I need to upgrade my computer (HELP!)

[zip1385]

I haven't been doing too much gaming so I haven't kept up with computer parts much the past few years. Now that I have run into what looks to be a motherboard problem I am looking to just go ahead and upgrade the whole thing. Below is what I have now and I have no idea where to go from there.

CPU: AMD Athlon 64 3200+ @ 2.7GHz (270X10, 1.52v)
Mombo: Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe
Ram: 2GB OCZ PC3200 (3-4-4-8, 2.95v)
Video: EVGA 7950GX2 (600mhz / 1.6ghz)
Sound: Audigy 2 ZS
PSU: OCZ Powerstream 470ADJ
HDD: 2 Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000RPM SATA (Raid 0) + other large drives for storage.

I am looking into the new i7 CPU (unless something else can be suggested). What air cooling setup should I get for the CPU? I have no idea what to do as far as motherboard or ram goes so I need a lot of help here. I know I want a nice overclocking motherboard and ram to go with the new CPU. I will keep the 7950GX2 for now until the new gen video cards come out and then I will upgrade that as well. I don't think I will be upgrading the HDD's. As for sound card if there is something worth while post up.

Now my question about the PSU. This was considered one of the best out there at the time, but is only 470watt. Do I need any more than this now a days or no?

I don't really have a budget, but I would like a nice bang for the buck setup.

I have been here for a long time now and still read daily even though I don't post much. I do appreciate everyone's help.

Thanks,
Alex

 

[zip1385]

I did some newegg searching and here is what I have come up with.

I will not be upgrading my video card until the next gen cards come out. My hdd's are still some of the best so I am keeping them. Sound card seems to be ok unless the new cards out there are really worth it (are they?). Maybe I will try what ever card is onboard.

I am not sure if I will need to upgrade the 470watt psu or if it will still work ok since I am keeping my current video card. If it will work ok then I will keep it and upgrade once I upgrade the video card as well. If the PSU is not enough then I will need to upgrade that as well and need suggestions.

With CPU I want either an i7 920 or a Core 2 Quad of some sort (suggestions?). Ram since I am upgrading I would say 4+GB. Motherboard has to match the CPU. I need an appropriate cooler for the CPU as well.

All in all I will need the CPU, HSF, mombo, ram, and possibly the PSU.

Like I said I don't really have a budget, but lets say a max of about $1k for the stuff above. I could spend $5k even for the top of the line everything, but I simply don't see the need since I won't use it.

I already own XP (32bit) and Vista (64bit) so I don't need a new OS.

I do game here and there (1680X1050) though some of the new games are 100% unplayable on my current setup due to running a single core. I do a bit of Photoshop editing. Some video editing though pretty rare. No 3D stuff at all.

Let me know what u suggest.

 

[krnmastersgt]

Depending on your main usage for this system, a quad core might be unnecessary since almost all games run on only 2 cores or less you won't see many benefits there for now. Photoshop as of now is still only dual core optimized so you really don't have much of a reason to go for a quadcore unless you feel you want one for whatever the future may bring.
On to the suggestions, which are assuming you don't mind the costs.
CPUs:
Dual core: E8400 Best and most powerful bang for buck dual core on the market, anything higher comes with a much larger price tag.

Quad core: Q9550 One of the more powerful Core2 quads on the market, if you have a need for a quad, this one fits the bill very nicely.

Core i7 CPUs offer great performance gains for people that don't use it for gaming. When it comes to gaming, unless you run an SLI rig there's no real performance benefit of an i7 over a similarly clocked Core2 quad.

Motherboard:
Asus P5Q Pro, probably the cheapest P45 motherboard from a reputable company out there, you could pay a bit more for the Gigabyte boards if you prefer them to Asus for whatever reason. The board initially costs a bit more than the P5Q SE but this board will give you Crossfire, should you want it in the future, has free shipping and a mail-in rebate, which makes it cheaper if you can be bothered to send it in.

Ram:
4GB set of Corsair, cheapest 4gb set (after rebate and with free shipping) I could find, good company, a little loose on the timings but you might be able to tighten them yourself.

PSU:
750W PSU from PC Power & Cooling, one the best companies to get a PSU from, and this one is a pretty good deal for the money too. A 750W might be overkill for your current rigs power requirements however you might need the extra power later on since you want next-gen cards, and they're getting more and more power hungry every launch.

Not really sure what cooler to suggest, a lot of them out there are damn good performers so it'll probably come down to whichever is the cheapest for you. Those are my recommendations for now, hope they help a bit.

 

[Denithor]

krnmastersgt +1

Pretty much pegged it all there. I personally use the e8400 + P5Q Pro and it's a solid pair for gaming & general use. Unless you do a lot of video encoding just go for a dual core, the quads use more power (therefore run hotter) and cost significantly more up front.

But I would recommend a different PSU: the Corsair 650TX ($80AR+FS). Made by Seasonic (best manufacturer, hands down), featuring a 120mm fan for nearly silent operation (quieter than the PCP&C suggested above with an 80mm fan) and still plenty of power for up to dual GTX 260 SLI or so.