New PC Specifications - What to do?

[Deviate]

I'm really sick and tired of my current PC... It's not bad but a lot of the parts aren't working too well. It was originally a "Multivision" computer but they went bust as I discovered most of the parts were faulty. I've done my best to fix it but I find that it's still unreliable. I'm thinking about selling the entire thing... Everything just so I can start over without all the hassles of my current PC. Here's the specs for my current one...

Current
AMD XP 2800+
DFI Lan Party NFII B
512MB DDR RAM
2x Samsung 160GB IDE
ATI 9800XT 256MB w/ VGA Silencer 5
Tagan 480w PSU
CoolerMaster Centurion 5 w/ USB and Firewire

17" TFT Monitor
Creative 5.1 Speakers
Pioneer DVR-105 DVD-RW
Logitech Internet Keyboard
Logitech Laser Mouse
Logitech QuickCam Messenger
Belkin SD/MMC Card reader

Windows XP Pro SP2

Here's the specifications for the new PC I'm thinking about building. I want a good gaming/multimedia PC that doesn't kill my bank account. So I was hoping I could get a fair amount for my current PC (specs above) and buy this one below.

New
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Clawhammer Socket 939 - £196
Asus A8N-SLi Deluxe - £111
Corsair 1GB DDR2 5400 - £175
200Gb Seagate Barracuda S-ATA - £73
XFX GeForce PCX6600 GT 128MB DDR3 - £129
480W Tagan (SLI Compatible) - £70
Coolmaster CMStacker Silver Trim w/ Window - £111

17" AG Neovo E17 Gold Edition TFT Monitor - £193
Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS 71 - £47
Creative Labs Inspire 5.1 6pc P5800 5 speaker system - £37
HP DVD640i Lightscribe Black 16x16 ±R Dual Layer DVD-Writer - £60
Logitech Cordless Desktop LX 500 Black - £37
Creative Labs Webcam Live! Pro USB2 - £43
Scan 3.5" USB2 Black Intl 20 in 1 Card Reader - £8
Compro VideoMate DVB-T200 - £ 42

Total = £1332

It's very expensive for all of that but with the money I could make from the old one it might be a little less. My budget right now is around £800.

Thanks very much...

[mike_w]

You want normal DDR memory if you're using an Athlon 64, not DDR2 - that's for newer Intel systems.

You could save some money on the CPU if you choose a Winchester 3000+/3200+ (around £100). They also have the potential to overclock.

I like Seagate, so nothing to add there!

PSU is a good choice - I have one in my system, and it generally seems to be the best for the price according to opinions across the internet.

[nvening]

You seem to be getting a bit confused.
I wont say on what (authough I did spy DDR2 on an AMD system which is wrong, amd uses DDR)
Go to my site www.nvening.co.uk click on computing, click on MyPC.

I have spent many months configuring that and will soon be buying (bit delayed by the AMD Venice chips coming out, as I want one).
Its £100 cheaper than what you have configured but is a better spec, but still using great componants.

EDIT: Oh, i just noticed all the extra speakers etc. You look like you dont need such a good GPU as I have chosen, you can get a 6600GT for £120 so that would cut £140 off compared to my system. I also have a fan controler which would take another £40 off your pc.

[shiato storm]

if it helps here's what I've got, and bar a few niggles at the begining (its my first PC build) all seems to be running horrendously fast and smoothly! prices are approximately what it was only 3 months ago, and pretty much all of it fron scan (nice people) from one of their bargain weekends
MSI K8N Neo2 (939pin) - ~80
AMD64 3000 - ~100
Corsair value 1gig 3200 - ~90
160 gig seagate 'cuda - ~60
Tagan 420 silent - ~60
xfx 6600gt (agp) - ~130
coolermaster centurion5 - 35
so roughly its around 500 give or take a bit

I already had monitor (crt, want a tft), dvd/cd/a: drives, a second 40gig 'cuda, cheap speakers (need new ones)

[Deviate]

Wow, thanks for all the fast replies. After the useful tips I change it a little... Got it down to £1215. I changed the following things:

AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Winchester Socket 939 - £137
Corsair 1GB DDR XMS4400 TwinX - £140
Akasa Eclipse-62 - £88

Now I could either buy a new 17" TFT... A better one... Or stick with the same one. It all depends on whether I'll be able to sell my current setup. Actually, how much do you think I could get for my current setup?

Thanks again.

[BenW]

The only thing i would say if you want to reduce the price is get some 'ordinary' RAM. You can get 1GB of crucial/corsair value/geil value for about £60 now.

The only real reason for getting the faster ram is that its better for gaming but you're graphics card isn't top end. Save on the ram and get a better graphics card if you want it for gaming

[nvening]

Ye, just get some normal ram, unless you want to overclock. You also dont need a seperate sound card. Modern onboard, such as the stuff on the ASUS SLI is fine, i very much doubt you could tell any difference, unless you buy £250 speakers (btw most of the early problems with that board have been fixed with new bioses)

Also get the NEC 3520 dvd rw its £35 and is prob better.

What monitor do you have at the moment? The new one you have chosen is not the best for the price.

[BenW]

I think that DVD Drive is the one that can write labels on special disks, sort of engraves them i think

[Deviate]

I need the soundcard for audio recording. I will also probably be overclocking. I looked up what monitor I have according to the product name on the back and found out it's an GNR EZ18A apparently... An 18" monitor. It's been discontinued it seems... I'm getting the HP DVD-RW writer for it's new label technology.

Thanks

*Edit* - The person above me is right about the DVD drive. Also, I found out the monitor I have is 25ms... To be honest I don't know if that's good or bad.

[Meiapaul]

25ms will probably be a bit slow for gaming, but OK for other things...I'll be buying a 17" Iiyama Prolite E435S TFT when I can afford it, its <£200, with 10ms response, and gets good reviews

[BenW]

responce time doesn't mean a huge amount. I have a dell tft with 25ms responce and its as good as i can imagine any monitor being for gaming/dvds etc.

I think its a view before you buy thing

[skuzgib]

Which parts are faulty, and how can you be sure?

[jimborae]

Which parts are faulty, and how can you be sure?

Exactly my thoughts, the base specs of your pc are actually quite good (probably very good when you bought it).

It might help if you could solve the problems before selling as you'll get more for it. Therefore try posting the problems to see if folks can help.

I'd also say that the DFI Lan Party while being a great a board, can be a real pain in the ass to get working right but once it does it's fantastic. The other thing to remember is that if the board proves to be faulty & it's under a year old DFI handles rma's directly so you maybe able to do something about it.

[arthurleung]

I think that DVD Drive is the one that can write labels on special disks, sort of engraves them i think

That is one of the HP writers not a NEC one.

[BUFF]

The other alternative is to just sell the old mobo & cpu & buy new re-using your old drives etc.

[nvening]

Do you really need a new system, you could just upgrade parts. Its not a bad system as it is. Your 9800XT is better than a 6600GT.