Upgrading My Computer

[Crashfan3]

My HP Pavilion a350n computer is falling behind in technology (purchased in 2003), and I'm getting new components for it.

I have never done this before and have little knowledge of what I'm doing.

First off, I want to upgrade the RAM. I currently have two 256MB sticks, totaling 512MB. The HP website says mine can handle up to four 512MB sticks, which totals 2GB. However, I'm seeing all sorts of types of RAM (DDR, DDR2, SDRAM), and it's confusing me; I don't know which to get. Also, is it a bad idea to have two different brands of RAM sticks in your computer? And what is a good brand to buy?

Secondly, I want a new video card. I currently have... uh... an Nvidia GeForce 4 MX AGP, whatever that means. -_-" The website I'm looking at for reference won't tell me how powerful of video card my computer can handle, so I thought about calling HP, but I have to pay to do that, whereas I don't have to pay to post here, and I know that there's plenty of smart people here. I'm not sure whether I should get a 256MB or a 512MB card, I'll need some help with that...

Finally, I'd like to buy a new DVD burner. My computer tower says it comes with one, but the dumb thing won't even read DVDs... >_< so I'm gonna buy a new one. Now, I got this computer used, so it didn't come with any driver discs, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to use a new DVD-RW drive without this missing disc. Also, I have absolutely no clue which speed I should get, I'd like some advice with that too.

Ok, so now that I'm done sounding like a noob, this thread is open for discussion. >_<

[Crashfan3]

~!!~ 1-day bump ~!!~

Edit (March 29):
I really don't want to triple post bump... but nobody's posting ;_;