Motherboard Upgrade!

Forum Motherboards & Memory : Other Components - Motherboard Upgrade!

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I just use my computer for internet browsing and running specialist applications related to outdoor pursuits, such as mapping and recording GPS trails.
Over time, i have noticed that the computer isn’t keeping up with modern uses for the internet, such as Youtube and Google Earth. I have upgraded my internet connection to broadband from a quality provider, however the computer is still noticeably slow when performing a number of tasks.
For the most part, I hope to do much of what I use the computer for now - just a lot more quickly. My digital video camcorder has a Firewire output port, and I want the new computer to be able to take video from the camcorder and create DVDs from it. Last year, a new hard disk was installed; and some time in the near future i plan to buy a new, larger, flat-panel monitor.
My current computer system has the following components:
Case – AOpen HX-45, Midi-Tower ATX Case
Power Supply – AOpen ATX Power Supply, 350 Watts, ATX12V Connector
Motherboard – Gigabyte GA-8IGX
CPU – Intel Pentium 4, 1.8 GHz
Memory – 384 MB (256 + 128MB)
Graphics Card – Integrated On-Board Graphics
Hard Disk – Seagate 160GB Parallel ATA
Optical Drive – Sony CD Writing/DVD-Reader

Special Attention should be made to ensure that the following facilities are available ont eh new system:
A serial port: for connecting the GPS unit
FireWire (IEEE 1394): for connecting the camcorder
Ethernet: for connecting the broadband modem
DVI Port: for connecting a flat-panel monitor in the future.
For software compatibility reasons, the upgraded system will continue to run Windows XP. (I already have a retail boxed copy of Windows XP Home from my current PC).
The proposal should be cost effective (i don’t want to spend money where it isn’t needed). I just want a series of upgrade decisions that will modernise the system, and provide the additional features necessary for my planned uses for the upgraded system.

Out of the following motherboards which one would suit my needs and why:

Intel Socket 775
Gigabyte GA-73PVM-S2H
Gigabyte GA-G31m-ES2L
ASUS P5QL-SE

AMD Socket AM2
ASUS M4N78-Pro
Gigabyte GA-M720-US3
Gigabyte M85M-US2H

Thank you very much!

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What's your budget for the new system?

Reply to avatar_raq

i dont mind really. just has to do what i want it to do.

Reply to j_a_d_e

well, you caould save some money with an AMD build, though, we need to know budget, or what you need to do, if its wht you have posted, your lookeing at an about $500 machine that can be upgraded later

i would go for the M4A78 Pro with the 780G chipset and an Athlon II x2 250, make sure you get a firewire addon card http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6815166018

Reply to mindless728
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