Upgrading Computer

[mrw1986]

I'm looking to upgrade my computer when I get some cash. I will be upgrading the Case, Video Card, Power Supply, Memory, and Sound Card. I have listed my current parts and the parts I'm looking to get. Please rate on what you think of the parts I wish to purchase please.

Current Specs:

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300
Motherboard: Intel DG965WH
Cooling: 2x Dynex 80mm LED fans, 2x Thermaltake 80mm Smart Fan IIs
Memory: 2x 512mb PNY Optima PC2-4300
Video Card: ATi Radeon X700 Pro Overclocked (460/510)
Harddisk: Maxtor 200gb ATA and Maxtor 300gb ATA - Both 7200rpm 8mb cache
CD/DVD Drive: External 16x DVD Burner
CRT/LCD Model: Pixelink 18.1" LCD - High grade industrial monitor
Case: Apevia Black X-Dreamer w/ Window
Sound Card: Onboard - Intel HDA
PSU: Some crap 350watt...I know, I know
Software: Vista Ultimate

Parts I wish to upgrade to:

Case: Rosewill R5604-TBK 0.8mm SECC Screw-less Dual 120mm Fans ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
Video Card: EVGA 320-P2-N811-AR GeForce 8800GTS 320MB 320-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 HDCP Video Card
Power Supply: Rosewill RP550-2 ATX 2.01 550W Power Supply 115/230 V CSA, CB, TUV, FCC, UL
Memory: G.SKILL 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory
Sound Card: HT OMEGA STRIKER 7.1 Channels 24-bit 96KHz PCI Interface Sound Card

I know they aren't the best parts but they are within my budget. All together it's about $520 + shipping. If you guys have any suggestions as to what I can change please let me know. I've been working on this list since February and right now I'm 98% sure its the parts I want.

 

[anticlutch]

Instead of the Corsairs, get the GSkill memory with the black heatsinks (they have the D9 chips or w/e they're called, and they OC very, very well).
Gskills: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231065

The power supply isn't the best, but for the money it's great (I have that model and it runs pretty well)... as for everything else, it seems to check out. Personally though, I'd save some money and keep the same case if you're going to get the Rosewill... either keep the case or splurge a bit more and get a really nice case that you can use for many years (i.e. anything from Lian Li, Antec 900, etc.)

 

[mrw1986]

The power supply I'm looking at is supposed to be ample for the 8800GTS and my other components. I was looking at a Mushkin one but the Rosewill beat it out. The Rosewill Case from what I can tell is an excellent case from all the reviews on Newegg and various other sites. My current case sucks and won't hold the 8800 also the cooling is pretty bad in it. Also I think that memory is overkill because if you compare it to my PNY the overclocking would probably be useless. I plan on keeping my PNY in so I can have 3gb of memory. Thanks for the recommendation though, I will keep it in mind incase I decide to ditch the PNY .

Regards,
mrw1986

 

[anticlutch]

I'd seriously suggest against mixing RAM sticks. It won't damage them physically but it will slow down your computer significantly (I've learned from experience). But yeah, the Rosewill PSU is pretty decent... it does get a bit loud sometimes but for the most part, it's pretty quiet.

 

[mrw1986]

I'll take your advice on the RAM. I'm not sure if I'm gonna go with the GSkill or not because of the extra money in the case, but the Corsair seems fine, people have it running stable at 825mhz which is fine for me. If I can sell some of my other PC parts I have laying around I can probably afford the GSkill RAM as well, because I want to make this computer a beast I'll throw that PNY into a PD820 that I wanna build . I think I'm also gonna listen and go with a Lian-Li case.

This one to be exact: LIAN LI PC-60USB B2 Silver Aluminum ATX Mid Tower Computer Case.

Another thing I'm looking into for the future is a new mobo so I can overclock my processor. But that will be in time

 

[anticlutch]

For the mobo, I'd suggest a Gigabyte 965P-DS3. Overclocks very well from what I've heard (I'm planning to buy that and the black G.Skill ram sticks in a couple of weeks actually ). The Corsair's are fine but I only suggested the DDR2 800's as most motherboards use that as the standard; if you bought the DDR2 800's now, it'll underclock to DDR2 667 speeds, and when/if you decide to get a new motherboard, you'll already have your DDR2 800 ram ready to go. If you were to buy DDR2 667 ram however, you would need to sell them and buy the 800's as the 667's generally OC much less than the 800's can. Either way though, you're going to be spending some major cash... from the way I see it, it's spend more now and have to spend later, or spend less now and be forced to spend more later :|

 

[mrw1986]

I agree with you on the spending cash part and I'll definitely check out that motherboard.

 

[Scythez0r]

Nice video card there and the Rosewill PSU should do the trick.

The ram I would just ditch the PNY as it is PC2-4300, while the newer is PC2-5400 (it will clock to the slower speed).

I would suggest doing what anticlutch suggest and grab the G.Skill DDR2-800 which is much better if you plan to OC. Though it is your choice .

 

[tkpenalty]

Good choices man, buy away and you'll be great