Any final advice before I upgrade?

[kanati]

Exams are over so I'm finally ready to upgrade.

Here is my current system:
-Intel Core 2 Duo E6400
-Asus P5LD2-VM
-Integrated graphics
-2x 1gb OCZ PC-5400
-Asus MyCinema TV Tuner
-Western Digital 250gb IDE hard drive (Win XP)
-LG DVD-RW
-Antec Sonata II Case
-Antec Smart Power 450
-Single Antec 120mm Tricool fan mounted on the rear of the case

The plan is to:
-Replace my current PSU with an Antec NeoHE 430w
-Install a Sappire Radeon X1950Pro
-Install a second HDD: a Western Digital 250gb SATA which will have Vista Home Premium on it
-Set up a dual boot between my XP and Vista hard drives

Any advice, warnings or better ideas? Or do I have the green light to go shopping?

 

[jeff_2087]

Pretty good stuff. You should consider a 965G board instead of the 945 on the Asus, the 965 is a better chipset and has better integrated graphics. I don't know where you're getting this stuff but chances are a G965 would be cheaper too, I know MSI makes a solid G965 for under $100 US.

edit: Would you ever be overclocking?

 

[akhilles]

If you haven't worked with an Antec case, you'll love the sonata ii. I did. I'm sure you already knew the case comes with the 450w psu.

A fully built X1950PRO pc will require 450w & 30a. The SP450 has enough wattage, but I'm not sure about the amperage since it's not listed:

http://www.antec.com/specs/SP450_spe.html

The mobo isn't the worst. It does c2d & c2e.

http://www.asus.com/products1.aspx?l1=3&l2=0&l3=0&modelmenu=0&share=txt/core2

 

[kanati]

Would you ever be overclocking?

Wasn't planning on it.

A fully built X1950PRO pc will require 450w & 30a. The SP450 has enough wattage, but I'm not sure about the amperage since it's not listed

The SP450 only provides 22 amps along the 12v rail. That's why I'm upgrading to the NeoHE 430w which provides 32a. I know the wattage is 20w lower then listed for an X1950pro but I have it on good authority (the guys over in the PSU thread as well as a few online wattage calculators) that it should be plenty to run my system. The SP450 will soon be powering my Dad's new computer.

As for the P5LD2-VM, I already own it so it's a done deal. I know it may not be the best option but I got it and the Core 2 E6400 as a package for only $200 CAD. Who am I to argue with that?