Hey thankyou Blackduck 30:
I am only an amatature at this and your inputs are very much appreciated.
As it stood - my new box was going to cost about $1K anyway - and all your improvements have only increased the cost by about $100 - chicken feed in the big picture.
As I mentioned, I am tired of trashing functioning - but not upgradable "brand name boxes" - so I want this one to have a level of future proofing - so your comments are ready to go into my spec sheet changes
The new 'puter wont be built until July (coz i run Quicken PP as a book keeping system and it's been notoriously antse about changes to operating systems - hence the change over has to wait till I have run off 07-08 accounts) so have plenty of time to get the specs just right.
Can I trouble you again for a few comments on your proposed mods -
Change to E8200 or E8400 - much appreciated - the cost change is only about $40 and if this is the "up to date stuff" - then it's a nobrainer
On the graphics card - happy to change to the bigger NX86T512H - again only about another $50 but will I get value out of it given I don't really game and only need something for MS Flight Simulator which I use in a vain attempt to keep my instrument flying skills up to scratch. Again if the bigger graphics card adds to "future proofing" - then it's the way to go - what do you think?
On using the old HDD - the underlying reason for this was as a simple way to xfer my existing files / applications accross to the new computer and have a 2ndry back up HDD - But given the IDE / SATA issues and that the whole lot only amounts to about 12Gb - I guess I could use Nero to burn the lot on to 3-4 DVDs and just do it that way and trash the old HDD. I also have a Maxtor 60Gb external HDD which I currently use as a backup - so maybe I don't even need a second "in case" HDD anyway - what do you think?
Tks again for your inpouts - they are very much appreciated & welcome
