Best upgrade option for a cheap gamer

[Deleted]

Hello You wonderful guys/gals @MMOChamp-Computer section!

Let's get over with the setup first:

CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q9650 @3.00GHz (stock)
Mobo: ASUS P5Q-PRO
RAM: 6Gb DDR-2 PC2-6400
GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 275
CPU cooler: Thermaltake Contac 21
PSU: Zalman ZM750-HP 750W ATX
OS: Windows 7 PRO 64-bit

Upgrade amount: 400-500€

Okay, so I bought this "bad boy" back in 2009 and it has served me really well, but I suspect that it needs a face lift for the upcoming fall. I've been playing WoW at low/medium settings with a satisfaction but I've abandoned it nowdays. Mainly I'm playing LoL and some FPSes currently.

I'm a full-time student so I don't have much to put in for the upgrade, but I still like to game and my trustworthy computer might not have the juice to run the games I want in the future. I will be able to shell out the above mentioned amount in the next month so now I'm asking what is the best course of action?

I've read some forums about my CPU+Mobo pairing being good for OCing, but I have to admit I'm kinda on the noobish side on OCing. So that might be an option, but I would need good instructions for it. Then again I'm thinking that my RAM couldn't handle it...

-Jusa-

[Toffie]

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£163.14 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£24.40 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£66.20 @ Aria PC)
Memory: Corsair 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£47.98 @ Dabs)
Video Card: PowerColor Radeon HD 7870 XT 2GB Video Card (£180.42 @ Ebuyer)
Total: £482.14
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-10 15:22 BST+0100)

Will enable to run WoW maxed with a tiny 4.2GHz CPU overclock.
Guide : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=668ATnnBOZU

15 % decrease in performance in WoW for the cost of an SSD If you havent got one that is.

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant / Benchmarks

CPU: Intel Core i5-3570K 3.4GHz Quad-Core Processor (£163.14 @ Aria PC)
CPU Cooler: Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO 82.9 CFM Sleeve Bearing CPU Cooler (£24.40 @ Amazon UK)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-Z77-DS3H ATX LGA1155 Motherboard (£66.20 @ Aria PC)
Memory: Corsair 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory (£47.98 @ Dabs)
Storage: Samsung 840 Series 120GB 2.5" Solid State Disk (£75.29 @ Amazon UK)
Video Card: EVGA GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost 1GB Video Card (£131.48 @ Dabs)
Total: £508.49
(Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available.)
(Generated by PCPartPicker 2013-06-10 15:25 BST+0100)