PC Build, eye candy inside.

[9Hooker]

Gents,
Looking to upgrade the system.

Current setup:
DFI Lanparty 4 Ultra-D
3800x2 (socket 939)
zalman 9500cu cooler
2x1 GB overclockable DDR (but not OC'd)
geforce 7800 gt video card (maybe OC version, PCIX)
WD 36GB raptor drive
2x WD 400GB drives
IDE dvd drive
SATA dvd drive
random power supply from 2003. maybe 350-400w coolermaster
mybook 1TB USB drive
24", 1920x1200 LCD monitor
white box vista home premium
antec p180 case
dfi pci x1 wireless network card.

Problems right now
Size, the case is large and the cables inside drive me up a wall
It's outdated. The computer was built in mid-late 2005. I don't need bleeding edge, but I would like a good 2-3 years out of it. This one seems to creep when loaded up.

What I would like/need:
maybe a NAS solution for the 2 400GB drives (freeing up space for a smaller enclosure, not needing big computer on all the time)
lightly overclocked. i don't need the fastest processor if I can save a bunch of $$ and get an 80% solution
4GB RAM
SMALLER box (smaller than regular ATX form factor, something I can have on my desktop maybe??)
new power supply?!?!
built in wireless or the ability to use my x1 card, this PC will be unable to hardwire into the router
bluray dvd player/dual layer dvd burner


Uses:
Home computer
Movie storage
Music storage
Light Gaming (The occasional NWN2, whatever I can get my hands on. Not a heavy gamer, and not all the time, but I am a stickler about above average quality with acceptable framerates)
DVD burning (may need a double layer burner) (applications such as anyDVD, DVDcopy, NERO, etc)
LIGHT OCCASIONAL Photoshop of DSLR pictures
MS Office applications
The interweb

I've searched this forum and the other hardware forums (mobo/sff/graphics cards)
I can navigate newegg. But the thing is I haven't needed to build in a long time I don't know what's good or need-to-have anymore.


Thanks,
9Hooker

incentive, what I did on my cruise:CLICK ME!!!!

 

[9Hooker]

PS. can someone imbed that image?

OOPS, sorry.

Budget sub 800 TOTAL.

Also also also, what performance gain (in %) do you think can be had from upgrading, i.e. 3dmark scores (ballpark).

((((((((())))))))))

used my parenthesis limit for the day.

 

[DSF]

For your processor I'd look at the Intel E7200, and pair it with an inexpensive P35 or P45 board. It's a pretty good processor at stock speeds, and has a lot of overclocking potential. For your video card you're looking at either an 8800GT or HD4850 unless you're willing to spend over $200. I can't tell whether or not you're looking for an additional hard drive, but if so the WD Caviar 640GB is probably the best value out there. A couple of cost-effective 750GB models as well. If you go with the E7200, this Mushkin kit would make a good RAM choice. If you go with a processor that has a lower multiplier, you may want to consider DDR2-1000.

 

[9Hooker]

nope. no intent to upgrade HD's. All storage will be taken care of via the 400 GB drives, whether they're in a NAS or internal. the 36GB is good enough for all applications, etc.

my expenses, as i see it, are:

mobo
proc
ram
gpu
case
power supply

I think $800 should get me to where I need to be.

does that link work BTW?

 

[MrToilet]

For $800, you can get a really solid system for what you need. Just an idea:

mobo: ~$175: DFI LP LT P35
processor: $199: Q6600 @ Microcenter
RAM: $80: 4 GB DDR2-800
GPU: $150: 8800GT/HD4850

Total there is around $600, leaving your choice of case/PSU, which shouldn't be too hard to get under $200 combined.

Just an idea.

 

[Lonyo]

I have an X2 4200+ and went from a 7800GT to an HD4850, and pretty much doubled my framerate in everything (using 1680x1050. This is with the HD4850 running on PCIe 1.0 8x, because motherboard is shot), If you upgrade your CPU as well to reduce the CPU limitation on the card you should get even more improvement.

And if you are thinking a NAS box for the HDD's, and are going to connect them to the router, and then access them via wireless, it's going to be painful. If you're going to hook them up directly to your PC wired and just have them external then you should be OK though, but you might want to look at eSATA options.

 

[9Hooker]

And if you are thinking a NAS box for the HDD's, and are going to connect them to the router, and then access them via wireless, it's going to be painful. If you're going to hook them up directly to your PC wired and just have them external then you should be OK though, but you might want to look at eSATA options.

hrmmm, haven't thought about that. right now the PC being replaced houses my DVD collection (in full quality) and streams with only a hickup here and there and that's over wireless. if it were wired in to the router (like the HTPC is) would it not do even better?