Newbie First Build Socket A - Advice Needed !

[scoc]

Ok this started months ago with me wanting more memory for an old socket a pc that a mate built for me about 5 years ago and has escalated into me joining this forum, collecting lots of computer bits (some from old pc, some from an auction site and a few donated by another mate) and me wanting to build my own socket a system and overclock the nuts off it ! !
So need lots of help, advice and opinions please, lets start with what i have collected so far and then some advice on what else i will need to purchase, what to throw in the bin and what to put on auction site:

ATX Case - Dont know the name
PSU - Came with the case 450W
Mobos - (1) NF7-S V2.0 (2) NF7-S V1.2 (3) Dont Laugh - PC Chips M848a
CPUs - Athlon xp 3000, Athlon xp 2500 - 2 of these, Sempron 2800
Cooling - OCZ Freeze extreme Thermal compound, Thermaltake Cl-P0114 Big Typhoon, 120mm fan and a 140mm fan.
HDD - 2 very old ide drives (i will be replacing these any ideas)
DVDRW - LG ide
GFX Card - HD3450
Memory - Lots of different sticks none of it much good will buy new (any ideas)

Where do people suggest i go from here ?
Thanks in advance !

 

[scoc]

Budget: Under £150 well under if possible.
No monitor needed as the HD3450 will plug into my 42" Flat screen in living room.
No case needed happy with the one i have.
I do need an operating system i was thinking Windows XP Pro.
Got wireless mouse and keyboard.

This system will be used mostly for downloading music and video. Some small amounts of video editing and browsing the internet. I have a 1TB external drive so was thinking of two SATA HDD one between 80GB and 160GB for OS and software and another about 200GB for other stuff ?

 

[scoc]

Some real enthusiasm and positive thinking coming from this thread then ........ Ok so i dont want to spend a lot but i am also not going to be asking a lot from the pc either.
From what i have read on this site the NF7-S V2.0 is a well respected mobo with good ocing potential as are barton core socket a processors. Yes its old or retro some may even say classic but this forum should be for all overclockers, the rich and poor, the knowledgable and the not so knowledgable, the first time builders and the experienced ones.
So i will go about this differently and try for a brighter response...

I will use the NF7-S V2.0 mobo and the athlon xp 3000 cpu could someone please recommend the best ram i could use with this configuration 2 sticks dual or 3 sticks, make, speed etc. Surely its worth me paying £30 for a SATA HDD rather than getting a second hand ide HDD
Should i flash bios the board as it is from the bay dont know what version is currently on there and where would i find the bios i need ?

 

[scoc]

Ok some good info and suggestions here so let me update:

Operating System will be XP pro and that is seperate to the hardware budget of £150.

It would appear the best ram for this board is DDR 400 (PC3200) and am i right in thinking 2 sticks of dual 1GB are better than 3 sticks of 1GB (although that doesnt seem to make sense). From what i gather i want to be looking at buying Kingston, Corsair or crucial ?

With regards to PSU and my GFX card which is AGP by the way i will stick with what i have unless i encounter a problem with either one.

So I Have:
Case
PSU
Mobo - NF7-S V2.0
CPU - Athlon xp 3000
GFX - HD3450
HSF - Big typhoon
Fans - 120mm + 140mm
TC - OCZ Freeze
DVDRW - LG something IDE

Will buy:
Sata HDD 120GB - £40
2 Sticks DDR 400 - £70
Total = £110

£40 under budget what have i forgotten

Just to stop the suggestions of buy this system or save up a bit of money and get this.... I have the cash to go out and buy a new system tomorrow but where is the fun and sense of achievement in that this is a learning experience and if succesful i may well look at building a modern monster system next year ! Many thanks to all though

 

[scoc]

OK then thats what i will do ...........