I recently got a bit of a cash to upgrade my pc getting a new graphics card and more ram. Though not changing the CPU and was thinking how a new and better CPU cooler would affect the CPU's performance?

What is the temperature of your CPU usually?

CPU cooler doesn't affect the performance of the CPU, it just keeps it from overheating, that is the main purpose. However, if your CPU is too hot (80+ C) then you should change the cooler as the CPU won't perform as well if it's close to 100 C, not to mention you run the risk of frying it or your motherboard. But if it's around 50 C then don't bother as a new cooler won't affect your performance.

If you overclock your processor then there is a chance you will get more power,
Some processors are so cheap that you might as well get a new motherboard.
Don't waste your money on a new graphics card when you could have a system which will do so much more for just a bit more outlay of money

Look at the AMD Sempron and AMD Am2 cpus, they are cheap and work very well for the money

intel are more expensive

How much money do you have for the upgrade?

Im getting a 7600GT and 1GB DDR today in a half an hour
and maybe get a Zalman CNPS7000B-AlCu CPU Cooler cause the CPU
really gets hot after long use.

Though im not planning to change the motherboard cause its already been changed to a new one like a month ago and not planning to get a new one so early maybe later i will but ill get all mixed up cause i should change the video card again to a PCI-E one cause im getting an AGP one which fits to my motherboard right now same with memory modules.

I would have 150$ left if id buy the 7600GT and 1GB of RAM + 40$ for the CPU cooler.

P.S. how can i check my CPUs temperature?

I'd spend as little money as you can on that system. Would be wiser to save for a motherboard and pci-e graphics card upgrade. You might even have enough.

If you must update what you have don't bother with the new CPU cooler.

Well then i can have a 2GB memory instead of buying the CPU cooler.
Cause i think im not upgrading to a new motherboard right now and my dad wants to play Far Cry 2 as fast as possible ^^ so im off to the shop right now. Thank you for the answers

back Well i got the MSI 7600GT AGP DDR2 video card with 2x1GB PQI DDR 400MHz memory modules all paid for 225$

going to get the pc and the new parts to the manufacturers of the pc to
stick the new parts in

Unless it's under warranty, which it won't be, read about doing it yourself. It'll take all of about 10-15 minutes to fit those components and costs you nothing.

...Sadly it isn't going to run Far Cry 2 well/at all.

There are components with warranty so i have to bring the pc to them to install the parts i know how to do it myself but if ill open the pc them parts will be under warranty.

And its going to run Far Cry 2 dont talk nonsense why it couldnt work?

Quote from spenceris :

And its going to run Far Cry 2 dont talk nonsense why it couldnt work?

It's not nonesense, your machine might not reach the minimum spec for the game. I would have thought it would tho, not checked it.

Just means you'll probably need to have the graphics on low.

i saw a guy playing Far Cry 2 on the 7600GT with 2 gb ram but his CPu was better though. The CPU might be a problem though.