If you need to upgrade your MoBo and CPU, the only item left to make it a gaming PC is the graphics card. Is a decent Graphics card more expensive than a console?
Well, my current PC uses the ATX form factor motherboard, and a case to match....if they've changed the motherboard format, then the case will no longer fit.
What I *know* is that I need to replace my motherboard, CPU, probably my RAM (mine is DDR1), my sound card (mine seems to be shorting out....it's an old Soundblaster Audigy, and I'm getting static now, that intermittently comes in and out when playing anything with sound....music, games, video files, etc.). And my video card. Also my power supply fan is on the fritz, and just about ready to kick the bucket.
At least from what I've seen, to get a decent video card, you're looking at about $120-200.....and that's for a slightly older one....you *could* pay up to $600 for a top of the line video card, but that's more than I need.
I don't need a monitor, keyword, mouse, speakers or printer, as over the last few months, I've added dual LCD monitors, a new router, network card, and a laser printer/scanner/copier (didn't pay for this....my old printer broke, and I found that I had bought a four year extended warranty on it at Future Shop, so I brouight the old one there, found that they don't service the manufacturer anymore, so they gave me a new Samsung unit for free).
So I pretty much need to upgrade the core machine, because most of the parts are getting old.
Banshee