Best Processor?

[notroubleclubber]

Im in the UK

After reading another thread asking about processors i thought id start my own.

My mame rig at the mo is a P4 2.8GHZ with 2GB Ram ,on board grafix and a 100gb HD. Ive got dreamcast, n64 and PS emus on there and as well as mame seem to play everything quite well (I dont play CHDs and only play freeware pc games.Its running Maximus Frontend with Windows XP Pro.

My pc rig at the mo is Athlon 64 4200+ X2 processor with a Nforce 430 Mobo. Its running 1.5GB Ram(just waititng for the 4GB ive ordered to turn up so will be 4GB ram as got 2 slots and 2GB sticks in each). Im also running a ATI Sapphire HD 2600 Pro Grafix card and have ample HD space too. Im looking at upgrading this processor for a Athlon 6400+ (this is the max my mobo will take). The current processor is currently overclocked from 2.2Ghz to around 2.5Ghz on standard cooling. Im hoping to run about 3.5Ghz once i get the newer processor OC on standard cooling.

Now my question is i havent got alot of money but wondering if i can better either my pc rig or mame rig with the parts i got left. For example, will i get better gaming from my mame rig if i put the 4200+ processor in there with a cheap mobo (wont be compatible with my current setup) and use the 1.5 - 2GB Ram i got spare in the new mobo for mame rig. I may stretch to putting the grafix card in there as well as may want to play newer games (COD etc). I may then get a 9800GT to put in my pc rig, however i dont use my pc rig for gaming.

Whats the best option i can go for without spending megabucks.

[Blanka]

Don't upgrade, go new. Even the cheapest Core i3 with a very basic videocard will blow both options. You are having mostly 65-130nm chips there, where 32nm is becoming more and more standard today. So that is 2-4 generations in Moore's terms.

[notroubleclubber]

As you can imagine i havent been into upgrading my pc for a while!

My ram is 2 x 2gb PC2 5300 NonEEC that i am receiving (already paid for). If i go for a i3 system could i use this ram on the new mobo(im guessing i need a new mobo for the i3?)

Would the i3 work with the p4 mobo? I dont think my ram will fit in this as it seems to have different shaped ram.

[LeedsFan]

The i3 and i5 chips require an 1175 socket MB.