Current System a bit dated, looking into new hardware. Suggestions?

[Emission]

My current system is maybe 1 yr old, but even so, it seems to be slow compared to the newer AMD 64 X2 rigs and such out there. My current rig is in the sig. It feels fairly fast at multimedia-oriented multitasking (Music, multiple web browsers), and I havent really done any hardcore gaming on it. The 32-bit stuff seems a tad dated, and I cant help but think that the 64 bit 4000+ systems will purely blow it out of the water. Im looking at stuff like the AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ Toledo cored processor and the 7800 GTX. Due to the vast majority of motherboards on the market, and at newegg.com, I cant quite figure out which is the best for stable overclocking and such, and which is the best in terms of compatability. Also things like kick-ass overclockable RAM, durable and stable PSU's and such, so im in need of some suggestions. Also, this needs to be in about a $1500 budget. No monitor, case, or other little things in that order. Just parts, im keeping my old case for this PC.

P.S. Also im looking into watercooling and need suggestions about a good system that will be able to handle the cpu, gpu, and a 80GB SATA HDD. (The faster SATA, not sure which one that is).

 

[meatycheesyboy]

My current rig is in the sig. It feels fairly fast at multimedia-oriented multitasking (Music, multiple web browsers), and I havent really done any hardcore gaming on it.

If it feels fast, why are you upgrading? I'm going to give you advice that is contrary to what others will probably give you, here goes: You have an awesome system as is, take your $1500 put it in a 1 year CD and upgrade after it matures, you'll have slightly more money and your system will be more in need of an upgrade at that time. I know it isn't the [H]ard answer but I'm a pragmatist.

Oh, and your signature is too long.

 

[Dagatech]

If it feels fast, why are you upgrading? I'm going to give you advice that is contrary to what others will probably give you, here goes: You have an awesome system as is, take your $1500 put it in a 1 year CD and upgrade after it matures, you'll have slightly more money and your system will be more in need of an upgrade at that time. I know it isn't the [H]ard answer but I'm a pragmatist.

Oh, and your signature is too long.

seconded. that computer is better by far then the one i just built for myself last month.

 

[{NcsO}ReichstaG]

Hard to resist the urge to upgrade to the latest and greatest hardware, such as Dual Cores and the 7800 series of Graphics cards........
especially when there are so many people talking about their "opterOWNs" and 7800GTXs and what not.
So I am right also in the act of upgrading (I should have my next computer built by next friday)
I went from the computer in my sig to a Opteron 165 with 7800GT, Armor Case and DFI Ultra-D motherboard and some Ballistix Tracers....It took me over a month to sell my old p4 machine on eBay, find new parts(Some i got off eBay and some from eTailers) .......
Moral of the Story:
upgrade

 

[compulsivephreek]

I say wait on 64 bit, you won't notice a huge difference. Wait until Vista and then go 64 bit, until then save your money, and just tweek the system you have. Get a larger monitor.

 

[GeForceX]

Your PC is much faster than mine. It's silly to upgrade now. Your PC can run just about anything now.

-J.

 

[{NcsO}ReichstaG]

Your PC is much faster than mine. It's silly to upgrade now. Your PC can run just about anything now.

-J.

True, but it is fun to have the latest technology if you have the money.
However, actually I would wait until the M2 Socket and the next generation of videocards came out to upgrade.
I just was not patient enough

 

[compulsivephreek]

actually its more fun to tweek what you have, thats the real fun of computer hardware. anyone can go buy a comaro, but that is cheating

 

[Emission]

actually its more fun to tweek what you have, thats the real fun of computer hardware. anyone can go buy a comaro, but that is cheating

^^^

Thanks for the advice all! Greatly appreciated! Yes, I constantly hear about how new hardware is out and how it seems to be so much faster. Yea, in the beginning I had my doubts that it was much faster if at all compared to my system. I MIGHT get a new board, due to the little detail that Prescotts dont seem to overclock very well on ASUS boards. 2 of my friends have the same exact board and cant overclock past 3.6GHz (which I know is possible with good enough RAM and Cooling). Maybe if I upgrade stuff like RAM, and cooling hardware, I can get a lot better overclock with my machine. I got this KVR PC3200 stuff recently, and it seems like its a huge bottleneck for overclocking (very unstable at higher overclocks, gets a bit hotter than usual). Thanks again for the advice everyone, greatly appreciated!