[shelldan_nz]

Hi
I was just wondering if you guys could help me out.
I want to upgrade my computer.
My computer specs are:
Motherboard: MSI MS-6712
Processor: AMD Athlon XP 1500+
Harddrive: Seagate Barracuda ATA V 120GB, Model ST3120023A
Ram: 2GB DDR400 (1X 1GB stick and 2X 512mb sticks)

I have got my hands on a brand new Seagate Barracuda 7200.9 16mb 300GB SATA 2 Harddrive.

Could you please tell me if I should be upgrading the motherboard and processor.

Im not to sure if I can do this but I would like to run both hard drives in the computer to give me extra storage and I want to be able to run the 2GB Ram but I dont think the motherboard I have will handle this.

Not only that but I dont have SATA cables to connect the SATA drive either so is it worth getting a Molex to Sata connector and connecting it that way.

If you reccommend me upgrading the motherboard and processor what would you reccommend.

Sorry if it doesnt make sense but Im only a beginner and I suppose Ive got to start somewhere.

Thanks

[covert215]

you should ABSOLUTELY update the processor...in order to do that, you need to upgrade your mobo as well

go to tigerdirect.com or .(your country's extension) and look at the motherboard/cpu bundles...that way you know they are compatible and they are generally cheaper this way

[shelldan_nz]

Cheers for that.
What do you think of this setup. Are these components compatible and do you reccommend something else in place of what I already have.

Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-8I955X Pro
Harddrive: Sata Barracuda 300GB 7200.9 SATA2
Processor: Intel Pentium D Dual-Core 840
Ram: DDR 2 SDRAM 240pin
Graphics Card: ATI Radeon 9550 (RV350)
Sound Card: VIA AC'97
Also can you reccommend anything else Ive missed.
What graphics and sound card do you reccommend. I love my gaming so Im after top quality graphics and sound.
Im wanting to run top quality video editing programs which is the reason for the upgrade.
Thanks for reading.

[Lithium]

No, you can't put an intel Chip into a AMD motherboard.

[covert215]

do what i told you for the mobo and processor...that way, you know that they are compatible

also, the ram in your current model is inefficient...try and go for dual channel

[loserOlimbs]

What are you using this PC for?

If its web surfing and e-mail, just get a PCI SATA card and a SATA to molex adapter for the hard drive, and leave the rest alone.

No sense in upgrading the whole system just for the hell of it!

PC needs should tell us what you actually need.

[shelldan_nz]

I use my computer mainly for gaming but Ive just taken on a video recording career meaning I will need my computer to run top of the line video editing software and sound recording software hence the upgrade.
I want to be able to leave my option to increase memory if the programs require it but i was thinking that about 2 gb memory should be sufficent.

Also I already have a 300gb seagate sata 2 hard drive which was given to me. Thats the reason for building everything around it.

I would like to get at 500 to 600gb into the machine so a question is can i get two sata hard drives running through the one machine. Do they both have to be the same ie sata 2 hard drives or can i use for instance the one i already have being a sata ata v 120gb and the other one being a sata 2 300gb. Would you reccommend staying with the same types or what?
Thanks for your input guys. Youve been a great help

[shelldan_nz]

Well here goes.
Ive done a fair bit of reading and looking at different products.
Just after an opinon on the prooducts and how well to should work together. Ive put myself a list and it comprises of the following:
Motherboard: Intel D945GTPLR, Socket 775 Micro ATX
Processor: Intel Pentium D Dual Core 840 CPU
Hard Drive: 1x Seagate Barracuda 300GB 16MB 7200.9rpm & 1x Seagate Barracuda 500 GB 16MB 7200.9rpm
Dual Video Card: GeForce nVidia 6800GS 8X AGP 256MB DDR3 Dual DVI VGA HDTV-Out Vi
Memory: 2X Legend DDR2 1GB PC2-5300

Do you think that these will all run together well.
Im going to be running two screens from this baby hence the dual video card also what power supply would you reccomend. I was looking at around 550w. This should cover it shouldnt it.
Thanks for your help guys. Ive learnt heaps so far.
Oh also instead of upgrading Im just going to build from scratch. The only way to learn.
Cheers