Any recommendations for a first time builder?

So I am trying to build my own computer case for gaming and home use and still want to use my micro-atx motherboard running with amd 64 athlon x2. Question is what is the best recommendation for a computer chassis, memory upgrade, and psu. Also, should I upgrade my processor to, lets say, a amd phenom II x3? Thanks for any replies
 
You should do anything until you tell us what you need (OS? Monitor?), your monitor size, games you're gonna play, budget, location. :)

Either way, not much point to pump money into your old system.
 
Well I'm probably going to upgrade to Windows 7 64 bit and for the monitor just a standard 17" Compaq LCD monitor and hoping not to spend as much though. Games that I want to try out mostly is Battlefield and old school GTA games I have laying around. My old system came from a compaq presario running windows vista with an M2N68-LA motherboard, Seagate Barracuda 200GB and a lightScribe DVD+R DL. Hope that gives out any suggestions
 
I dunno, I don't see much point pulling apart that working computer and throwing brand new parts in it, hoping for some sort of an 'upgrade'.

TS's guide on entry level rig is pretty good. There are definitely tweaks to make to this, but you're looking at $500-600 just for the tower (no mouse, no OS included in that price).

Let me know what you think.
 
I have checked it out yea my guess range was sort off right in some ways though. I was just hoping to keep and still use atleast the motherboard and the hard drive. Im in no rush so I can buy parts one by one.
 
Hard drive should be fine, but even motherboard is pushing it. It probably won't support the latest DDR3 RAM and CPU's, etc.
 
The X2 will bottleneck anything you add. That CPU isnt for gaming. You will need to completely overhaul your PC. Do you have a budget?
 
I Recommend watching this video:


It lays out the basic parts you can purchase.

1) I would get this case instead though: http://www.amazon.com/NZXT-Technolo...qid=1366415002&sr=1-2&keywords=computer+cases
2) I would get this PSU (power supply) instead: http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Build...8&qid=1366415038&sr=1-1&keywords=500w+corsair
3) I would get this graphics card instead: http://www.amazon.com/Galaxy-GeForc...F8&qid=1366415086&sr=1-4&keywords=650ti+boost

If there is any more room in your budget, I would get 8 GB of RAM instead: http://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Venge...TF8&qid=1366415181&sr=1-7&keywords=8gb+of+ram
 
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