Time to upgrade my two computer's, need some opinions

[cooperas]

Ok my budget is $1500 - $2000 and I have two computers in need of some upgrading. These computers are used mainly for gaming for my wife and I, but also business and some video editing. One system will see alot more gaming than the other.


Computer #1 Bought in 2001 This one is showing its age.

ASUS P4T533C mobo
GeForce 7600GS 512MB 128-bit GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X Video Card
pentium 4 2.8 ghz
1gb of 1066 ram
Enermax 535 w
Raid setup 2-80gb hard drives WD
SB audigy 2 plat
NEC 19" CRT


Computer #2 Bought in 2006

Thermaltake Tsunami Case
Antec 550 W PS
Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe mobo
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ 1 Ghz HT Socket 939
Corsair xms 3 GB 184-Pin DDr sdram
evga geforce 7900 GT
2 WD Caviar SE 200 GB 3.5" Sata 3.0 in Raid 0
Nec 16x dvd burner
19" Viewsonic LCD


My thoughts:

Build a third system from scratch, replacing system #1 and upgrading #2
I would like to replace the huge crt monitor with an lcd and also would like a full tower for the new build.

I bought the first two systems, so this will be my first build.


New Build:Collected from what I have read in other threads

Thermaltake Armor Series VA8000BWS Black Aluminum / Steel ATX Full Tower Computer Case - Retail

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

VisionTek 900241 Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

CORSAIR CMPSU-750TX 750W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996587 - Retail

Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD6400AAKS 640GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Logitech MX 3200 Black USB RF Wireless Standard Desktop Laser Mouse Included - Retail

LG 22X DVD±R DVD Burner Black IDE Model GH22NP20 - OEM

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium SP1 64-bit English for System Builders 1pk DSP OEI DVD - OEM

SAMSUNG 2232BW+ Black 22" 2ms Widescreen LCD Monitor - Retail

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM

Cost is approximately $1360



Now for the upgrade on system #2:

ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail

VisionTek 900241 Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

Intel Core 2 Duo E8500 Wolfdale 3.16GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8500 - Retail

mushkin 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model 996587 - Retail

XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail

XIGMATEK ACK-I7751 Retention Bracket - Retail

Arctic Silver 5 Thermal Compound - OEM


Cost is approximately $620 Would my system run good enough if i just put in a Radeon 4850?


This puts me at about $1980. Is this a good way to spend my $2000? Let me hear your thoughts and thanks for the help.

 

[r-sky]

Looks good...

You could drop the cpu coolers if not overclocking...

An AMD 6000X2 + HD4850 would work for the 2nd system too.

 

[lunyone]

Well it looks pretty good. There are other 22" LCD's that will beat your price on the Samsung one.
$170 shipped!! No MIR's!!! $30 savings!!
Acer X223Wbd Black 22" 5ms Widescreen LCD Monitor 300 cd/m2 2500:1 - Retail

If you want to save $39 on the PSU (Corsair 750tx), than buy it at Buy.com! It's $101 shipped - $20 MIR = $81!!! Newegg's price is $120 right now.
Corsair TX CMPSU-750TX ATX12V & EPS12V Power Supply

4850's will do fine for the resolution that your running under (1680x1050). If you feel you want some more power than get a 4870, but is about $100 more the same brand (VisionTek).

If your not doing any heavy OC'ing, than the stock CPU HSF will do for mild OC's. That'll save you ~$40 per build = $80!!

I'm not sure why your wanting a full tower case, but I'd consider getting a Cooler Master 690 case. It's a good case and doesn't cost as much. It's $79 shipped and no MIR's!! Savings of about $40 over the Thermaltake one.
Cooler Master 690 without Power Supply - RC-690-KKN1-GP
Newegg's link of the CM690 case. It's $109 shipped at Newegg

Now if you take all of my saving tips above and add them up, you get a total savings of $189!! Now I don't know if your going to be adding a new OS to your build #2, but you didn't list a 64bit OS to take advantage of the 4 gb's of DDR2. If that's the case than add $110 to the build price. That would leave you a $79 difference from your original build. And if you wanted to get at least 1 4870 GPU (VisionTek) your total build would go right up to your $2k build price limit. Now there are other 4870 GPU's that are cheaper, but the VisionTek ones have a limited lifetime warranty, so that is hard to pass up on.

 

[anarchy4sale]

Maybe go with a 6400 X2 on system 2 maybe?

 

[cooperas]

Thanks for the help

Changes:

Drop the cooler's for sure and stick to the stock HSF.(Never overclocked before)
Gonna get the Corsair 750tx PSU from buy.com.
Probably get the cheaper Acer Lcd. (I will look at some Lcd's from Circuit City tomorrow)
Also thinking of getting the Visiontek 4870 for the new machine.
And another copy of Windows Vista (didn't realize that I needed two copies)

Sound good?

I couldn't find any 6400 X2's to fit the Asus A8N32-SLI Deluxe mobo. Maybe post a link?

Thanks

 

[lunyone]

I think he was mistaken on the 6400 x2's. You have a s939 mobo and there wasn't a 6400 x2 CPU made for the s939 mobo's. I think he was talking about an AM2 based mobo, but if your willing to go with the e8500, than I think you'll be better off. AMD is struggling to keep up with most of the C2D's at this point.

The rest of your changes will work out well. The Vista 64 bit OS is only for 1 PC, so that is why you'll need 2 copies, 1 for each PC! Dang M$ taking all of our $

 

[RetroDude]

or buy a 3 PC oem version if u can afford it, then u have one spare...

u wont need two tubes of arctic silver, just 1, which does like 12 CPUS anyway

im a big fan of the HD4870 tbh