It's time to upgrade my 5 year old p4 system that has served me so faithfully over the years. Here is what I plan to buy this weekend:

XP Home 32 bit
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6832116056
$90

2140 - OC to 3.0ish
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819116037
$72

CPU cooler
Zalman 9500 - already have

OCZ700GXSSLI
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341002
$95

P35 DS3L
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] P35%2bDS3L
$106

Diamond 3850
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814103049
$177

Patriot Extreme Performance 2GB DDR2 800
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820220144
$42

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD3200AAKS 320GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] KS%2b320GB
$80

Samsung DVD burner
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6827151153
$31

Sound Card
will use MB sound

KB & Mouse & Case & 5.1 Speakers
already have

Total: $693 shipped + case fans

Here are my questions and comments:

1. Is everything compatable?

2. Any suggestions for changes?

3. Will the 3850 which is PCI Express 2.0 work with PCI Express x16?

4. Any issues with DDR2 800 and my DS3L MB that states it takes DDR21066?

5. I plan on OCing the 2140 to 3.0ish. Is the memory, mb, cpu good?

6. I do not plan on OCing anything else.

7. I plan on upgrading the CPU to the fastest Quad Core (Penryn, Nehalem?) I can get in 2ish years.

8. I plan on upgrading the video card for best bang for the buck in 2ish years.

9. I do not care about Raid and 4 sata ports is plenty for me.

10. Will the onboard sound on the mb be good with my 5.1 speaker system?

11. I may or may not upgrade to Vista in the future depending on how it plays out.

12. I will use the computer for FPS gaming: BF 2142, COD4, MMORPG's, etc.

Thanks in advance.

Yea get the E2180 it is easier to over clock. 10X multiplier.

Everything checks out fine
I'll run down the list

1) Yes its all compatible
2) Depends, whats your budget (up the videocard if you can to 3870 or 8800GT)
3) Yes it will work
4) No problems with RAM (i have DDR2800 in mine)
5) All are fine
7) Penryn upgrade will be fine, but with Nehalem Intel is changing their socket so youll need to upgrade that mobo
10) Sound should probably be fine. Try it out, if its no good THEN get a soundcard

Actually caamsa, I'm very disappointed with my E2180 (and so are a lot of people)
I am having a hard time breaking 3.0
Truthfully the E2160 seems better than both

I would get this power supply, good unit, good deal;

http://www.buy.com/prod/Corsair-VX [...] 52646.html

the computer looks good. I have an e2140 at 2.8 with stock fan. temps are low 60s/ 1.3v. I had a hard time going over 2.8. 3.0 was reachable, but with uncomfortable voltage and temps. 3.2 was reachable as well, but temps were too high for daily use. I would at the e2160, should reach 3.0 a little easier.

also, for a budget rig that psu is overkill. get something closer to 500w for around $50 and spend the money on an hd3870. quad cores at 3 ghz with an 8800gtx only consumes about 250-270w under load, so 500 is plenty.

my 2180 is at 3.47 at 1.42 volts.... go for it!

Thanks for the replies.

I'm looking at the 2160 now. I'm aiming for best bang for the buck here, with some gaming fun, and upgradeability.

Remember that I plan on upgrading to the fastest Quad Core Penryn that my mb can handle in 2 years as well as a video card upgrade. Then another video card upgrade in another 2 years. I don't want to be limited by my PSU. Which is the problem that I have run into with my current p4 system.

one of the lucky ones

Also in 2 yrs Penryn and possibly Nehalem at the rate Intel's going will be totally obsolete. It seems silly just to upgrade in 2 yrs. In 2 yrs upgrade everything a new mobo and proc. will be $200 if it is like now

Don't look at upgrading in 2 years.
Sell your system and start fresh.

What you build today will not look good even with a new CPU and GPU in 2 years.

The Mobo can likely be found cheaper elsewhere.
ZipZoomFLy had it for $80 last week.

The 550w Corsair will save you a little money too.

my e2180

stock cooler.

Thanks for the replies. I decided to go with the 2160 and get the following case:

COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811119137
$35

I figured this good budget case would be a lot cooler than my FAR case when I OC.

Thanks again.