Combining old and new parts. pc builder virgin.

APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: This week BUDGET RANGE: 300-500

SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Music, movies, games, internet, some school work but not much

PARTS NOT REQUIRED: keyboard, mouse, monitor, speakers, dvd drive, graphics card, sound card, hard drive.

PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: newegg

PARTS PREFERENCES: i need a case, motherboard, cpu and more ram

OVERCLOCKING: not sure
SLI OR CROSSFIRE: what?

MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050

ADDITIONAL COMMENTS: the set up i have now is a gateway gt5220 that i upgraded in high school. i have an nvidia 8600 gts, philips dvd burner, 250 gb hard drive, 4 gb ram, and a creative x-fi soundblaster sound card. i'm looking to upgrade the motherboard and processor but my tiny case was limiting so im looking for a new one of those too.
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the case: COOLER MASTER Storm Scout

cpu: Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200

mb: ASUS P5Q Pro Turbo LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard

ram: ram

thermal compound: click

plus a static bracelet



The only things I've ever done to a computer were put in some RAM, graphics card and sound card. The list of above stuff I kinda just figured out on my own so if you wouldn't mind doublechecking to make sure I'm not going to screw anything up I'd appreciate it. Thanks

amd your best bet on a budget some thing like a 720 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103649 or 945 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819103696 with 4 gigs ddr3 ram http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820220285 an a nice mother board http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813138141

2. IDE

can you tell me the difference between different quadcores? for example AMD Phenom 9350e Agena 2.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 65W Quad-Core Processor and
AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor

and what brand of motherboard should i get? somebody told me asus was the best but i'm completely new to all of this so i'm trying to get several opinions.

so between these two combos which is best?
ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard and http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103696 for $290.

OR

ASUS P5Q Pro Turbo LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard and Intel Core 2 Quad Q8200 2.33GHz 4MB L2 Cache LGA 775 95W Quad-Core Processor for $230.

The AMD combo will perform better and last longer as you will be able to upgrade the processor in that motherboard in a few years likely, where as there will be no new processors coming out for socket 775. I assume this is the combo you were refering to?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Comb [...] mbo.239851

so it sounds like the winning combo but i'd like to stay around 400 total. but i think the cpu might be just out of my price range. i really think that mb will work well. since my graphics card is the nvidia 8600 gtc oc, should i upgrade that while i'm at it? remember, though, i only NEED a case, mb and cpu. anything like heatsinks or ram has to be included in that 400 bucks.

what if i went with the same set up but AMD Phenom 9350e Agena 2.0GHz 4 x 512KB L2 Cache 2MB L3 Cache Socket AM2+ 65W Quad-Core Processor instead of the 945. that way i could get a new graphics card, depending on whether y'all think i need one or not. with the mb in the amd combo i listed above.
this ram Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PVS34G1600LLK
this case COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

and then possibly a heatsink for the cpu.
graphics card?
thoughts?

well i'm set on a black and red case and the only one i can find cheaper is only 13 bucks cheaper. why should i go with less cores? being the rookie here that just doesn't make sense to me. why is that?

so let's say i decide to splurge. i can get the scout case, AMD Phenom II X4 945 Deneb 3.0GHz Socket AM3 95W Quad-Core Processor Model HDX945WFGIBOX, ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard, Patriot Viper 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model PVS34G1600LLK, thermal paste, and a static wristband, with shipping, for just under 500. what do you think of that set up? keeping in mind that would use my old nvidia 8600 gts oc graphics card.

good enough for me haha. so imagine i get the 720x3 but the same set up i mentioned just above. how's that sound? new graphics card needed?

that looks pretty good. what kind of wattage am i going to need to power all these toys?

PC Power & Cooling PPCT1200ESA 1200W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703020

Or

PC Power & Cooling Silencer PPCS500 500W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply ... - Retail
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817703015

I'm hoping you realize the first power supply was a joke!! You system should be good with a 450w to 650w PSU from Antec, Corsair, PC Power&Cooling, OCZ... etc..

lol ya i'll go with the 1200.

so here's what i think i've settled on.
ASUS M4A78T-E AM3 AMD 790GX HDMI ATX AMD Motherboard
AMD Phenom II X3 720 2.8GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache 6MB L3 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Black Processor
and the COOLER MASTER Storm Scout

does everybody agree that this would be a pretty decent system for a couple of years and that i could run windows 7 on it (or remain with xp?)?