Ok, if I update my PC to todays standards which components I should buy to get decent performance?

Processor... Display card... etc... etc...

This has been suggested on one place:

Intel Core i5-750,
Gigabyte Radeon HD 5850 1 GB, PCI-E
MSI P55M-GD45
2 GB, 1333 MHz DDR3

Do you HAVE to use windows 7 on PC with new components. Is it possible to use XP?

Looks good to me. The hardware should work with any OS.

If you going for cheap MB pick one by Gigabyte.

I hope it's 2x2GB - necessary for Win7, you will probably not be able to buy WinXP keys anymore.

Is the 5870 1 gig much more, if memory serves its better than the 5850

Also 4 gig Ram will be needed soon so id just get it now, ram is peanuts anyway

That's good, but you'll want more memory, and you'll want to be sure your power supply can drive all that.

CPU: At least an Intel Core i5-7xx, Core i5-2xxx, AMD Phenom II 9xx (4-core) or 1xxx (6-core). The Core i5 750 is an excellent choice. A Core i5 2400 or 2500 would be even better.

Motherboard: Choose the CPU first, then choose a motherboard compatible with it. ASUS, MSI, and Gigabyte all make good motherboards. Look for specific support for your CPU, 4 slots for DDR3 memory, support for the new 6GB SATA and the new USB 3.0. Beyond that, get the features you want; for example, if you have a camcorder, you'll probably want an IEEE-1394 port.

GPU:
In nVidia, at least a GTX 460 (the 1GB model) or GTX 560.
In AMD/ATI, at least an AMD/ATI 58xx or 68xx, preferably a 5850, 5870, or 69xx.

Get at least 4GB of DRAM, as two sticks of 2GB each, or even 8GB as two sticks of 4GB each. Buy DRAM in pairs. It's more important to have enough than to have the fastest, though. Look for DDR3 1333 or 1600. G.Skill is a good brand.

Power supply selection is worth a whole post in itself. Start with the power supply calculator at http://extreme.outervision.com/psucalculatorlite.jsp, and add 50% to its recommendation. Then get a power supply from a reputable integrator like Corsair.

There is no particular reason to want XP over Windows 7, unless you must run old hardware that doesn't have Vista or W7 drivers. That shouldn't be the case for you. If you still have a valid license for Windows XP, you can use it, but it's been impossible to get a new license for XP for some years now.

Why would you not go Windows 7? Seriously theres no reason to not go windows 7

Next question when do you plan to actually build it? If not till late june i'd say wait bulldozer is due to release then and leaks look promising on it's price/performance

RAM: Why would you go less than 4GB now? it's within a few bucks of 2GB in most cases

I have a question to the 2 posts above, do you each of you know WHY you need 4gig ram, or is it just something you "heard" on the internet. The poster have said nothing what he's gonna use the computer for, if it's old Gog games he certainly doesn't need 4gig, neither does windows 7 require 4gig to function. Windows 7 requires as little as 1gig to run (x86 version) and 2 gig for x64 version.

Also, if you want to use DX 10 or higher you need windows 7. simple as that. Is there any reason why wouldn't want to use windows 7 anyway or is it just that can't afford it or one of those that's way to convinced that 10 year old OS is so much better than new things.

And at last, exactly what is todays PC standards? If you're gonna go by one of the most reliable source I have at my desposal, core2dou is still the standard CPU (http://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/). It ALL depends one what YOUR requirements for X game you want to play, do you need a minimum of 60 steady FPS, do you require 8x anti-aliasing?

In short to answer your question, what is it you want to run and what is your price range?

Good question, but I have 8gb of RAM just so I can tell myself that I can't use 32-bit Operating Systems anymore. I don't think I've ever done anything that needed 8gb, maybe other than running a few Virtual Machines at a time for no reason at all.

Why would a gold certified PSU be needed? Do you at all know what the certification stands for?

1. Sure it runs it runs ok but you will get paging pretty quickly
2. We can assume he wants to do more than just browse the net (and looking at that graphics card and processor he doesn't just want to browse the net)
3. RAM is one of the biggest bottlenecks in most systems long has been still is though once you get above 4GB HDD latency becomes a larger player
4. I recommend 4GB as a matter of course especially as I recommend W7 X64 over the 32 bit version of windows which btw does have a rather large notice recommending 4GB on the box ;)
5. We're assuming he wants at least a year of high level graphics since he went with a DX11 card not a DX10 one
Gold level is over 85% efficent at 50% and 90% utilization I'd recommend that purely for money savings and heat generation (lifespan of the PSU) If you don't use Photoshop etc theres no real use

First off, didn't mean your post. Meant the guy that posted that windows 7 required 4gig, which is not true. Big difference between recommended and requirement. Secondly his post clearly states he didn't choose ANY of the components, they were suggested to him. And basing something as complicated as Hardware on assumption isnt gonna work.

If anyone is gonna suggest what he needs, we need to know what his standards on PC hardware are and what his requirement for framerate vs preformances is

And regarding Gold certification, the here is a huge debate to cover whatever it's worth "saving money" on the power bill, so not gonna start that war.. again.

The last computer I home built was in 2008. Which I'm still using now. So I haven't been keeping up with the latest. However my comp has been running reliably without issue. The hardware brands I used were:

Intel cpu
GSkill ram
Gigabyte motherboard
MSI Nvidia video card.

Drivers are still being produced for XP. But its days are numbered. Starting with a new system, it's probably best that you put Windows7 64bit on it. Buying the OEM version will save a little money. But seeing the price makes me wish Linux would take off.

Don't let anyone tell you what you should buy...use any advice as guidelines only. Everyone is different...a lot people will suggest what THEY want and not consider your budget and needs. cjrgreen offers very good advice.

Start here: http://www.tweakguides.com/Hardcon09_1.html

As things happen, I have that chip with a 5870, a similar MSI board (the GD80) and 8 gigs of 1333...

I'm happy.

Your choices will probably serve you well, but you should double the RAM.