If you are going with AMD stick with the AM2 socket, there if a future to upgrade. If you are going with Intel obviously you will get a 775 socket. I'd just make sure the motherboard is quad compatible for future upgrades.

You can make a cheap system now that can't be upgraded much at all with old tech. Or spend a few extra dollars now and be able to upgrade cheaper in the future. Usually the lowend new tech isn't much more expensive than the older stuff. You can put together a Core 2 system for like $500-$600 with basic stuff.

What is it you are looking for anyways?
 

Wes2323

Distinguished
Feb 13, 2006
7
0
18,510
well my motherboard recently died and i'm stuck with the cpu (939), 184-pin Ram and i was gonna change to a new video card anyways. I've basically come to the conclusion to just change everything over but now i'm just stuck with what to choose now. I have no preference of AMD or Intel. $500 or so is about what I'd like to keep it around.
 
It try to sell the parts you have that are good and reclaim some $$.

So what is it you need to replace? I am gathering mobo,cpu, ram, and vid card.

What powersupply do you have? are you keeping everything else? Give us some specs and we can help you get the best deal. also what do you use your rig for? games? what kind? what apps?
 

Wes2323

Distinguished
Feb 13, 2006
7
0
18,510
Keeping the opticals for my new rig (DVD burner). giving my old ram to a family member and the only thing left is the cpu which might be put to use in a spare rig sometime in the future. So i'm left with getting the rest. My current PSU is a Thermaltake Purepower 550W. I game some (source, BF2, CoD and some others that are not graphic intensive). Other than that just some digital camera software. I've been looking for parts but I appreciate all the help you can offer.
 
Ok that is actually a great 550W PSU you have there. I am going off that you already have a case,hd,and as you said opticals and the PSU. So here is what I came up with. for mobo,ram,cpu,video and tried to keep it close to $500

$179.99 SAPPHIRE 100186L Radeon X1950XT 256MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 VIVO HDCP Video Card
$112.99 G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory 4-4-4-12
$99.99 GIGABYTE GA-965P-DS3 (rev. 1.3) LGA 775 Intel P965 Express ATX Intel Motherboard
$116.00 Intel Core 2 Duo E4300 Allendale 1.8GHz LGA 775 Processor
----------------------------
$508.97 TOTAL

That gives you a good motherboard which supports 1333FSB and quadcore chips for future proofing yourself. 2GB of decent 4-4-4-12 memory at DDR2 800 if you want to overclock, which you will, just maybe not this second. But the core2's do overclock well and you will want to if you hang around here long enough. The e4300 core 2 which is cheap but can overclock like a ah heck. And probably the best midrange video card you can get for $180. Anything higher you may as well pony up and get an 8800gts 320MB.

so there you go. my recommendations. If I had $500 in your situation.

Why?... because Mike Rowe said so.
 

Wes2323

Distinguished
Feb 13, 2006
7
0
18,510
looks pretty good to me. Thanks for the recommendations. I'm seriously thinking of upgrading to a 8800 GTS but just wondering about manufacturer. Heard EVGA and BFG are good. Thoughts?