Looking to upgrade my computer...

[ximhkx]

Currents Specs

AMD X2 4200
DFI Lanparty UT4
Mushkin 4GB DDR2 RAM
Western Digital 36.7 GB Raptor
Western Digital 160 GB HD
BFG 7900 GT
Coolermaster Centurion
Antec 550W Neo PSU

1) What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
mainly gaming but surfing/schoolwork also applies.

2) What YOUR budget is.
$500

3) What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
N/A

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
case, hard drives?, psu, keyboard, mouse, monitor, and I also have a ASUS 4870 512MB that i recently purchased on AT.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Overclock

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
1680 x 1050

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
ASAP

For the hard drive, I've been using a 36.7 GB as a main drive and a 160GB just for storage...would it be more practical to just buy one bigger hard drive?

Sorry i don't have a list of parts for you guys to check over but I haven't built a computer since 2005 and I'm a little outdated on what's good and what's not.

Thanks.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: ximhkx
Currents Specs

AMD X2 4200
DFI Lanparty UT4
Mushkin 4GB DDR2 RAM
Western Digital 36.7 GB Raptor
Western Digital 160 GB HD
BFG 7900 GT
Coolermaster Centurion
Antec 550W Neo PSU

1) What YOUR PC will be used for. That means what types of tasks you'll be performing.
mainly gaming but surfing/schoolwork also applies.

2) What YOUR budget is.
$500

3) What country YOU will be buying YOUR parts from
USA

4. IF YOU have a brand preference.
N/A

5. If YOU intend on using any of YOUR current parts, and if so, what those parts are.
case, hard drives?, psu, keyboard, mouse, monitor, and I also have a ASUS 4870 512MB that i recently purchased on AT.

6. IF YOU have searched and/or read similar threads.
Yes

7. IF YOU plan on overclocking or run the system at default speeds.
Overclock

8. What resolution YOU plan on gaming with.
1680 x 1050

9. WHEN do you plan to build it?
ASAP

For the hard drive, I've been using a 36.7 GB as a main drive and a 160GB just for storage...would it be more practical to just buy one bigger hard drive?

Sorry i don't have a list of parts for you guys to check over but I haven't built a computer since 2005 and I'm a little outdated on what's good and what's not.

Thanks.

No

 

[Shargrath]

Just to get you started, in your budget, I would go with a Phenom II : 940

CPU :
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...9843&prodlist=celebros

Mobo:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...0088&prodlist=celebros

Ram:
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...8034&prodlist=celebros

That leaves some room for you to get a good CPU cooler if u plan to overclock...

I would reuse your hard drives for now to save money...

Other then that, this should be a solid upgrade, imo, for you in that budget range.

 

[Denithor]

PhII X4 940 + MA790X-UD4P combo $247
WD 640GB Caviar Black $75
Antec EA430 $50

Reuse your RAM, save money.

Old harddrives - no. They are louder, generate more heat and tend to do unpleasant things like failing unexpectedly when you least need it. Grab the new Caviar Black drive and consolidate everything onto it. Chances are you won't even notice a difference in performance versus your two generation old Raptor.

Old PSUs - likewise. If your 550W Antec is from 2005 you should replace that as well. If it's newer - like in the last two years - it's probably acceptable to keep for a while.

This is about $375 if you replace the PSU and will give you a very nice improvement in horsepower. You will surf faster than ever before!