PC Upgrade: Suggestions Wanted

[Ravi Kiran Rao]

Hello,
I have a "ancient" pc which I bought in 2002. Its a Compaq Presario.
I want to upgrade it and seek suggestion on the same.
Details are given below:

Specs:
Pentium 4, 1.56 GHz, 20-GB HD (maxstor), 128MB SD-RAM, intel945 (mother board).
15" Compaq CRT monitor, JBL platinum speakers, APC UPS.


Software:
XP(home) NO Service Packs, NO AV. Does not support USB 2.0 etc

Embellishments:
I have added a SONY DVD-R/W drive, SONY CD-R/W, 160 GB Seagate HD.
All the above devices are IDE.

Currect Use:
I use my pc to watch movies,listen to songs, play games like AOE,NFS5 etc
and connect to the Internet using dialup (once in a blue moon).

Future Use:
Intend to take a broadband connection, which means I need to install all the service-packs, AV, Firewalls etc.

Requirements:
I want my PC to be usable for atleast a couple of years.
Also the motherboard should support the latest USB/SATA etc. standards and at the same time be flexible for future additions.
Another requirement is all my current IDE devices should function.

Please suggest a good motherboard which would serve my purpose above.
Since I am changing my motherboard do I need to buy a new cabinet also?
Should not 1 GB of RAM suffice? Which brand of RAM to buy? (MHz?DDR?DDR2 etc etc).
Which processor should I opt for?
My budget is around 10,000 - 12,000.
Any suggestions on what to do with the old-cpu?

[furious_gamer]

Changing the Mobo+CPU doesnt mean u have to purcahse a new Cabinet.But of course u have to buy a new PSU.
OK, i think the budget is only for Proccy+Mobo+Ram+PSU right?
If so then go for Intel E7400 - 6k
ASUS P5K PL VM/CM - 2.5k
2GB DDR2 800MHz - 1k
Zebronics 500W SATA II(Its pro series i think) - 1k

[rhitwick]

First of all sell ur CPU at any price u get. Only CPU not monitor.

Second, U've 4 IDE drives (1 20GB, 1 160GB, 1 DVD RW, 1CDRW). IN recent borads they provide only 1 IDE slot (if I'm not mistaken). So U'll be able to use only two IDE devices. Keep 160GB drive in ur CPU and DVD RW with it. Sell CD RW and make 20GB Hdd an USB HDD.

Let me provide u a config. (Price as per theitwares.com)
Procy: Intel E7400 @5875/- LINK
MOBO: Gigabyte GA-EG41MF-S2H @5175/- LINK
RAM: G-Skill 1GB @800MHz @950/-

U may need to buy a new Cabinet as I don't know if d compaq cabinet would be appropriate for d mobo.
Cabinet: As per ur choice 1500/-

Total comes to 12K something.
And selling ur old rig u'l get at least 2-4K, buy a SATA Hdd and another 1Gig RAM

[Ravi Kiran Rao]

Thanks Rajkumar & Rhitwick.
Yes, I intend to change just the mobo,processor & RAM (for now).
I forgot to add that I have a conexant modem too (which I seldom use). No idea about its specs.
Can I get a expansion slot/cable etc to connect the 20 GB HDD?
I was planning on formatting the entire 20GB thing and having just the OS/Paging file on it. All the data would be on the other HDD so that I can format the 20GB in case of a problem.

There is another reason to this, hopefully forum members can help me with this too:
The compaq recovery CD that I use to install my OS from does not prompt for any partition etc. All I have to do is to insert the CDROM and it will format the 20GB HD into 2 (17 GB C:\ and 3 GB D:\). I don't know to change this. If I use that CD to install my OS on the 160 GB HD then I am afraid I might lose all my data.

Yes. I guess I will have to go in for a new cabinet since the current one is already very cramped.

[rhitwick]

Originally Posted by Ravi Kiran Rao

Thanks Rajkumar & Rhitwick.
Can I get a expansion slot/cable etc to connect the 20 GB HDD?
I was planning on formatting the entire 20GB thing and having just the OS/Paging file on it. All the data would be on the other HDD so that I can format the 20GB in case of a problem.

I guess u've not read my post fully

FYI...

Second, U've 4 IDE drives (1 20GB, 1 160GB, 1 DVD RW, 1CDRW). IN recent boards they provide only 1 IDE slot (if I'm not mistaken). So U'll be able to use only two IDE devices. Keep 160GB drive in ur CPU and DVD RW with it. Sell CD RW and make 20GB Hdd an USB HDD.