Considering new build - C2D questions

[355F1512TR]

Okay so my Barton 3200 system has done me proud for a few years, but it's well and truely eligible for a free bus pass now, and it looks like these fancy C2D's are the way to go. I'm well and truely out of the loop when it comes to hardware, so hopefully you tech-heads can help me out with a few things.

1) I've got an old Sparkle 400W PSU that I'm hoping to use on the new system, as it actually set me back a fair bit when new, and it's a nice supply. It's probably 3 or 4 years old. Any chance it's got all the connections I need for the new board?

2) If I got a C2D on 1066/1333 MHz FSB, I assume I can still buy slower RAM and run a divider on it? Is it worth spending the extra on faster ram, or would some 800MHz stuff do the job just fine? Worth going DDR3 yet?

3) I assume the FSB ratings on the CPU are as pointless as they usually are and that a 1066 MHz chip will run fine at 1333 on a lower multiplier? In fact, are these chips multiplier locked?

4) Any recommendations on which chipset or board to use are welcome. I'd rather not spend over 100 quid on a board unless I have to. My last few boards have all been abit and never had any probs with them.

Cheers folks.

 

[phi1]

If it was me, Id get a new PSU, as if that blew it could take out all your new stuff..


The core 2 duo is really cheap for an upgrade now.. Get DDR2..

 

[thefishdude]

800mhz ram will be fine unless you into super heavy overclocking.

hmm have a feeling your power supply may be some conenctions short epsecially with the gfx cards out require power leades connecting to them. and also hdd mainly being sata now wich needs sata power leads.

yes these are mulitplier locked execpt for the extreme ones (overpriced) and i think some high end boards unlcok them. but no need to worry. c2d's still over clock easily with a locked mulitpier.