Thinking of turning my computer into a monster

[ExAm]

So, I've been wanting lately for the rest of my computer to be able to keep up with my 8800GT.

Here's what I've got picked out so far...

CPU $87.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103194

RAM $42.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227139

MoBo $72.99 (I DO NOT want SLI, thanks)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138102

Cooler $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835233001

NEEDED:
New fans, quiet and efficient

I'm sure there are a couple of improvements to be made, so make some suggestions. I'd like to keep this upgrade well under $400

...Windows XP Home Edition can handle dual core processors, right?

[Mr Buckshot]

lol tech talk mb?

XP Home Ed can handle dual core, of course. I'm using XP Home ed right now on a C2D E6750.

Looks pretty good, although the Athlon X2 5000+ sounds a bit underpowered (but is still great for all games) by today's standards. Also you can get a 5400+ with the cooling included.

[ExAm]

Stock cooling sucks, and I hear this CPU can be easily overclocked to 3.2GHz with good cooling.

Also, could the mods move this thread to Tech Talk? I made a boo boo kthx.

[Zeph]

Moved to tech talk. Learn to post in the right forum.

[Jelly]

With an Intel processor you could save on the cooler; the stock one can handle overclocking well.

[Zeph]

About the rig, you'll definitely notice a performance increase, but your GPU will still be held back a good deal. The question you need to ask yourself is if you'd rather upgrade your computer now for a minimal boost or save your money and buy a completely new computer later for an epic boost.

[Abdurahman]

According to some reviews the 65nm (runs way cooler=better overclock) 5000+ black edition (unlocked multiplier=best overclocking ability) gets the same performance as a c2d e6600 and kills everything below it when overclocked to 3.0-3.2 ghz on air.

The 5000+ black edition gets the same performance as a 6000+ x2, so i think this is a freaking great bang for the buck.

EDIT: Also the 5000 black edition won't even bottleneck an 8800gtx/gts

That combo up there is like only $250!

[ExAm]

About the rig, you'll definitely notice a performance increase, but your GPU will still be held back a good deal. The question you need to ask yourself is if you'd rather upgrade your computer now for a minimal boost or save your money and buy a completely new computer later for an epic boost.
I've got plenty of cash for an epic boost, but I don't want to spend that much on it.

EDIT: By the way, am I going to have to reinstall WIndows for this? My drive has the motherboard's drivers on it, as well as the CPU's. I suppose I could uninstall all that, but are there any concerns about corrupting things by doing that? Or am I just being paranoid?

[Amit]

I've got plenty of cash for an epic boost, but I don't want to spend that much on it.

EDIT: By the way, am I going to have to reinstall WIndows for this? My drive has the motherboard's drivers on it, as well as the CPU's. I suppose I could uninstall all that, but are there any concerns about corrupting things by doing that? Or am I just being paranoid?

It's probably best to reinstall everything when installing a new motherboard and sometimes a CPU. See if you can contact Microsoft about first deactivating your CD-Key (AFTER BACKING UP ALL DATA). You may run into problems when trying to reinstall windows if a CD Key is tied to some piece of random hardware. For me the CD key is tied to the Hard Drive so you'd probably be ok for putting it into another system with the current specs but not in a new one since the drivers would be completely different than your new hardware.

So basically just:

1. Back up all data.
2. Reformat HDD.
3. Deactivate CD key (if applicable).
4. Install new components.
5. Allocate desired HDD space for new partition with Windows Setup and reinstall windows
6. Install new drivers for replacement hardware and old drivers for unchanged hardware.

[Zeph]

If you're going to be replacing the majority of everything, which you are, you're better off going to a clean install. Back up your data and write zeros or random patterns to the entire drive to remove any hidden registry data. From there, install your OS, then drivers, and then replace your old data.

[Abdurahman]

Hmm when my motherboard, cpu, and graphics card and psu died at the same time, i just bought a new mobo, cpu, gpu, and psu, but didn't reinstall my os, and when i started windows xp and it was working just as it had before., but way faster. Is it absolutely necessary to reinstall everything?

[Zeph]

It will clean out everything you dont need from the registry.

[Amit]

In all practicality, it will always make your windows install faster in the beginning. You have to regularly defragment your hard drive and not install any unnecessary software but slowness will still happen eventually.

[ExAm]

Is there any way I could back up everything installed, so that I don't have to reinstall the shitloads of stuff that's on here? >_<

[Zeph]

Not really.

[ExAm]

Meh. I don't consider it worth it to reinstall Windows, then. Only if things start getting seriously fucked up will I do that.

[ExAm]

OK So, anyone got any improvement suggestions? Better parts for around the same price? Stuff like that?