Time to upgrade my PC

[nicmcv]

Hi There

I’ve got an old system (5 years old) and need to build a new one.
My budget is £190 ish.
I’m going to keep my case PSU and Drives (as long as the new m board takes SATA I).
I use my PC almost exclusively for making music, I also browse the net burn DVD’s and use it as a server (for network moded xbox and lappy) when not making music.

At the mo I have

M Board Asus a8nx (can’t quite remember exactly but it doesn’t matter as it’s going to be replaced)
CPU Athlon XP3200
RAM 2 x 512mb 400
Case Antec ATX ? with Antec 350w PSU
DVD RW Pioneer 109

I’m just going to upgrade the M Board RAM and CPU for now.
I think these would be good

AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 4800+ 2.50GHz 62.26
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-201-M&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=

Corsair 4GB DDR2 XMS2 PC2-6400C5 TwinX (2x2GB) 70.49
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY136CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=813

Abit AN52 nForce 520 (Socket AM2) 43.46
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MB-130-AB&groupid=701&catid=5&subcat=805

Do you think the PSU will be alright with this new kit?
Should I perhaps consider Intel CPU’s? Should I wait till quad core’s become a bit more affordable, as I here that they are excellent to use with Sonar 7 (when used with 64bit Vista), I’m switching to Sonar 7 from Cubase 2.2 as Sonar seem bang up to date with drivers.
What OS do you recommend? I was gonna run dual boot XP 32 and VISTA 64 Ultimate but am still not sure.

I’m also going to get a new screen soon after

LG L226WTQ 22" Widescreen LCD Monitor 192.69
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MO-045-LG&groupid=703&catid=17&subcat=949

Should I get the Screen first (I have 15” TFT and 15” CRT at the mo) or the CPU RAM and M Board?
I don’t know which to get first as they will both provide significant improvements.

All the best

Nic

 

[Albo]

I'd get a more powerful PSU for sure. I've just upgraded and gone with Intel for the first time. It seems the best choice at the moment. Are you going to be overclocking?

I'm currently running a dual boot xp32 and vista 62 system, and make music also. Vista is OK, it will run Reason, but not Cubase

I also have that screen - recommended. SOOOO much easier when you're sequencing.

 

[nicmcv]

Yeah, I think I may get an Intel as they do have a very good reputation with music apps, having said that the AthlonXP I have at the moment is really good.

I doubt I'll overclock it as I want an efficient system that runs quiet. I guess it depends on the chip how much you can sqeeze out of it. I'm not sure if the extra given from overclocking would be worth me doing.

I'll defo be running XP32 and Vista64.
I'm going to switch to Sonar as it has multiple core support and cubase seems a wee bit behind the times. I may even have a bash at Reason 4, that Thor synth looks really good.

I see you have the Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Platinum, i have this too. It's great, do you use the KX driver for it. If so does it work in Vista. I think I'll get a Firewire soundcard/interface soonish too as I would like something new when I can afford it.

That screen is great, i built a pc for my Dad recently and got that screen. I can't wait to get one, arrangeing music is so much better and easier on a massive monitor.

Thanks for the advice