Need some help/suggestions

[FlyingCows]

Alright, well my computer is dying...right now ive got an AMD 1600+, old Albatron KX600 Pro board, and an old Turbolink 420 watt PSU that came with my case (this is the thing causing all of my damn problems). Anyways...Im looking to buy a new CPU (Athlon of course), board to go with it, and a new PSU.

I've got a couple hundred to spend on this (not sure how much yet) but I was looking at getting the Athlon 64 2800+ (only $185 at newegg) maybe with the ABIT KV8 K8T800 (Is this board good? I've read a couple reviews on it and it sounded alright) or the 3000+ or 3200+ Barton with the ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe NForce2. (Im mainly leading towards the 64bit)

About the PCU...I was looking an Antec P4 400 Watt, but I really dont know anything about these...so any suggestions?


After I get my PCU and motherboard my system will be this:

CPU
Mobo
Power Supply
*1 gig DDR400 PC3200
*ATI 9600 XT
*40 gig Maxtor hard drive
*120 gig Western Digital hard drive
Sound Blaster Audigy2 (maybe, unless I get good onboard sound with 5.1 support then I wont be getting this)

*parts I already have

Now, if I get the Athlon 64 2800+ will I need to use the new Windows XP 64 bit thing? Or can I still use my copy of Windows XP Pro...Im confused...is Windows XP 64 bit a free upgrade? or does it have to be purchased? My computer is mainly going to be used for gaming so would it be nesesary to upgrade to it if I get the Athlon 64?

Any suggestions on my system would be great, thanks!

 

[BranchBreaker]

Considering I'm in almost the same exact boat, help both of us out.

 

[Roberty]

Now, if I get the Athlon 64 2800+ will I need to use the new Windows XP 64 bit thing? Or can I still use my copy of Windows XP Pro...Im confused...is Windows XP 64 bit a free upgrade? or does it have to be purchased? My computer is mainly going to be used for gaming so would it be nesesary to upgrade to it if I get the Athlon 64?

Any suggestions on my system would be great, thanks!

The Athlon 64's are backward compatable with any 32 bit applications. Meaning that it will run just fine with your current Windows XP Pro or any other version you might be going to put on it. The 64 bit version or Windows XP that is available right now is just a Beta version just to try out but I wouldn't mess with it right now. Microsoft is suppossed to be releasing a new 64 bit version of Windows XP late this year but in the meantime your current version will be just fine and dandy.

That's the sweet thing about the Athlon 64's - They are backwards compatable with the earlier 32 bit (current) versions of Windows.

 

[Liam]

Look into Forton PSU's. You should get the 2800+ a64, it will run (or sprint) circles around the xp's

 

[FlyingCows]

Any suggetions on what board I should get (for the 64 2800+)? Ive been looking at a couple but im not sure which is the best for its price, I'm thinking about the ASUS A8V Deluxe Wi-Fi K8T800, MSI K8T Neo-FIS2R K8T800, and the ABIT KV8 K8T800...I know there are others out there but I just dont know which one to go with...