currently have this set up: AMD 4200+ X2 (2.2ghz), 2gb ram (400mhz), Geforce 8800 GTS 512mb, Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe motherboard with WD 640gb AKS HD + 300 gb maxtor.

if i were to upgrade to the following without clocking would i see/feel any drastic changes in performace?

Asus Rampage Formula, X48 (DDR2)
Intel Q9550
Corsair TWIN2X 8500C5 DDR2, 4096MB CL5, Kit w/two 2GB Dimm's
Geforce 8800 GTS same as my old one

Its been 4 years since i updated my computer and feel that im falling behind performace wise. I dont play much in fact only W3 and hopefully diablo and starcraft when it comes out. I use rest of the time playing poker and other software in windows like record/video stuff but 90% poker.

Since the new intel I7 is coming out soon the question is should i wait to get the cheap I7 2.6ghz + decent I7 motherboard and 4gb DDR3 instead? I see that the price will be some where similar, I7 on the more expensive side. But would the wait and performce be worth it?

Changing to 4870 X2 maybe later but not yet since i dont need it for the games right now. Intel SSD probably would come to mind as well when SSD starts to get cheaper and better.. so the question is wait for I7 or the comp i suggested and will i feel the improvment?

Your system is very nice still, I'd hold off on the upgrade and wait for the prices on the new stuff to drop. Upgrading to those specs would make things a little faster, but not a whole lot compared to your current setup, poker and video recording shouldn't be very taxing on your current system. If it's running slow I'd backup everything to one of those drives and format the other and re-install. If you don't want to go through all that you can try turning off disk-paging.

1. Control Panel, System
2. Advanced tab
3. Performance group, Settings button
4. Advanced tab
5. Virtual Memory group, Change button
6. Select "No paging file" and click Set, then OK.

I'd wait until a few weeks before starcraft2/diablo3 are coming out and build it then.