Rate my upgrade and suggest improvements

[LW07]

In march, I'm going to get $1800 for upgrades to my computer. Here's what I have right now:
Abit KN8 Ultra Socket 939 Motherboard
Athlon 64 3500+ at stock speeds
2 gigs of OCZ Ram
BFG Geforce 7800GT OC
Maxtor DiamondMax 8 80GB hard drive
Antec TruePower 2.0 550W ATX12V version PSU(not the true control or the ESP12V version).
Some 1990s case with little ventilation

What I'm planning to get:
I'm keeping the motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827135063- $43

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129155-$100
Antec Sonata II case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822148022-$78x2
I'm getting 2 just in case one arrives DOA or dies so that I'll have a back up.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16825122106-$62
To replace a Toshiba PCX1100U modem, I want faster internet

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16814131005-$234
Radeon X1900XT

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817703001-$220
To replace the Antec PSU because I want a PSU to last me a LONG time and 12v and -12v rails on the antec are at 11.43v and -7v each.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820146545-$168
To go with or replace the OCZ since I don't know if the OCZ have gone bad or not, I'm not getting constant lock ups and BSODS(well, 1 every 1-3 weeks, I don't know how bad that is)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103547-$360
I'm not overclocking and I don't want to settle for the X2 3800+.

Some extra case fans.

Total:$1760 after Fedex First-Day shipping

 

[Bobthelost]

Why are you planning the upgrade now? Why not wait for AM2 and then see how it all looks then?

 

[suicidalpigeon]

lol upgrading that rig is like going from a porche boxter to a porche cayman.

 

[LW07]

I'm impatient and I don't think AM2 will actually be necessary until like December of 2007 and by then my wallet will have recovered enough to have another upgrade.

 

[LW07]

The main reason is because I want a cooler case, a more stable computer, a future proof system, a hard drive to replace my current one, all rolled into one upgrade.

 

[LW07]

But, what improvements should I make to my upgrade plan? What should I throw out and what should I change?

 

[Bobthelost]

If i were you i'd look at this first of all:

To go with or replace the OCZ since I don't know if the OCZ have gone bad or not, I'm not getting constant lock ups and BSODS(well, 1 every 1-3 weeks, I don't know how bad that is)

Future proof is a silly term. Buy what you need to play the games out at the time with a bit of extra muscle for improvements, just enough to last you till your next upgrade. If your computer can play the games you want it to at the settings you like it at then why upgrade at all?

 

[suicidalpigeon]

are you just upgrading because you can or is it not meeting specific requirements, which i highly find dumb if you do find something unsatisfying performance wise. please try to keep everything into one post, not a question on a new reply ever 2 minutes in attempt to bump at the same time. changing the hd and case and replacing possibly defective ram maybe one thing but going from 7800gt to to the 1900 is a waste. you don't need to spend premium on the psu, try the s12 500w or the tagan 480w u22. new modems doesnt generally create a a noticable improvement in internet speed.

 

[LW07]

I don't know how bad a BSOD every 1-3 weeks is, though. I've read of people who have not had a BSOD in a year or more in one install. So guys, what should I throw out of the upgrade? I will not throw out the Case, Fans, CPU, or the PC Power and Cooling Power Supply. I'm open to all other recommendations, though. What would be the frequency of BSODs and Lock Ups on bad memory sticks, BTW? And for the Upgrade from 7800GT to X1900 being a waste. My lowest acceptable resolution is 1024*768 with high settings and 4xAF. I can tolerate no AA. How long might my 7800GT last at that resolution and detail settings? Will it last 2 years at that setting before I have to get another GPU? Sorry for asking so many questions, guys, but it's just that I want to know a bunch of stuff.

 

[suicidalpigeon]

use 1 stick at a time and run memtest.

 

[LW07]

I'm getting the new modem since I want my download speeds to increase and I want to get a modem that won't disconnect so much. It happens on my toshiba quite a bit, and I'm getting tired of it, but when I cool it off, it connects just fine, but still, I want a modem that will not disconnect so much and that is of a higher quality. Do you guys think I'm expecting too much from the moterola, or do you guys think that I'll definitely notice an increase? I want absolute confirmation from this. Waffles said that it wouldn't create a noticible increase in speed, but I want to be sure about this. I've decided to keep the 7800GT, BTW. I now plan to instead, get either a X2 4400+ or a 4800+, and again, I'm not overclocking.

 

[LW07]

Here's my Revised Upgrade.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16827135063

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16811129155
The Antec Sonata II case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822148022
Still Getting 2 of these

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16825122106
Still pondering whether to get the modem or not, am leaning towards getting it

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817703001
Still getting the PC Power and Cooling, I already mentioned that I'm not going to budge here.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16820146545
I'm getting 4 of these to replace the OCZ, I want a completely smooth experience and crucial are one of the best brands in terms of reliability and quality, from what I've heard. Some people on newegg are complaining about these being samsung made rather than micron made, is that true?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16819103546
Going to the X2 4400+ instead of the 4200+.

I am not waiting for Socket AM2 since I want the technology to mature before updating, because I think either Socket 939 or 754 had problems in their early days.

I have decided to keep the 7800GT until another year or two. Until games get to where 1024*768 with 4xaf and medium settings are no longer possible on the 7800GT, which will probably be in about 2-2 and a half years if history repeats itself, and I'm basing this off of the Radeon 9800Pro's history, since it can run games like FEAR at 1024*768 with 4xaf and medium settings with all shadows off (correct me on that if I'm wrong, as I have never owned a 9800pro. Just guessing from looking at benchmarks of similar cards,and my experience with shadows off, which caused a substantial increase, went from slideshow to playable on my 7800 at 1600*1200 with 4xAA and 8xAF.).

I am no longer getting the Audigy 2, either, since I'm pretty happy with my Live.

Thanks Guys, in advance for your help and for the help you have already given me.