Upgrade Opinions

[unfaithfulsfan]

Howdy everyone. I couldn't remember the last time I was here so I looked at my posts. I noticed my last post was May 14. That sounds about right since on May 15, I blacked out in the kitchen from a combination of low blood sugar and the morphine derivative pain killers I was on. In doing that I managed to break both the tibia and fibula of my right leg just above the ankle. Something about seeing your foot dangling only by the muscles kinda ruins your appetite. I was in surgery for four hours while the doctor put me back together with plates and screws in each bone so I guess I'll be setting off metal detectors.

On a brighter note, I found out yesterday that my disability was approved without having to get a lawyer!!!!!! While I haven't gotten my arrears yet, I of course am finally going to be able to upgrade my PC and rebuild my MIL's pc while I'm at it and if she doesn't want it, I'll just by another monitor and have a test rig. or a folding rig since I haven't been set up to do that in a while.

I'll have enough to go crazy but at the same time I have to stay grounded because I have a buttload of medical bills to pay so I'm keeping the total cost below $700 (for upgrading mine and rebuilding hers) And I still have to run it by the wife, too.

Anyway, here's my picks for mine:
GIGABYTE GA-EP43-UD3L Mobo Seems like a decent board but my main concern is having Front & Rear Audio outs for my Klipsch speakers $79.99. I don't necessarily want to buy a sound card.
C2Q Q6600 CPU $199.99
G.Skill 2 x 2 GB PC28500 RAM $49.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820231166
Hanns-G 22" Widescreen LCD $139.99
Also adding a WD 500 GB HDD $56.99
And bringing my 9600 GT, case, DVD etc. and PSU along from my current build
That brings me to $526.95
To hers I'll take all my current mobo/cpu/RAM, 19" LCD and an 80 GB HDD
I'll have to buy a copy of XP $89.99
A PSU ~$25
A DVD burner ~$25
All that, along with shipping brings me to just under my $700.

What opinions/suggestions do any of you have to improve my end of the bargain for the money?

Thanks all!
Jack

[Apoptosis]

Intel Core i5 processors are coming out soon. Since that socket is replacing LGA 775 it might be worth waiting for as it will have a longer lifespan. That will likely blow your budget a little bit, but you might be better off a few years from now.

[pwcmed]

I would get a 45nm CPU and not the Q6600.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.211068

Whats the pricing of the i5's?

[unfaithfulsfan]

Intel Core i5 processors are coming out soon. Since that socket is replacing LGA 775 it might be worth waiting for as it will have a longer lifespan. That will likely blow your budget a little bit, but you might be better off a few years from now.

If prices are anywhere near i7 I'm sunk unequivocally. I've been away from my PC for a while due to mobility problems so I've got some reading to do I guess.
Jack

[GI-JOE]

You could always jump for a phenom II build.

[x.clay]

I agree with checking out a Phenom II.

Newegg Combo 1:
- AMD Phenom II X4 945 3.0 Ghz
- ASUS M4A78-E AM2+/AM3 AMD 790GX Motherboard

Total Price After MIR - $270
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.211665

Newegg Combo 2:
- AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 3.2 Ghz
- ASUS M4A78-E AM2+/AM3 AMD 790GX Motherboard

Total Pirce After MIR - $274
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDeal ... mbo.211664

Newegg has a ton of motherboard/CPU combos that are definately worth checking out. From the reviews I have seen the 955 BE is about the same as an Intel Core 2 Quad 9550 which would make for a pretty strong setup and would be about the same budget as what you were proposing (~$280 for CPU and motherboard).

[slugbug]

If you know someone who lives near a Micro Center store you could save some money.
http://microcenter.com/single_product_r ... id=0299412