I am hoping to build a new computer, Utilizing some of what I already have now.

Currently I have.
AMD Athlon XP 2400+ 2.0 Ghz
1280mb of ram (1x1024 1x256)
Nvidia GeForce FX 5200 256mb
1x40gb Hard Drive 1x120Gb Hard Drive
19" Wide Screen HDTV Monitor
CD R 52x
DVD R CD R/W 52x

What I’m hoping to do is be able to play newer games, and as a hobby edit HDTV Videos using Adobe Premier CS3.

So With that dream, I think I need a new Motherboard/CPU, more ram, a better video card, another Hard Drive, and a DVD burner. A BluRay drive would be nice, but right now is not financially feasible.

So what I think i need is,

Mother Board/Processor
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...

Ram x2
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...

Video Card
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...

1x160Gb Hard Drive
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...

DVD Burner
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...

I’ve always had my systems set up with the smaller drive as my C, and my D drive as my backup. I plan on putting the 120Gb as my C (it is currently my D) and taking this new 160Gb as my D.

Now all that is left is to see what you think of my proposed set up?

Any Recommendations, any problems between parts, any more info needed?

AMD Athlontm XP 2400+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.0GHz
Windows XP Pro/Corp 5.1, Build 2600 SP2
1280 mb of RAM
Nvidia GeForce FX 5200
1-40gb 1-120gbD

First off if you are in the USA there may be better vendors to choose from.

Second, in the future post the actual hardware in addition to the link. Taht way if someone is familiar with the hardware there is no need to follow the link.

I am not running any Intel stuff at the present so I am unsure of this, but it doesn't appear that this system would be enough of an upgrade to justify the cost.

If buying a new graphics card why stay with AGP. AGP is obsolete. A board with a PCIe slot would be a better choice. The only downside to that is reusing one RAM stick. You might want to keep that system intact anyway. Two Harddrives are OK but for a few bucks more you can get a single drive that would be larger than the two combined. You could partition the drive if you like. That RAM is not a brand I am familiar with and has a CAS 3 rating, which is not the best.

Look at Newegg.com for equivilent parts. Here is one example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...

RAM of PC3200, PC2700 or PC2100 can be mixed and will run at the slowest one you have.

The FX5200 is the oldest nvidia video card still supported native under Windows Vista.If you need to adjust some setting for OpenGl settings etc.,use Riva Tuner program.

Keep your cost low:you need a motherboard and a case.Assemble and test to verify if you need any extras like a fan at the back or a new hard drive.Speedfan can be used to check the temperature while the computer is running.

Use the most recent hard drive as the boot C drive for speed and accuracy at boot up time.An old drive may get you errors like freezing etc.

You may partition the drive for ease of use.Make the first primary C partition is set active in order to boot to Windows.The Windows ME dos boot disk can be used.

Try finding a used P4 ATX case with a 300 Watt min. Power Supply.A new standard case has a 450 Watt PSU and should enough.

Make sure you double check the AMD motherboard you choose to match the CPU you have.AMD has used in the recent years 754,939 and 940 pins processors but it may still be different from these pinouts.Avoid 478 and 775 motherboards:these are for Intel processors like Celeron or P4.

"Make sure you double check the AMD motherboard you choose to match the CPU you have.AMD has used in the recent years 754,939 and 940 pins processors but it may still be different from these pinouts.Avoid 478 and 775 motherboards:these are for Intel processors like Celeron or P4."

Obviously you dont have to use AMD, you need to choose weather you want to use AMD or Intel so dont 'Avoid' LGA775 if you want to use an Intel.

If you want to do some video editing you are probably going to need more than a 160GB HDD, I would recommend a 320GB drive as they seem to be going at good prices. You would want at least a 250GB HDD for video editing.

Currently AMD has the best value oriented CPU's so they are best if you have a smaller budget. Intel's Core 2 Duo's are by far the best performers so if you can afford it get one. An E6600 is usually the best choice.

As OtheHill suggested, you should definitely be looking at a PCIe Motherboard and Graphics card. Although your on the right track with the chipset chosen, the 7600GT is a great midrange card.

Good luck with your new build!

Mattwizz3 :

Vista Home Basic
2.2GHz Sempron
1.5GB DDR400
GeForce 6800Ultra