Really need opinions on an upgrade

[Zarick]

So I have two options that I am considering:

$375 is my limit

Intel:

Albatron 865pe mobo: 106.00
2xKingston hyperx 2700 : 90.00
P4 2.4b: 162.00

or

AMD:

Epox 8RDA+: 89.00
2xKingston Hyperx 2700: 90.00
Barton 2500: 127.00
WD 40gig HD 8mb cache: 69.00

So if I go with the amd setup I get a new HD.. right now I only have a 20gig. However I am worried about heat with the stock AMD Heatsink. I haven't had good luck with my thunderbird heat wise.

If I dumped the HD I could get another 256 of kingston hyperx and drop the price down to 351.00
or I could just not get the ram or a HD and have the price all the way down to: 306.00

I really could use some expert opinions.. I am not so good at the bang for the buck thing.. I tend to overspend and not get the goods.

Also.. I have no interest in overclocking.. I just want the system to run stable and clean for gaming. I want to stay away from asus motherboards as I have two now and both have bizarre issues.. (i.e. cant put 3 chips of ram into the mobo.. locks up the computer).

(edit.. albatron board price dropped from 123.00 to 106)

 

[Malladine]

AMD gets my vote.

Looks like your choices are quality. Stock HSF with the barton should be alright, although somewhat loud. If you could afford it, I'd recommend glacialtech's igloo 2500 as a cheap, effective alternative. $15 from newegg. CPUs can take way more than 99.9% of gamers push them to. I'm talking 60C no problem.

For heavy gaming, i'd recommend more ram down the road. 1GB rulez

 

[deerslayer]

I'd go for the AMD too.

If you are dissatisfied with the cooling you could always get a different HSF Pick up a thermalright sk7 or slk800 and a good fan to put on top and you would have no worries with the heat