building up a computer - from older leftover parts

[Toadster]

ok - so i have some parts laying around... what's the cheapest config?

Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz
(no board using it now with my Core 2 Quad) - so i need a C2D board

or using an older Intel 955XBK MB with a P4D 3.4Ghz
1GB RAM (DDR2)

need a video card - PCI-e (DX9 compliant)
need a P4 compatible power supply

costs: want to overall spend < $250
building for: girlfriends replacement for her Celeron based DELL (2.2Ghz 384MB RAM) needs to play newer games half-decently - currently they have a Radeon 9100 (PCI) and it can run Flight-Sim X halfway decent...


thoughts? ideas?

should i get a new board for the C2D or just reuse the 955 w/P4D?

 

[stevf]

i would re-use the p4 since you want to keep below $250.

 

[myocardia]

Keep the $1,000 X6800 at your house, as a backup for your QX6700. Spend ~$200 on an X1950 Pro, or a 7900GS. Both will run any new game fairly well, at fairly high settings, and will match up perfectly with a 3.4 Ghz P-D.

 

[Toadster]

need a power supply too :S

 

[Randybob]

If you want to keep the cost under $250, I'd use the old motherboard and P4D. You can get a decent graphics card and power supply for around that much, but adding a motherboard to that would put the total much higher. You could try and get one with integrated graphics instead of the graphics card, but you said it needs to play newer games half decently.