   critique system specs
  i'm looking at buying the following:  80717-8 Quantity Limit:  20 AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3500+ Socket AM2 (62W) Retail ***Free Shipping***Remove$119.00    $119.00   85016-33 Quantity Limit:  20 Corsair VS1GBKIT533D2 1GB Kit DDR2-533 PC2-4200 Value Select Memory Retail ***Free Shipping***Remove$79.80    $79.80   243899 Quantity Limit:  20 ECS C51GM-M (V1.0) GeForce 6100/nForce 410 Sempron/Athlon 64(FX)(X2) SktAM2 DDR2 M-ATX Motherboard w/Audio, LAN, RAID/Serial ATA Retail ***Free Shipping***Remove  And raping the rest out of my old computer.  I'm just thinking of using the onboard 6100 for now (the most graphically intense stuff I use is WoW).Thanks!   
  That looks like a pretty nice setup, but I have to ask why you're getting that processor.  Could you go with a slightly slower CPU?I only ask because I've never solved any problems with a faster CPU.  Faster HDD, faster ODD, more RAM, less clutter in the registry all do wonders for me, but when I upgraded from an Athlon 1.4 to a 3.2, I didn't notice a damn bit of difference.(I don't know what the prices are on 64-bit processors, so that could be the cheap one, I'm just askin'!  [grin])Aside from that, I wish I could afford to upgrade like that.  I want to get a new GPU, but I'd have to get a new mobo too, (mine is stuck in the age of AGP).   ;  What is your budget, what do you plan on doing with this computer?As templewulf said, under certain uses more CPU power doesn't do anything. If you are just using word and the internet (unless you use a slow, memory hogging browser like FireFox instead of Opera or IE) then a faster CPU will do nothing. If you are gaming (and by gaming I me playing fairly recent stuff) then you'll want a decent CPU (3000+), but your video card will be far more important. If you do heavy lifting (media encoding, Photoshop/3D Max/Maya, large compiles) then a faster, perhaps dual core processor would be best (I use an X2 4200+, and while regular tasks are no faster then my old 2800+, it proves its worth when I'm doing things that would have normally ground my system to a halt).To critique we'd really need to know what you need to be able (or want to be able) to do with the system, and how much you are willing to spend. For example before today I hadn't even heard of the motherboard maker you are going with (and your motherboard is important, everything attaches to it). If you don't need to conserve every penny you may opt for a motherboard maker with a bit more of a reputation.   ;  Thanks for the help so far.I'm looking to keep it around 300$.  Usually I do a bit of browsing, play WoW and a few other games, and do some coding.  I wouldn't characterize myself as a hardcore gamer, but I do pick one up every now and then.  I don't really care if I can play on highest settings or whatever.My current setup isP4 1.5ghz with 448 megs of pc133 ram, and an ati radeon 9000 pro.I'm assuming this should be quite a bit better.  I picked the AM2 socket because I am assuming it will be upgradable in the future to a better processor, and the DDR2 ram will keep me up to date.;  Careful there. I seem to recall that Corsair ValueSelect memory doesn't do dual-channel on a lot of mobos. Check the compatibility information on the motherboard manufacturer's webpage.   ;  AMD will be dropping prices soon on the 64 and X2 line. I would check them out. The X2 is supposed to drop up to 50%. You could have a X2 3200 for $150.   ;  Hmm maybe I can just use my laptop until then (my desktop is dying).  When will this pricedrop be?Does anyone know how those specs compare to my old computer?  Also, would a sempron or something be better for my needs?The corsair valueselect was recommended to me, but if there are problems with it I will go with another brand.  Does anyone know if GSKILL or Kingston are any good?  I will go with the value level around that price range.Thanks!;  I think it's supposed to coincide with the conroe release from intel. Let me find that source.Edit: Article about the price drop.   ;  and is it right for me to assume that am2 will have more upgradability than the socket 939?   ;  Yes, that's safe to say.   