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Upgrading homebuilt system

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thecornflake   03-05-2007 at 04:36:33 PM

I've got to the point where I can't replace parts anymore on my original system, so I'm looking at rsplacing the mobo and cpu. I'll also probably need a new SATA hdd as the old ones are IDe and I currently have an AGP graphics card so I'll need a PCI-E one.

Presumably mobos are still all ATX so I can use my existing case (Antec AMG). I'm thinking of something along the lines of a Abit AW9D-MAx mobo, Intel core 2 duo cpu (E6300) and a Radeon X1950 XT or Pro card.

Also is there any way I can get my stuff easily from the old IDE HDDs to the new SATA one I'll have? Can I use the single IDE connector for the drives or will this only work for optical drives?

I'm also not sure what size power supply I'll need. Can I get away with 400w?

Initial pricing seems to work out at around £500 for the mobo, cpu, a 250gb SATA drive, 1GB DDR2 Ram and a graphics card.

It will mainly be used for gaming, I'd like to be able to not worry about running the latest ones, although as long as I can run Far Cry, COD 2 and Sniper Elite at full spec I'll be happy. Also some web design. I'm not fussed about overclocking.

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Knighty   03-05-2007 at 04:38:45 PM
- 0 +

SATA Motherboards still come with IDE slots, so when installed new system hook up your old HHD and copy across.

Thats what i do :D

Reply to Knighty
thecornflake   03-05-2007 at 04:46:35 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

SATA Motherboards still come with IDE slots, so when installed new system hook up your old HHD and copy across.

Thats what i do :D



Thanks, I wasn't sure if it was possible to run SATA and IDE drives at the same time. Will I be able to run the operating system of the IDE drive until I re-install to the SATA one?

Reply to thecornflake
scorch   03-05-2007 at 05:03:03 PM
- 0 +

I would reccommend going with at least a 450W power supply. Also check to make sure that you have enough amps across the 12V rails to support the video card and that it has a PCI-e 6pin power connector. The amps are usually listed in the power supply specs like this:

12V1 16A
12V2 18A

Check the requirements on the video card for there power use ratings. Usually on the system requirements.

Oh and if you are planning on going with Vista you may want to consider 2GB of RAM.

Reply to scorch
thecornflake   03-06-2007 at 02:26:35 PM
- 0 +

I'm hoping not to use Vista straight away, and sticking with XP Pro.

I've found the following power supplies -

Seasonic S12 500w
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/show [...] 23&subcat=

Corsair HX 520w
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/show [...] 23&subcat=

Enermax EG56AX-VE 535w
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/show [...] 23&subcat=

And the following graphics cards -

Connect3D Radeon X1950 Pro
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/show [...] subcat=404

BFG GeForce 7900GS OC
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/show [...] subcat=358

Any thoughts on the PSUs and cards? I currently have a BFG Geforce card (can't remember what one, begins with a 6 though) and I'm very pleased with it. If it wasn't AGP I'd consider keeping it for a while until it started to fail to cope with newer games.

EDIT: I just found the Abit Fatal1ty FP-IN9 mobo for only £79, whereas the ABIT AW9D-MAX I was originally looking at is £123. Is there a big difference between these?

Reply to thecornflake
thecornflake   03-07-2007 at 05:49:53 PM
- 0 +

Ok, after much deliberation, research, help from people on this forum and items being out of stock I have settled on the following -

Item: MSI P6N SLI-FI nvidia 650i Socket 775 ATX
Qty: 1Cost: 63.39

Item: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 (1.86ghz) Socket 775 Fsb1066 2mb Cache Retail Boxed Processor
Qty: 1Cost: 94.96

Item: Corsair 1GB Kit (2X512MB) DDR2 667MHz/PC2-5400 XMS (TWIN2X1024-5400C4) CL4-4-4-12
Qty: 1Cost: 42.97

Item: Sapphire X1950Pro 256MB 256bit GDDR3 Dual DVI TVO HDCP PCI-E
Qty: 1Cost: 80.77

Item: Corsair HX Series 520W Modular PSU - ATX12V v2.2 APFC
Qty: 1Cost: 57.43

Item: Seagate 80GB Barracuda SATAII 7200RPM 8MB Cache - OEM
Qty: 1Cost: 24.33

Item: Maxtor STM3250820AS 250GB 7200RPM SATAII 8MB Cache - OEM
Qty: 1Cost: 35.99

I'm going to be busy on Saturday! :D

Reply to thecornflake
mekender   03-07-2007 at 11:03:20 PM
- 0 +

personally, with that setup, it would be a shame not to have 2 gigs of ram installed, especially if you like gaming

Reply to mekender
thecornflake   03-08-2007 at 03:04:41 PM
- 0 +

Quote :

personally, with that setup, it would be a shame not to have 2 gigs of ram installed, especially if you like gaming



I know, I do intend to put it up to 2gig as soon as possible. Probably next month (being built this Saturday).

Reply to thecornflake
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