I have a computer I built about 4 years ago (AMD Athlon 64 3500+ w/MSI k8N Neo2). I use computer primarily for editing videos with Sony Vegas and pictures in Adobe. I do not use the computer for gaming.

I am wondering if there are components in my old computer that could be used in building a new computer.

Specifically, the power supply is a THERMALTAKE W0014 SILENT PUREPOWER SERIES 480W (BLACK) ATX 12V UL & FCC POWER SUPPLY FOR ATX CASES.

The case is a Thermaltake Xaver(sp?) V.

The graphics card is AGP, so I assume it will need to be replaced.

The hard drives are SATA.

I want to build an Intel 64 bit quad core machine, operating system 64 bit vista.

Can/should I reuse power supply?
Can/should I reuse case?
How important is graphics card? How much should I spend?
Would old drives work on new mobo (I would use the old drive to backup and temporarily store video files.)?
Given that I probably will not overclock, suggestions on mobo for new system?

Thank you.

yes you can reuse the power supply, case(most ppl do), and harddrive. Lucky you brought a sata harddrive make like easier when moving it to a new motherboard.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128344

keep:
-power supply unit
-case
-hard drives

For motherboard, Asus P5Q Deluxe. For a nice quad to go with it, a Q9550 looks fantastic, the nice 2.83GHz clock will be worth it over a Q9450 clocked at 2.66GHz since you don't overclock.

Even if you don't overclock, the stock Intel HSF isn't very good. You will get lower temps, a cooler system, and a less noisy system by getting a Arctic Cooling Freezer 7 Pro. It's priced at $26.99 at Newegg on some days with free standard UPS 3 business days shipping. I have it and I can't hear it over my other components or at all for that matter.

I have read that Adobe Photoshop will soon utilize CUDA and 8, 8, GT200 series graphics cards to improve performance significantly, so definitely get an Nvidia card. For a pretty cheap one, look for an 9600GT with 512MB of Vram. That card will run very cool and quiet, as well as costing you very little. Of course, you can get even cheaper cards and save that money for more RAM later.

EVGA 512-P3-N860-TR GeForce 9600 GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail

That EVGA has a dual slot cooler which should keep it even cooler and quieter, but it will take another slot, probably PCI or PCIe x1. Other brands have standard coolers, they cost $90 - $100.

Much depends on your budget.

There are some very nice features on the higher end P5Qs such as eSATA, which is no doubt why pcgamer suggested it.

If that seems like too much, ASUS makes a nice P43 board with some of the same features, but only one PCI-E x16 slot:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131322
No reviews but I would expect it to perform well.

I think the 9600 GT is an interesting choice, would probably work great. Possibly overkill.

The PSU is not a definite. If you wanted to be sure of it either of these would be really nice:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 501+-+600W

I would not reuse that PSU:

THERMALTAKE W0014 SILENT PUREPOWER SERIES 480W

Designed for AMD K7 and Intel ATX +12V 1.1 and ATX 2.03 version (Fully Support Pentium 4).

Only 18 amps on the 12v rails.

The PSU is fine as long as you aren't using a powerful gaming graphics card. Check the amps your graphics card is going to draw on the 12v rails, this should make your decision on if you can reuse the PSU.

I see three avenues for an upgrade:
------------Cheap budget approach----------------
Reuse case, psu, hard drives
Cheap quad core Q6600 $200
4gb DDR2-800 ram kit (2x2gb) $65
Integrated graphics G35/G45 motherboard $100
Vista home premium 64 bit oem $110
total---$475
-------------Whole new system---------------------
New case & PSU Antec Sonata plus $110:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129037
This is a very quiet case with a good included 550w. PSU

45nm Q9450 quad core cpu $275 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6819115131
It is my understanding that Adobe is quad core optimized. Otherwise, consider the E8400/E8500 for <$200.

Basic P45 motherboard $110:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128345

8gb of DDR2-800 ram $130.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145184
Vista-64 and adobe loves large amounts of ram.

Upgraded VGA card $90:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814130360
Any pci-e card will do, but even the most basic would be about $50. I particularly like the dual slot cooler which gets the heat out of the case quickly.

Your existing Sata drives will be fine, but if you get another one, you will be able to keep your old PC for use as a backup or whatever.

Vista $110.

---Total $825-----
-----------------Wait until October for Nehalem----------------
The new Bloomfield quads are 30% faster, clock for clock, and they have hyperthreading, giving you the effect of 8 cores--almost--
The entry 2.66 price will be $284 in 1000 tray quantities.

Shopping tips for Vista:

2) Look for an upgrade version of home premium instead of OEM.
Upgrade is a retail version which gives you support from microsoft, unlike OEM(AKA system builder),
and allows a more hassel-free ability to transfer the os to a different pc(motherboard).
For $10, microsoft will send you the 64 bit DVD.
I saw Vista home premium upgrade recently at Amazon for $89.
There is a legitimate two step instalation process to install an upgrade version
You install vista from the cd, but do not initially enter the product code.

Just tell the install which version you bought, and do not activate.
After it installs, you have a fully functional vista for 30 days.
Step 2 is to insert the cd again, while running vista and then do an upgrade.
This time, enter your product code, and activate.
After activation. you may delete the initial version which is named windows.old.

---good luck---

Thank you for answering my questions. An interesting dilemna, do a cheap upgrade that would cost $365 (already have access to windows licence) or spend $350 more for new computer. Right now I'm leaning toward new computer.

Or reuse some of your current components and get an even more powerful computer than the budget upgrade suggestions or the new computer. Specifically - for one option - take Geofelt's budget build and add $45 for a new PSU and $155 for an excellent graphics card.

For a PSU consider this special - one sale only to 8/15 -

OCZ StealthXStream OCZ600SXS 600W ATX12V / EPS12V Power Supply - Retail $45 with fee shipping

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817341010

And for a decent graphics card:

MSI R4850-T2D512 Radeon HD 4850 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail
$155 AR with free shipping

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] on+HD+4850

Total about $675

Is it better to have the firewire built into the motherboard or to buy a card to add it?

Also, the one problem I had with building my current computer was getting the wiring right for this. I actually fried the port in one of my video cameras. Do the new motherboards have a standard cable instead of having to connect each pin individually?

LOL, yes.

If you want firewire, consider how you want to use it. If it is for a pluggable/removeable device, then look for a case with a firewire on the front in a convenient place. There will be a standard firewire cable that comes with the case, and should plug into the mobo. Most motherboards have good documentation, some cases do not.
As an alternative, there are some 3.5 and 5" front panels with various inputs for sd cards, firewire, usb, and floppy drives
If you want to have a permanent attachment, then look for a motherboard that has a firewire plug on the back panel. An add-in card is cheap, but it will take a possibly scarce pci slot.

If you are already planning on re-using current case - does it have firewire connector on front? How are inputing video now? Do you need card slots on front for camera or other inputs?
Does case have an open 5.5" or 3.5" slot for a card reader device with firewire?