i would like to know which benchmark program is best for video cards and overall system performance. currently im using 3dmark03 for video and sisoft sandra for system performance. are there better ones out there? i would appreciate any help

CPU-Z www.cpuid.com-for about how memory is configured in a build
Memtest www.memtest86.com- Stressing memory tester
www.sisoftware- excllent general programs
3DMark04 www.futuremark.com- great benchmarking ,cheap
I know you know some of these but why change just ?
But if you insist go to this site.
www.benchmarkhq.ru/english.html

3dmark04? Do you mean Pcmark04? there is no 3dmark04 i don't think.

Aquamark3
D3D rightmark beta 4
Aurelio

There isn't one benchmark to rule them all
(and in darkness bind them) , but rather a host of which tells you of certain aspects of your computer...

Some are purely synthetic and tells you how powerful each part of your computer/card is, whereas others are based on apps&games and gives you an idea of how your computer will perform when using those games/apps...