Distributed Computer build

[dsg123456789]

I have been using my much-loved athlon 2500-based system for a while now, but it is starting to crawl. I am a computer and linux enthusiast, and so some of my choices might reflect that. I plan on setting up my old computer as NAS, a firewall, and perhaps a router. It will also run a sql server and other misc. servers. My new computer and my laptops will be on a private 1000baseT network whose DHCP and DNS are provided by the athlon. I don't really want to spend more than $1500, and I do a lot of video encoding, media things, and programming (very little gaming, primarily minesweeper).

The new computer's parts:
Centurion 5 case
Western Digital 250GB drive
Rosewill 550W sli-ready psu
4x 512 ocz gold ram
Asus p5b intel p965 mobo
Core 2 E6300
2x dvd burners
7600GT gfx card (i may add a 2nd later, for additional monitors or to give a second instance of linux a dedicated gfx card under Xen)

The old computer will have
athlon 2500
1gb ram
matching (ceturion 5) case
4x 250gb drive
2x 80gb drive
120gb drive (the smaller drives are what are currently in it; they are all full)
radeon 9600XT

Ignoring connector details (which I didn't include, but everything has a plug & socket available), does this seem like a good way to spend my money? Are any of these incorrect choices? Thanks for your responses.

 

[CurseTheSky]

I would go with 2x1GB of decent RAM instead of OCZ Gold. OCZ is a good company, but their Gold series isn't the best. Plus, getting 1GB sticks allows you to upgrade to 4GB later if needed, and RAM always helps with the work you're doing.

 

[BadThad]

Originally posted by: CurseTheSky
I would go with 2x1GB of decent RAM instead of OCZ Gold. OCZ is a good company, but their Gold series isn't the best. Plus, getting 1GB sticks allows you to upgrade to 4GB later if needed, and RAM always helps with the work you're doing.

First thing that popped into my head as well.