Okay I am in the process of upgrading my one desktop and I need some advice as well as some questions answered. I plain on retaining my OS (WinXP), memory (for now), DVD Rom, DVD burner, floppy, media reader, USB PCI card and my old ATX case (it has an intake and out-take 80mm fans). I will be upgrading my mobo/processor, power supply and along with a new video card.
Products I am considering upgrading with do not need to be the newest or fastest as this will be mainly a home PC but I will plain on doing some moderate gaming. Upgrading with the following… mobo/cpu combo (info here), power supply (info here), PCI slot fan (info here) and video card (info here).
Obviously I am trying to set up with SLI, along with future upgrades in mind. The near future upgrades will be an addition of another XFX GeForce 8500GT and of course more ram.
My questions are as follows…
■Please critique my upgrades but keep in mind I am not after the newest and best.
■I currently have 1 gig of DDR ram; will be using all 4 slots on mobo, but it is just DDR ram not dual channel DDR ram. From my knowledge that is an option on the mobo and I should be able to run regular pc2700 to pc3200 DDR ram (not dual channel DDR ram) with this board correct?
■Is it okay to mix ram manufactures, I see no problem as long as it isnt really low end, and even mixing different speeds say 333 and 400 MHz, I know it isnt recommended but it should work and it would just revert to the slowest speed, the 333 MHz for all the ram correct? Because a future upgrade will be of adding two gig strips of either pc2700 or pc 3200 ram to go along with two existing 256 strips of pc2700 ram using the 4 slots up once again.
■How is that PCI slot fan, mainly purchasing for additional cooling for the video card(s).
■Will that power supply be able to handle my current load along with the future upgrade of adding the additional video card and more ram?
I tried to keep the upgrade with budget and performance in mind, leaning more towards budget. I would appreciate quick replies so that I can take advantage of rebates. Thank You for taking your time to help in advance to anyone willing to help me.
Products I am considering upgrading with do not need to be the newest or fastest as this will be mainly a home PC but I will plain on doing some moderate gaming. Upgrading with the following… mobo/cpu combo (info here), power supply (info here), PCI slot fan (info here) and video card (info here).
Obviously I am trying to set up with SLI, along with future upgrades in mind. The near future upgrades will be an addition of another XFX GeForce 8500GT and of course more ram.
My questions are as follows…
■Please critique my upgrades but keep in mind I am not after the newest and best.
■I currently have 1 gig of DDR ram; will be using all 4 slots on mobo, but it is just DDR ram not dual channel DDR ram. From my knowledge that is an option on the mobo and I should be able to run regular pc2700 to pc3200 DDR ram (not dual channel DDR ram) with this board correct?
■Is it okay to mix ram manufactures, I see no problem as long as it isnt really low end, and even mixing different speeds say 333 and 400 MHz, I know it isnt recommended but it should work and it would just revert to the slowest speed, the 333 MHz for all the ram correct? Because a future upgrade will be of adding two gig strips of either pc2700 or pc 3200 ram to go along with two existing 256 strips of pc2700 ram using the 4 slots up once again.
■How is that PCI slot fan, mainly purchasing for additional cooling for the video card(s).
■Will that power supply be able to handle my current load along with the future upgrade of adding the additional video card and more ram?
I tried to keep the upgrade with budget and performance in mind, leaning more towards budget. I would appreciate quick replies so that I can take advantage of rebates. Thank You for taking your time to help in advance to anyone willing to help me.