Upgrades on a budget of $450

Hello all.

Pretty much my first post here. I have a budget I need to keep below $450 and this is what I have come up with, based on info I've researched here. I will be installing Windows XP Pro on the new configuration as well. Please let me know your final thoughts.

First, here are my current specifications:
Mobo: ASUS P5AD2 Deluxe, Intel 925x chipset, socket LGA775
CPU: Intel 3.4GHz, 800FSB with HT
RAM: 3GB of matched Corsair: 1GB of DDR2 PC5400 chips and 2GB of PC6400 (TWIN2X2048-6400C4).
HD: dual WD 74GB 10,000 RPM Raptors in RAID 0 config using SATA
Video: eVGA GeForce 8800 Ultra PCI Express card with 768MB memory
Monitor: 28" ViewSonic VX2835WM LCD with 3ms response time
Sound: Creative Blaster X-Fi Fatal1ty FPS
Power: Corsair HX 620 watt
Corsair Nautilus 500 water cooling kit
Keyboard: original Logitech G15, generation 1
Mouse: Logitech G5 laser
Headphones: Sennheiser gaming headphones with boom mic


For what I am about to buy:

Mobo: ASUS PK5/EPU, $114.99
https://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=10008045

CPU: Intell Quad Core Q6600, $208.50
https://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=80864

Memory: G.SKILL 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-8500 DDR2 1066, $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166

How does that all look? I'll be using all the obvious parts I can from my old rig.

Thank you all in advance for your feedback.

First off Welcome to OCF!

Second can you give us some idea of what you'll be using this system for... such as gaming, ripping, overclocking?

Uconnball83 said:

First off Welcome to OCF!

Second can you give us some idea of what you'll be using this system for... such as gaming, ripping, overclocking?

Click to expand...

Thanks for the warm welcome. This will be an upgrade to my current rig, which is primarily for gaming.

I will use all the parts I can from my current rig where I can.

I'd go with the abit IP-35 great board and cheap

EvilPeppard:
I think your 3 picks for the upgrade are good, and that 8800 Ultra will see Significant gains in performance:

Good Luck.

citabria said:

EvilPeppard:
I think your 3 picks for the upgrade are good, and that 8800 Ultra will see Significant gains in performance:

Good Luck.

Click to expand...

Thanks. That is exactly what I am looking for. I know my old CPU and mobo were the bottleneck for my 8800 Ultra. If I could just upgrade the CPU in my current socket 775 board I would, alas ASUS doesn't support a dual/quad core with my old P5AD2, even with the latest BIOS.

Thank you again.

Perhaps an Asus P5Q would be a better choice with the newer chipset