Upgrading, advice wanted

[TheBlackOut]

When bad things happen, good things happen too. My mom's Dell CPU heat sink died a few days ago so she ordered a new one and I'll fix it, but she also wants just a faster computer. Mine is old (in gaming regards) but way better than what she had, so she wants my computer. This means I get to upgrade my parts so I have a new one (yay!).

Now I have a question about my computer that I will be giving her before I go into what I picked out. I have a ASUS A8N-SLi, I assume since it doesn't have integrated graphics, I have to buy her a cheap video card so she can plug in her monitor. This is a correct assumption? I assume something like this SAPPHIRE 100172-64L Radeon X1550 will do.

Now onto just a few things I picked out for her. Since it was a Dell, she'll need a new case and power supply. Nothing fancy or anything, she just browses the web and listens to music. I picked the COOLER MASTER Centurion 5 for the case and a Thermaltake Purepower W0100RU 500W ATX 12V 2.0 for the power supply. I think these are pretty inexpensive and will do the job. That's all she'll need, I already have some CD drives and I'll just use the Dell HDD.
Now onto my parts:

Mobo - GIGABYTE GA-EP45-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P45
RAM - G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800
CPU - Intel C2D E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz
Heatsink - ARCTIC COOLING Freezer 7 Pro
New DVD drive, old burns slow - LG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ SecurDisc Tech
Sound card (mom is taking mine) - Creative 70SB046A00000 7.1 Channels 24-bit 192KHz

As for the other stuff, I have a ASUS 9600GT which I am pleased with at the moment and a 250GB SATA HDD and a case.

My budget is around 500 dollars (for my stuff) and I feel these items are pretty good picks for the budget but there could always be better ones, so opinions definitely wanted.

 

[disports]

it sounds good, you may or may not need a sound card but that's your choice.

 

[TheBlackOut]

Yea I thought about going without a soundcard and just giving my mom mine, but I thought of my studio monitors, they'd be a waste without a nice soundcard.

 

[TheBlackOut]

Any other opinions...?

 

[Brigdh]

Dell uses custom power supplies and mobos. If you want to replace one, you need to replace the other (unless I read what you are doing for your mom wrong)

 

[TheBlackOut]

I am replacing my computer (which was build by me with custom parts) and giving her my old computer.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Brigdh
Dell uses custom power supplies and mobos. If you want to replace one, you need to replace the other (unless I read what you are doing for your mom wrong)

Not any more. They use standard ATX-compatible power supplies these days.

 

[Rockhound1]

For your mom, you might look at the Antec 4480B case. It is a nice conservative black case with good cooling and comes with an Earthwatts 380 watt PSU. It is very quiet too. You can get it from Microcenter for $60.

Your part selection looks solid. The only thing that I would suggest (if your budget will take it) is maybe faster memory. Maybe some DDR2 1066 MHz memory.

 

[TheBlackOut]

Originally posted by: Roguestar

Originally posted by: Brigdh
Dell uses custom power supplies and mobos. If you want to replace one, you need to replace the other (unless I read what you are doing for your mom wrong)

Not any more. They use standard ATX-compatible power supplies these days.

Really? That's cool to know, though my mom's computer is from 2004 or 05, so that's not the case.

Originally posted by: Rockhound1
For your mom, you might look at the Antec 4480B case. It is a nice conservative black case with good cooling and comes with an Earthwatts 380 watt PSU. It is very quiet too. You can get it from Microcenter for $60.

Your part selection looks solid. The only thing that I would suggest (if your budget will take it) is maybe faster memory. Maybe some DDR2 1066 MHz memory.

I tried searching for it on Microcenter's site, nothing came up.

As for your memory suggestion, I can't seem to get a bargain. Right now with the RAM I picked (which I get 40 dollars off) I come out to about 650. The other RAM would put me at about 700, a tad over budget. If you know of any other sites that are having deals on some memory, link me up and I'll order the memory from them.

 

[Rockhound1]

Here is a link to the Antec case link to case

I will do a quick search for the memory and let you know.

EDIT:

You are right about the memory. The cheapest I could find was at ZipZoomFly - OCZ for $87 free shipping after MIR. Plus, they are currently out of stock on this item.

 

[TheBlackOut]

Originally posted by: Rockhound1
Here is a link to the Antec case link to case

I will do a quick search for the memory and let you know.

EDIT:

You are right about the memory. The cheapest I could find was at ZipZoomFly - OCZ for $87 free shipping after MIR. Plus, they are currently out of stock on this item.

Thanks.. I never heard of that brand of PSU though, think it's reliable?

Also if I do get that case, it helps my budget a bunch, and I am able to get better memory... What about OCZ Platinum 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066?

 

[Rockhound1]

Earthwatts is an Antec PSU. These PSUs are good quality. Technically speaking, Antec does not really make its own cases or PSUs, but outsources the production to other companies. In any case, these PSUs are well-known in the PC-building community. Here is a link to Newegg's site which sells the Antec Earthwatts PSU (Link)

OCZ has been around for a while, and is well known for the memory modules it offers. I would say the first thing you need to do is research your motherboard and ensure this memory is compatable. If it is compatable and it is within your budget, then go for it. On the other hand, the DDR2 800 MHz memory that you originally linked to would serve you well also. The DDR2 1066 MHz just offers you a little more speed - your call.

 

[TheBlackOut]

Originally posted by: Rockhound1
Earthwatts is an Antec PSU. These PSUs are good quality. Technically speaking, Antec does not really make its own cases or PSUs, but outsources the production to other companies. In any case, these PSUs are well-known in the PC-building community. Here is a link to Newegg's site which sells the Antec Earthwatts PSU (Link)

OCZ has been around for a while, and is well known for the memory modules it offers. I would say the first thing you need to do is research your motherboard and ensure this memory is compatable. If it is compatable and it is within your budget, then go for it. On the other hand, the DDR2 800 MHz memory that you originally linked to would serve you well also. The DDR2 1066 MHz just offers you a little more speed - your call.

Thanks for the reply, I've done a little digging and seen some builds with the memory and the same motherboard plus a reviewer on NewEgg mentioned it and said it was good with it. I think I'm going to order today, you've been a great help.