Babysteps to new build - will it fly?

[Mimsyborogoves]

My bf is afraid to let me do my own build, but I think with good advice, patience, and teh internet, it can be done! This will be my first home build and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

The Plan: turn a Pentium 4 Gateway into a decent gaming rig for about $500. I don't need a new monitor, and my case should be large enough. I have Windows XP, and I'm not excited about swapping to Vista unless it's absolutely required.

Step 1: Install a new mobo, processor, and memory. Use it with old video card (Radeon PCI x700) and other old stuff until Step 2 next month.

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=9047292

The processor isn't listed on newegg anymore, it's the Intel 2 Core Duo E4400 (gift from bf)

Step 2: Install new video card and power supply.

https://secure.newegg.com/WishList/MySavedWishDetail.aspx?ID=9047472


Assuming the actual installation and driver downloads, will my Great Plan work? Can I do the upgrade in 2 steps and still play Warhammer? And do I have all the pieces I will need for the final goal of 35fps on any game out there? (except Crysis, it's ok if that game kicks my rig's butt)

 

[uguv]

Here are my thoughts on this:

1) A lot of the gateway, dell, and HP type cases are proprietary and are not ATX standard so your motherboard may not fit. This could obviously cause some major issues in reusing the case.

2) I'd go for DDR2 RAM, DDR3 doesn't really provide much benefit and costs a lot more. For the price of that RAM you could get 4gb of DDR2 800 RAM, and you can save money with a DDR2 motherboard as well.

3) Good choices on video card and PSU. For a little less (after MIR) you could switch to a Corsair 650TX PSU ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005 ), but I have the 610 PCP&C model and it works great too.

 

[dirtmountain]

^ agree about the Dell case, you may need to look into also getting a case. You can get a good motherboard that will accept the E4400 much cheaper then the Intel one that you picked out. I would also not go with DDR3 since it's more expensive and just a little bit faster then DDR2. There's also a chance your RadeonX700 graphic card is an AGP socket which won't be compatible with the PCIex16 socket featured in modern motherboards.
That said Here's a nice case, good cooling Antec 300 for $55 with free shipping
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129042
Asus P43 motherboard- $85 uses DDR2, compatible with your CPU.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131329
Alternate board with integrated graphics in case you're without a graphic card. Has a PCIex16 socket for adding graphic card in the future Gigabyte G33 - $80
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128053
RAM - memory compatible with both suggested motherboards OCZ DDR2 800 1.8v 5-5-5-15 $20 after rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227124

Good luck and i think you can do this!

 

[zenmaster]

Don't Upgrade.

#1 - Sell your Old System As is.
#2 - Build Fresh.
#3 - Don't even consider an Intel Mobo. Surprisingly, they are not up to the standards of Asus, Gigabyte, etc....

This way you actually get money for a working system you can use to build your new system.



Dirt has a good start for you.
Nice Case, Nice Mobo, and the RAM is cheap enough.

 

[roadrunner197069]

I just ordered this, it should suit you real good except GPU.

oct build


Qty. Image Product Description Unit Price Savings Total Price
1 LG 20X DVD±R DVD Burner w/ SecurDisc Tech Black SATA Model GH20NS15 - OEM
Model #:GH20NS15
Item #:N82E16827136149
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
$24.99 $24.99
1 Antec Sonata III 500 Black 0.8mm cold rolled steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case 500W Power Supply - Retail
Model #:Sonata III 500
Item #:N82E16811129024
Return Policy:Limited 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock
$149.99 -$70.00 Instant $79.99
1 ASUS EAH3450/DI/256M Radeon HD 3450 256MB 64-bit GDDR2 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Low Profile Video Card - Retail
Model #:EAH3450/DI/256M
Item #:N82E16814121259
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
Mail-in Rebate

$29.99 $29.99
1 A-DATA 2GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Desktop Memory Model ADQVE1B16 - Retail
Model #:ADQVE1B16
Item #:N82E16820211272
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
$32.99 $32.99
1 ASUS P5Q SE/R LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
Model #5Q SE/R
Item #:N82E16813131335
Return Policy:Limited 30-Day Return Policy
In Stock
$102.99 $102.99
1 Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 Wolfdale 3.0GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor Model BX80570E8400 - Retail
Model #:BX80570E8400
Item #:N82E16819115037
Return Policyrocessors (CPUs) Return Policy
In Stock
$169.99 $169.99
1 XIGMATEK HDT-S1283 120mm Rifle CPU Cooler - Retail
Model #:HDT-S1283
Item #:N82E16835233003
Return Policy:Standard Return Policy
In Stock
$36.99 $36.99
Subtotal: $477.93

 

[geofelt]

dirtmountain gave you some good advice and parts.

You will also need an OS. What came with your dell is an oem license and resides on a proprietary part of the hard drive. You may not be able to activate it on a different motherboard. If you are a student, look around for some big discounts on Vista.

 

[spuddyt]

just phone microsoft and tell them you made minor changes and they'll usually buy it and reactivate that copy of windows....

 

[geofelt]

just phone microsoft and tell them you made minor changes and they'll usually buy it and reactivate that copy of windows....

This is a problem unless you can get the OS original install disk from Dell.

 

[kamkal]

i would ditch the gateway case as others have mentioned and start from scratch


get a mobo like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131299
ASUS P5Q Pro LGA 775 Intel P45 ATX Intel Motherboard - Retail
140-20MIR = 120$

you already have cpu+heatsink/fan so good to go there

get this psu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139005
CORSAIR CMPSU-650TX 650W ATX12V / EPS12V SLI Ready CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
110-20MIR = 90$

get this case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119137
COOLER MASTER RC-690-KKN1-GP Black SECC/ ABS ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
80$

use yer old vid card x700 PCIE or whatever it is

mem
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211282
A-DATA Vitesta 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory - Retail
70$

Hard drive and optical drive you are going to use from teh gateway machine so good to go there

thats roughly 400$ + tax and shipping up front
then u get 40 bucks back in the form of rebates

and most likely your XP from the gateway wont work on the new build unless u have an OEM XP install disk (which u can acquire from many places, ask the bf hehe)

you can then use the OEM disk to install the OS, then use the key from yer gateway to get it going

then you will have to call MS and pester them about activation to get them to activate it. give them a blurb about how you just reinstalled the OS and dont know why its asking you this blah blah and act pissed off and all should be well.

then next month you can get a better gfx card to play warhammer better.

bf is afraid to let you make a comp? maybe time for a new bf?

 

[kamkal]

adding to my above post

you can then with this base, get a better cpu cooler and then OC your cpu later on

the case i mentioned comes with two fans and space for liek 4 more so cooling is not an issue

you also have two x16 pcie slots on the mobo

when using the main one only, it gives you full x16, when using both in a xfire setup, you get x8 per slot, x8 is slower but it does give you the option to xfire two weaker cards together

the P5Q mobo uses a P45 chipset which is a soup up of the p35, and the p35/45 series can OC well

hell if you can swing the full 500bucks at once
you can pick up one of these
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102719
SAPPHIRE 100225L Radeon HD 3870 512MB 256-bit GDDR4 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFire Supported Video Card - Retail

you're going over 500 by about 20 bucks but this card has a 15$ MIR so you end up going 5 bucks over the 500 + s/h and tax of course, little over budget but i think it will get the job done

hope this helps

 

[Mimsyborogoves]

Awesome responses! Thank you all mucho gracias.

So I'll definitely be getting the new case...I like all the cooling aspects of Kamkal's link. Question: although the DDR3 may not be big difference over DDR2 now, won't software advances catch up in the next year or so catch up with the hardware and take advantage of the DDR3 tech that DDR2 can't compete with?

Now does newegg have any sales on upgrading bf's? lol

 

[dirtmountain]

Good deals on BFs, but shipping is way overpriced.
As more DDR3 is sold with the new i7 processors and X58 motherboards the prices will start to drop. As for performance unless you use the new motherboards it'll be just a small step faster.

 

[geofelt]

Awesome responses! Thank you all mucho gracias.

So I'll definitely be getting the new case...I like all the cooling aspects of Kamkal's link. Question: although the DDR3 may not be big difference over DDR2 now, won't software advances catch up in the next year or so catch up with the hardware and take advantage of the DDR3 tech that DDR2 can't compete with?

Now does newegg have any sales on upgrading bf's? lol

The upcoming nehalem/i7 cpu's will use DDR3. They are quad cores and the entry price is >$300, and requires a new X58 chipset.

Today, the core 2 cpus are not sensitive to ram speeds. The difference in real applications or FPS(vs. synthetic benchmarks) is minimal. Perhaps 1-2%. Not worth it to me.

You should get a newegg account and subscribe to their e-mail marketing. You can get some good deals.