Please help with my idea.

[jayjay]

Introduction:
My brothers computer has a corrupted BIOS chip, so I made him a completely new computer. (thanks, to this forum for helping with that BTW) I have his computer as a scrap computer now. I took his 512mb ddr RAM out and put it into this computer and that's it so far. I've been learning about overclocking and putting it to use on this computer, but my mobo doesn't support overclocking (all settings locked for OCing). I like this computer a lot and its pretty fast, but it's time to move on so I came up with an idea.

"The idea":
To buy a better mobo and CPU set that has DDR2 RAM busses (and all the newer expantions and what not for future upgrade) ,512mb X2 DDR2 RAM, 500W PSU. Then put all this new hardware into my current computer; I'll be keeping the HDD and optical drives. Now with the old hardware put it into the scrap computer.

Questions:
Will this work, am I missing something that I must also upgrade? Also, will I need to re-format the hard drives and re-install windows, or will this start up right away?

 

[g-paw]

512MB is not enough RAM, you should really get 2GB, which is much more than 1GB. What about video, are you using onboard? If not, you'll need a PCIe x16 card. As long as the mobo will fit in the case and the PSU works with it, you'll be fine.

 

[jayjay]

The RAM total amount on this mobo right now is 512MB X3 DDR (1.5GB) not just that 512MB. The old scrap computer mobo I'm throwing out (because it has a bad BIOS chip) and putting this one into it, and buying a better mobo and processor for this computer. BTW this computer has a PCI-E geforce 6600 OC that I manualy overclocked and I'm putting this card on my new mobo. This mobo has a integrated ATI x200 series so I won't need a new GPU for it when I swap it into the scrap computer.

I don't have much money right now because I just spent around 650 for a custom built computer. So I wanted to get two 512MB DDR2 Sticks, later I'll upgrade and probably get 1GB X4 DDR2 RAM.

So the computers will work fine after the swap, I don't have to worry about installing OS or any of that ?

 

[g-paw]

If you're using the same hdd as is currently connected to the mobo, you shouldn't have to do any kind of Windows install.

 

[dwthor02]

If you're using the same hdd as is currently connected to the mobo, you shouldn't have to do any kind of Windows install.

if u are getting a different mobo than your old one. it would be wise to reinstall your o/s

 

[jayjay]

if u are getting a different mobo than your old one. it would be wise to reinstall your o/s

Why is that? I really don't want to reinstall the O/s because it takes 16 cds to make the discs and i dont want to loose all my data on the drive.

i've been looking at the different mobo and cpus there are and I came up with this http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103771
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131172

budget of 200 that hit just over 200 but close enough I was reading the feedback of the processor and people say not to OC it because its fast enough. others say this isnt a good choice for the overclockers. So is this true what there saying? because I want to overclock

 

[dwthor02]

ok, thats y i have separate partitions and instead of using cds to back up data, try using dvds. 4.7gigs vs 700mb. reinstalling the os would make the computer run alot smoother....unless u want blue screens of death.

 

[jayjay]

I guess I better get some dvds then.

What AMD processor with AM2 socket should I get with a budget of $140? I'm planning on overclocking it and not sure what one I would benefit from the most.

 

[dwthor02]

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3012865

 

[g-paw]

There are 2 schools of thought re a clean install of Windows with a new mobo. One is that it's always best to do this because the drivers for the new mobo are different than what are on the current Windows installation and driver conflicts can create all kinds of problem. The other is you can delete the current drivers and do a Windows repair off the CD and there are additional things you can do, google it, and you can avoid the clean install. I agee with JayJay, a clean install is best. The issue is the drivers and how to best deal with them.

There is nothing wrong with the mobo you chose other than it has onboard video that you won't need if you're getting a video card and you'll only have 1 PCI slots. This board is worth looking at but a bit more expensive.
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16813131022

As for the CPU, the AMD X2 5000+ Balck edition would be a good choice given you want to overclock. and looks like you can use the retail CPU HSF. This with the mobo would be over $200 but might be worth saving for in the long run
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.asp?item=N82E16819103194
http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/10/22/budget_overclocker/