Computer Upgrade advice

Hello everyone, my computer just got a serious virus that killed everything, I had to format and start from scratch but I think I would like to update my computer so it's not quite so dinosaur like,

I want to post my spec's in here so you can discuss/mock my rig, is there a program I can use that will scan the whole system so I can post it here? or do I have to go and do it all the hard way?

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

this tells alot about your computer

Thanks for the link

Computer:
Operating System - Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Motherboard:
CPU Type - DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2016 MHz (10 x 202) 3800+
Motherboard Name - Asus A8N-E (3 PCI, 2 PCI-E x1, 1 PCI-E x4, 1 PCI-E x16, 4 DDR DIMM, Audio, Gigabit LAN)
Motherboard Chipset - nVIDIA nForce4 Ultra, AMD Hammer
System Memory - 2048 MB (PC3200 DDR SDRAM)
Display:
Video Adapter - NVIDIA GeForce 6800 XT (256 MB)
Monitor - Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB] (ETL5209005)
Multimedia:
Audio Adapter - nVIDIA MCP04 - Audio Codec Interface
Storage:
IDE Controller - NVIDIA nForce4 Serial ATA Controller
IDE Controller - NVIDIA nForce4 Serial ATA Controller
IDE Controller - Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Disk Drive - WDC WD2500JS-00MHB0 (232 GB, IDE)
Optical Drive - HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H10A
Network:
Network Adapter - NVIDIA nForce Networking Controller (192.168.1.101)

Hum, was advising my cousin about this very mobo a short while ago.

It's a socket 939 board. Unless you scour EBay or similar, you're not going to find a good processor for it. The FX60 was the best available, long since discontinued.

Graphics-wise, stick pretty much whatever you like in there.

My opinion? New system from scratch. It sucks when you buy a great product that ends up being the end of that generation - but that's what you've got.

ok thanks, that kinda sucks

I can't really afford to by a whole new rig right now, would a graphics card help? or would that just be a waste of money?

A new graphics card could help, but you need to think ahead.

That mobo has a 16x PCI-E slot, so any current card will work. If you're going to be able to upgrade your system in the not-too-distant future, put in the best card you can afford, then transfer it to the new system when you get it. It would be a waste to put in a high-end card that will be dumped along with the rest of the PC when you do upgrade.

Having said that, have a look at this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814102770 - a Radeon HD 4850 for $170 ($150 after MIR). Can't go wrong with that and it's a MAJOR step up from what you have.

make sure your PSU can actually supply a 4850. the box recommends a 450W PSU, which i believe you do not have.

What's your budget like? If you know what you are doing you can assemble a decent current gaming rig for around $400 (not counting OS) XD

I think my power supply is 500W so that should be enough, I'm probably going to build something bit by bit, I'm not adverse to spending money on it as I'd like to get the right stuff for it, but I'd rather buy stuff maybe one thing a month to spread the cost, whats your advice on the first thing to buy I'm probably going to get a graphics card to use in this one while I build the other then switch it over when it's complete.

You could do what I call a "Major Upgrade". The biggest problem with upgrading these days is that, not only do they change processors, but also the very socket the cpu sits in and the RAM that goes with it. A major upgrade would replace the motherboard, cpu, RAM, and graphics card with newer units, while keeping as much of the old hardware as possible.
In your case, the case, power supply, hard drive, optical drive, keyboard, etc., should be usable with the new components.

P.S. - I'd hardly call your current system a "dinosaur" - it's not like it's a Pentium II or something.

O yay, a socket 939 board, not out of my range. The best you could get is probably an FX-60. The vid card you could get pretty much anything because it's PCI-E, providing your PSU has enough Amps and W. I second what Snograt said.

You're comp isn't a dinosaur, I mean my mom's got an XP processor, and a friend still runs a Pentium I lol.