Building system out of old system have some questions

[jayjay]

I have a HP Pavilion 734n PC I want to upgrade it to a gaming system that's able to play games like Unrealtouarnamint 3. Right now it has: 2.400+ 2.0GHz AMD Athlon, 512MB DDR SDRAM, 80GB Ultra DMA hard drive, GeForce4 64MB DDR SDRAM.

I was thinking of putting a SLI set up into it. So what would be required to do so? I know I need SLI ready motherboard/CPU, SLI ready graphics card, DDR2 RAM (going with 2gb). So please help me finish my plans. I'm thinking of buying from tigerdirect.

 

[cfvh600]

I can't really see you using any of your current system's hardware on a new PC with SLI. Maybe the case. What CPU manufacturer do you prefer? Intel or AMD? What is your budget?

 

[einstein4pres]

It sounds like you are planning a fairly complete upgrade. Perhaps you could let us know if there is anything you are planning on keeping? Other than your HD and your optical drive (DVD or CD ROM/RW/whatever), are you planning on retaining anything. Because what I see here is a complete rebuild.

Also, it is highly useful to state a proposed budget and whether or not you are planning on overclocking. Please also include your power supply specs, as it may not be suitable for a higher-end computer.

To answer your direct questions, you will need a motherboard capable of SLI (note, this means an nVidia chipset), two video cards, and the rest of a working computer.

Also note that unless you plan on spending $500 on video cards, SLI is not a good option for you, as typically you will need to buy higher end video cards for SLI to be a cost effective option.

Tigerdirect isn't known for its customer service. newegg is highly recommended around these parts, and I've heard good things about zipzoomfly.

 

[g-paw]

You're better off with a new case and PSU, you're going to need a new PSU anyway. You'd be much better off using that computer as a backup

 

[jayjay]

I'm planning on keeping all optical drives, both HDs, "main" cooling fan and maybe power suply. This power supply right now is 200W

My max budget is $600 (around that). I think Intel is better then AMD, but it cost more money.

This is my plans in detail, I'm getting SLI ready parts to later get another SLI ready card ect: I'll get lets say a 8500GT now, later when I have more money get a matching 8500GT.
So really I right now just want it to run new games, with the ability to expand on it, to keep up with the technology. I'm not sure if this is the right way of going about this if it's not please tell me. Basicly all I want is a "cheap" gaming rig for UT3 with the ability to expand on.

Also what exactly is overclocking? I know this computer I'm on right now has a OC g-card in it. What is the advantage and disadvantage of this too?

 

[jayjay]

I'll get a new case when I get more money, but for now I was thinking if I had to I could modify this case to fit parts into it. PSU is power suply right? I was looking at 500W power supplys would that be good?

This computer is actually my brothers it has a fried motherboard so I was going to build it up for him because his birthday is coming up. So I can't really spend on things that arn't nessesary right now like a case for example. He can buy that later.

 

[tlmck]

Other than the drives, there is nothing usable in a modern gaming system. Unless your machine is an oddball, standard MB's will not fit it. And, if you have an HP pre-installed version of Windows, you will need a new copy for the new build. The HP copy will not transfer over.

The 500w range PSU will do if it is quality. Something like a Corsair 550vx or Antec Earthwatts. You might even get by with an FSP as a low budget solution.

You will be disappointed in the 8500gt, and doubly disappointed with two of them. You would be much happier with a single 256mb 8800gt. They are beginning to ship, and will be less than $200.

 

[jayjay]

So you're saying my HDs will not fit? I have a new labtop and it has the actual cd for windows vista and all that. So can I transfer over windows vista onto the desktop?

Judging from every ones responses, the SLI is just hype? What setup would you guys do in my situation?

 

[tlmck]

I am saying the hard drives and optical drives are the only components you would want to use in the new system. The rest of the components would not be suitable for modern games.

SLi is not hype, but is wasted with low end cards. A single 8800gt will crush two 8500's.

A p35 based MB with a single 8800gt will make a very nice rig.

If the Vista copy is retail(not OEM) it can be installed on the new system provided it is not still running on the laptop. In other words, you would have to remove Vista from the laptop to register it on the new box.

 

[cfvh600]

I agree with tlmck. Rather buy a single 8800gt. You won't be disappointed.

 

[jsc]

A lot of the low end HP desktops use a physically smaller PSU. Replacing one of these with a similar sized higher capacity PSU will probably break your budget.

An OEM Windows disk (HP for example) will not run on another brand (Toshiba, for example) or home-built PC. Mine didn't, anyway.

 

[g-paw]

A case like this would work for $60 given you're going to have to get a PSU and as pointed out, likely a case that will fit it. Not the greatest PSU but should work and he can upgrade it later
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147055

 

[jayjay]

Should I still get SLI ready parts for the PC then just get a single 8800GT for now, so later when that card drops price through another in it?

 

[rosecityotters]

Case
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16811119115
$39.99

Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256032
$49.99 + -$20 with this promo code EMC1116CASE15 $29.99

Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128073
$105.99

CPU
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116052
$89.99

Video Card (out of stock but will be back soon)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130303
$289.99

Memory (2x1GB)
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16820161030
$51.99

Total: $607.94 , with most of these products having free shipping so shipping wont cost too much more.

This way you can enjoy awesome graphics with the 8800GT by itself, and when your ready add a 2nd one when your ready =)

 

[Shadow703793]

First drop SLI then plan on building a good PC for about $600. SLI is pretty useless with low end video cards like the 8500. You might as well save the $ and get one 8800GTX/GT.

Gigabyte DS3L(P35)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128059
$95
C2D E6550:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115030
$175
CORSAIR ValueSelect 2GB (2 x 1GB)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145098
$42
RAIDMAX Astro
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811156019
$30
8400GS(Upgrate to 8800GT/GTX later)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127296
COOLER MASTER 550W(good quality PSU)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171016
$70-$20 mail in rebate=$50

Total: $~460

You can also OC this PC really well (3.2Ghz) if you get a good fan.

 

[jayjay]

Thanks for the set ups. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6814127296 Is really cheap, would that run games like UT3?

I'm also thinking of updating my own computer (one I'm on now) while I'm at it. My computer crashes trying to just launch the UT3 demo..

I'm interested in OC, where can I find a *good* site that explains how it works. I've googled it but haven't found any worthy sites.

 

[tlmck]

http://www.xbitlabs.com/ , http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/forum-29.html