Help with upgrading my system

Zamak

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Hello everybody! Thanks in help in advance. I am new!
So I am in currently looking at making my own first system.

Currently I have:
Mobo: ASUS A8N-E
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3000+ 1.81gz
RAM: 1 gb DDR
OS: Windows XP

I am looking to make a much better system. This is what I'm looking at upgrading too:

Mobo: Newegg.com - BIOSTAR A770E3 AM3 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard
CPU: Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 940 Black Edition Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ940XCJ4DGI - Processors - Desktops
RAM: Newegg.com - Team 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model TXD34096M1600HC9DC-D
Note: I'm lookin at spending around $250 or so.

So my first question is, should I buy a new motherboard because my current one doesn't support DDR3 RAM? How much better is DDR3 than DDR?
My current motherboard says it is compatible with AMD Phenom II x4 on the box.
The CPU I am wanting to upgrade to doesn't include a heatsink/fan. Any suggestions on a good heatsink and fan for that CPU? 4 cores, it'll be runnin hot !

Finally, I just want to make sure everything is compatible and will work!
Thanks for the help!
Dave
 
I would spend a little more on the mobo, say "ASUS M4A785TD-M EVO AM3 AMD 785G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard" this gets you USB3, HDMI, supports faster ram, and the onboard video is a good back up.

Going from DDR to DDR3, its going to be faster. thou if your running a 32bit windows your only going to see 3.1 to 3.2GB of ram

As for the cpu, I have the PhenomII X4 965 Black 3.4GHz. and it sits idle at 34c and 47c while gaming with a stock fan.
So don't spend too much on cooling. unless your planing on overclocking it.
 
940BE won't work with the board that you picked, the 940BE is an AM2+ CPU, not AM3.

Also, steer clear of Biostar, they make very cheap motherboards with low end components, Asus, Gigabyte, MSI or ASRock will server you better.

Motherboard: Newegg.com - ASRock 880GXH/USB3 AM3 AMD 880G HDMI USB 3.0 ATX AMD Motherboard $85

Memory: Newegg.com - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model F3-10666CL9D-4GBNQ $50

CPU: Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X4 635 Propus 2.9GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor ADX635WFGIBOX $100

Comes to a total of $238 inc shipping.

If you can afford an extra $20 over your $250 budget, you can go with Phenom II instead:

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 925 Deneb 2.8GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor HDX925WFGIBOX

or, better yet if you can find $33 over budget, a Phenom II 955BE:

Newegg.com - AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition Deneb 3.2GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 125W Quad-Core Processor HDZ955FBGMBOX

Both come with heatsinks, the difference between the BE and non-BE Phenom IIs is that the Black Edition have unlockable multipliers. If you aren't going to be overclocking, this isn't a feature you will miss, if you are planning on overclocking though, it is useful to be able to take the multiplier up over the stock
 
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