Please help me pick out new parts.

[Jeff Roy]

Im wanting to build up a new PC using some more current technology such as pci-e. I dont want to replace everything, only what I have to. Id like to get a new mobo, cpu, and vid card. Id like to keep my RAM, hard drive, and psu. Could someone help me pick out quality parts that will upgradable in the future? Id like to spend about $100ish for the mobo, $200-$300ish for the cpu, and $200-$300ish for the vid card. The computer is used mostly for gaming if that matters.

[Cricket]

You're going to have to replace the power supply too because most of the newer motherboards require a ATX 2.0 power supply with the 24 pin motherboard power connection.

You wanna stick to Intel or go with AMD this time around?

Cricket

[jayb1234]

You might need to replace the RAM too, most of the newer Intel boards are using DDR2 RAM.

Motherboards in the $100 range

Processor-- there are a bunch of Intel processors in that price range.

Video card you can probably get a 7800gt for $300

[Jeff Roy]

I guess ill stick with intel since its what I know. Also dont some mobos offer slots for ddr and ddr2 ram?

Looks like im gonna have a bunch of spare parts, think I could get decent money for em? Should i keep them together or split them up if I sell them?

[jayb1234]

Here are some boards with 2 DDR and 2 DDR2 slots. You might not be able to use both types of RAM together, I'm not sure about that though.

[Jeff Roy]

Originally Posted by jayb1234 Here are some boards with 2 DDR and 2 DDR2 slots. You might not be able to use both types of RAM together, I'm not sure about that though.

Does anyone know about this? Id hate to toss this RAM, I spent decent money on it not too long ago.

[Cricket]

You can use one or the other (DDR or DDR2), not both at the same time.

Cricket

[Jeff Roy]

Is DDR2 much faster then my current memory?

[blue60007]

Probably not significantly, but it is generally $20/GB cheaper than DDR400.

[Jeff Roy]

thanks guys, so what mobo should I go for if i want pci-e and ddr and ddr2 capable?

[jayb1234]

In your $100 price range, either 1 of the Intels I linked above or an ASUS with an Intel chipset in the same price range.

[Jeff Roy]

if i choose to get a board supporting both ddr and ddr2 memory, my options are very limited. am i better off sticking with ddr and keeping my ram, or go with ddr2? i dont feel like upgrading all the time, but i seem to anyways.

[blue60007]

Go ahead and stick with DDR. That should keep your options open, and I don't think you'd see a major performance difference with DDR2 anyhow.

[Jeff Roy]

which motherboard should i go for?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131531

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813121256

[Jeff Roy]

also is this powerful enough of a processor?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116171

or should i spend a lil more dough and get something more powerful?

[Jeff Roy]

and finally is this powerful enough of a videocard?

http://cgi.ebay.com/NVIDIA-GEFORCE-6...QQcmdZViewItem

or should I go for something else?

[jayb1234]

I would go with the Intel, the ASUS has an ATI chipset, which is far from the best.

Processor is the wrong type (478 pin) get a 775 pin.

Decent video card.

You can upgrade the processor and/or video card if the budget allows.

Also be very carefull buying stuff off ebay. Lots of people have got burned there, and generally no technical support either.

[Jeff Roy]

how bout this cpu?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116213

[blue60007]

This computer is mainly used for gaming? You don't need a dual core. Look at the 640 or 650, since the single core runs at 3.2GHz and 3.4GHz (resp.), and each core in the dual core run at 2.8GHz, you'll see a bigger increase with a faster single core.

[Jeff Roy]

heres what i think im gonna do:

mobo: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16813121256

CPU: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16819116197

Video: http://www.newegg.com/product/produc...82E16814102595

And im gonna keep the old hard drives and memory for now. However will my PSU work? Also, is that a good videocard? I heard you can unlock them somehow?

[blue60007]

Looks good. I've heard that card has very good potential for unlocking pipelines and overclocking. Keep in mind that runs a risk of ruining the card and voids your warranty. Still not a bad card for the money.

What's the wattage on the power supply? Is it an ATX 2.0 unit? (has a 24 pin motherboard connector)

[Jeff Roy]

im thinking I need a new PSU. Can anyone recommend one?

[blue60007]

A good brand such as Antec, Enermax, Seasonic, FSP (Forton Source), Sparkle, or XClio.

[Jeff Roy]

So what do you guys think? Is it worth dropping approx $600 dollars for this new build? Will it run and handle games that much better?

And give me your opinion, what should I do with my spare parts. I will practicly have a complete system minus the ram and drives.

Thanks for all your help by the way guys and gals

[Cricket]

Originally Posted by Jeff Roy So what do you guys think? Is it worth dropping approx $600 dollars for this new build?

That's really for you to decide.

Originally Posted by Jeff Roy Will it run and handle games that much better?

It'll run the newest games better but whatever you're playing now will probably perform the same or maybe slightly better.

Originally Posted by Jeff Roy And give me your opinion, what should I do with my spare parts. I will practicly have a complete system minus the ram and drives.

You could either sell the parts or donate them to a school or church. Up to you. I keep all my older computers for backup systems or test machines or I disassemble them and store the parts away.

If you decide to see the parts I might be interested.

Cricket