I want to build/upgrade, but need help

[COLOR="Red"]Hi, my current pc's specs:
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
System Model: Dimension 2400
BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A05
Processor: Intel® Pentium® 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Memory: 510MB RAM
Card name: NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Manufacturer: NVIDIA
Chip type: GeForce FX 5200
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC

Now, is it better to upgrade or to build a new pc?

If the latter, then I would need someone to help me with that. I've never built one, so I'd need a site that has detailed instructions. On top of that, I would ask for someone to go and find and list everything I'd need to make one. To that extent, I would actually need them to find stuff online, post it here, and then I would click and buy them. Preferably stuff you guys have used already to build your own pcs.

On that note, if building a pc is necessary, then I would ask for someone to compile a list of things, around $800-900 maybe 1k ish. I don't need a huge HDD, the current one I use is 230 gigs, and I still have 140gigs left on it. SSD are a no-no as those would cost about as much as the entire pc itself. I would like it to run very quickly so upwards of a least 4gigs of RAM, hopefully more. I don't need a monitor and keyboard/mouse, so forget that. I would also like the best graphics card possible for that 900 price range. I would like it to run games like TF2 or BFH without any hitches or lag. Lastly, I would need to know how to transfer all my programs and files from my current computer to the new one, is there an easy way? I wouldn't like to buy a new os, but if I can't bring my WinXP over, then some site were I could buy Vista prem, and then free upgrade to Win7 would be great. Please help me out as this would greatly decrease my daily stress over my lack of working pc/ working slowly. [/COLOR]

...Well for one thing:

1) Upgrading your computer is a good idea, but not using the same stuff you have. A lot of the stuff you're using is kinda old. -points at processor and ram-
2) If the only option you will consider if upgrading isn't a good idea is building one from scratch then i would learn how to build a computer as a hobby/self teach yourself/take a class instead of having someone just list parts in a price range and have you put it together.

But if I don't know which parts are the best, and I don't want to blow all that money for something that won't work, why not get help from some other people? Besides, I'm already taking classes at college, I don't need really an extra class from my library on the weekends to complicate things...

But if I don't know which parts are the best, and I don't want to blow all that money for something that won't work, why not get help from some other people? Besides, I'm already taking classes at college, I don't need really an extra class from my library on the weekends to complicate things...

Getting help is one thing, having someone else do the entire thing for you is another. There's a reason manufacturers build machines for people, because not everyone can/wants to, which is what i suggest you do if you don't want to bother learning how to do it. (buying a computer from a manufacturer)

Also, you don't need a class per-se to learn how to build a computer. I'm learning by taking a class, but i don't necessarily have to take it to learn how to do it. (i have to take it because my college requires it of all CIS majors)

I suggest building a your own. This website tells you how pretty straight forwardly:
http://www.mysuperpc.com/

With a $1k ish budget you could make a pretty good PC. As for parts, a dual core processor is the standard nowadays. A 8800 GT or 4850 would run TF2 just fine and are pretty cheap. Just read reviews on newegg.com and piece together a build. If you need anything else just ask.

To know if you can upgrade, you need your motherboard's specs as well, as this will tell you the maximum amount and types of ram you can use, processors, and what card slots you have. From the looks of it, your computer might be older than mine, seeing as it doesn't have a duo core in it (I have a Dimension E310 with a 3.2GHz processor and a duo core was an option at the time, but I didn't know what a duo core was, and was unaware you could multiply the clock speed by 2 to get the actual clock speed...I was in the phase where I thought RAM meant everything in computer speed). With my computer, upgrading it would just be stupid since the motherboard maxes out so low on ram and it only has a single PCi-express x2 slot I think. If it is as old/older, you'd probably want to just/buy a new one.

Getting help is one thing, having someone else do the entire thing for you is another. There's a reason manufacturers build machines for people, because not everyone can/wants to, which is what i suggest you do if you don't want to bother learning how to do it. (buying a computer from a manufacturer)

Also, you don't need a class per-se to learn how to build a computer. I'm learning by taking a class, but i don't necessarily have to take it to learn how to do it. (i have to take it because my college requires it of all CIS majors)

I want to learn how to do it. It is like this, you don't go into a war field without having someone show you how to shoot your gun, now do you? I just wanted someone to show me how to shoot the gun, so to speak. You don't have to put me on a stake and start calling me an idiot for not being able to find pieces that may or may not work. If you want me to do it myself, then give me 1k of your money, and I'll gladly build one choosing the pieces.

hold your thought until the end of the year.

[COLOR="Indigo"]Perhaps the best way to do it would be to do the research on your own, find some/all of the parts that you think work, then post that information here for someone more experienced to give his/her opinion.

Just a thought!

~Lyssa[/COLOR]