth his while.

[Greyblades]

So 560Ti is a good choice?

[Husar]

I'm with Furunculus.

Some games are somewhat CPU-limited because they don't use all four cores of a quad core.
Other than that a lot of my problems seem to stem from my GTX 460 having only 768MB RAM.
It still runs Skyrim with the official high res textures and almost maxed out otherwise really well. A few small hickups, but those only seem to come with the high-res textures and are probably VRAM related as I said.

And I have an AMD Phenom 2 x4 [high number, 965?] BE, which isn't far from your Intel IIRC.

[Greyblades]

Ok I've bought it and I've got it right now, now to find an online guide on how to install it safely without reducing it to a expensive paperweight.

[Furunculus]

these should do you:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ILrq7lMe-0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9x097QRXeA

[Greyblades]

Thanks, though I found my own yesterday.
I've got to say I've noticed an improvement since I installed the card, though not the 100Kps on Kingarthur 2 or shogun 2 at maximum graphics I was hoping, though I'm not exactly sure why I was expecting that from a £150 card.

[Furunculus]

should be great at shogun, my old 5870 copes quite adequately T 5760X1200 IN dx11 MODE

[Greyblades]

It does, though it still gets choppy in huge battles, I guess I should lay off the anti aliasing.