Upgrading my Computer, Need help choosing Hardware

[WisdomRacing]

Ok so I'm looking to upgrade my computer, I already have:

-IDE 70 gb HD
-IDE 20 gb Slave drive
-IDE 80 gb HD
-DVD-Rom
-CD-Rom
-Case w/3 fans, temp gauge etc (Everything I need for that)
-Chaintech 7.1 sound card
-450 watt Power supply
-512 mb RAM, 256 mb RAM

That's pretty much all I'm planning on keeping from what I have...Everything else is SERIOUSLY oudated including my celeron cpu and built in 16 mb video card. Now I have about 750 to spend so with tax and shipping about 700 (I can get a little more if needed...max probably $40)

Now what I plan on getting is:

-Abit X700 256mb Video card GDDR3, PCI Express
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=14-123-148&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE

-P4 3.0 GHz HT CPU
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=19-116-171&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE

-Kingston 256mb ValueRam
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=20-141-425&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE

-Cyber Acoustic 5.1 Speaker System (140 watt)
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=36-150-023&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE

-Arctic Cooling CPU Fan
http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=35-185-116&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE

-Half Life 2...Not a necessity, just didn't want to be playing 1.6 on a comp like this...seems like a waste

----Now for the motherboard I'm having a great deal of trouble pickng out the right one. It needs to be HT compatible, and I would like enough connectors for (at least) 2 IDE HDs and 2 CD-Roms. But then also a few SATAs so I can upgrade later.

And I also don't know whether I should hold off on HL2 and the speaker system for now and go all out on the DDR2 or not.

And one last question. If I get a motherboard that supports 1 IDE 100 and 2 IDE 133 w/ RAID blah blah blah...Can I use all three for IDE 100 HDs?


Thanks you for any help and please don't flame me for being a noob...because I know that's what you guys do best


If anyone can leave me a message please do here. Or if anyone could take a few extra minutes and talk to me directly my AIM is: WisdomRacing

 

[WisdomRacing]

Also, it's gonna be Socket LGA775

 

[aj2003]

ok. . . are u goin to be using this system for video editting?

if yes u need ALOT more ram at least a gig.
if no use a amd 64

2ndly the x700 is beaten in almost every test by the 6600gt
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-130-220&depa=1

and that is the best one of them and its the same price as that card.

tell us how much u wanna spend and what u want to do with it and well give u more help.

i dont want to start a amd vs intel here just tryin to help

 

[WisdomRacing]

Yeah the guys over at gruntville.com told me the same thing...go with an AMD 64. I hear it's better for gaming. I'll look into getting that 6600GT.

Like I said I've got 800 max and need all the stuff I listed. It doesn't matter to me how the money is distributed as long as it will be the best way I can spend it.

 

[WisdomRacing]

For the 6600gt, do they make an equivelant card that's PCI Express?

 

[DJ-CHRIS]

Yes their's a PCI-E version of the 6600GT as they come in AGP and PCI-E

 

[WisdomRacing]

Ok now do you guys reccomend me getting the AMD 64 3000+ w/ Winchester & HT, or the same thing but 3200+?

Not which is better because obviously the 3200 is but I mean w/ $50 price increase and whether or not the extra is needed.

 

[WisdomRacing]

Yes their's a PCI-E version of the 6600GT as they come in AGP and PCI-E

Hey I'm still learning...just got into this stuff a couple weeks ago. But I've been a fan of fast comps forever

 

[gaara]

You'll probably need to replace your memory or it will bottleneck the rest of your system and greatly decrease performance.

 

[aj2003]

shop from newegg.com 1st hint.

ive havent got time to check prices but this is what i would build

amd 64 winchester core 3000 or 3200
msi k8n neo4 nforce4 ultra mobo
gskill memory get 1 gig in 2 512mb sticks speed depended on total price
seagate sata hard drive size depended on total price
evga 6600gt pci-e
and case u like look off
try and get a decent psu and remember it has to be atx 2.0 for the pci-e
and any cd/dvd/sound u can afford on top.

that system woudl be good for overclocking so u get most for ur cash, if can afford get a nice heatsink for cpu sumthing like the thermalright xp-120 or the zalman 12cm all copper on cant remembr its name
hope that helps. just a rought guide