- Jun 25, 2009
- 1
- 0
- 18,510
Hi. I hope I am posting this in the correct section. If not, please forgive my noobish-ness and correct me.
Based on the price and quality and power research I have done on different components, this build will be more of an extensive upgrade than a from-scratch build.
This will be my most extensive build/upgrade yet. I have some minor experience in upgrading and doing things inside a case.
I plan to run XP or Vista, and Linux. (Debian/Ubuntu) I've done many OS installs/configurations.
To the point:
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: June 27th/28th (Next weekend) BUDGET RANGE: Around 500$
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Programming, Internet Browsing/Chatting, Gaming, Movies
PARTS NOT REQUIRED:
■Motherboard
■CPU (AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200+, 2.20GHz)
■2 sticks 512MB DDR2 RAM
■CD/DVD Burner
■1 ATA (IDE) HDD
■1 SATA HDD
■Monitor, Speakers, Mouse, Keyboard
Upgrading from an HP Pavilion a1610n. Full specs available on HP's site, including motherboard specs. (This is the closest to a motherboard manual that exists for this, as far as I can find.)
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: http://www.newegg.ca and possibly http://www.ncix.com/ and http://www.tigerdirect.ca/
I live in Canada land. Never really bought anything online before, thus my website preference is based entirely on what people have told me.
PARTS PREFERENCES:
Currently considering the following items:
■Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
■ EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
■PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
■CORSAIR 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Desktop Memory Model VS1GB533D2 - Retail (Two sticks)
■Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E 120mm Case Fan - Retail (Two additional fans for the above case)
(Total price with shipping and tax: around 500$)
Preference is for nVidia card.
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe
Will only OC/SLI after I can afford to upgrade my mobo/ram/cpu.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
This all started with wanting a new graphics card, to be able to actually play some games. (Hopefully in high-ish resolutions.) New graphics card means stock PSU likely won't cut it at all. Good PSUs would have lots of trouble fitting in to this case, thus a new case. (Also, good graphics cards would have trouble fitting.) Only 1GB RAM, thus more RAM.
I'm hoping to buy parts that will allow me to eventually upgrade my motherboard/RAM/CPU without having to buy anything else. (Barring possibly a non-stock cooler for the CPU.)
I considered full-tower cases, but could find none in the style/quality I desire for the budget I have. I do have the space for a full tower.
I do understand the PSU is probably a good deal of overkill for the immediate upgrades. However, I do wish to get a PSU that will let me upgrade more in the future.
My questions include:
■Do you think this type of upgrade (Everything but the mobo and CPU) is a decent upgrade path for allowing future upgrades? If not, please do suggest ways I should go about upgrading.
■Do you see any possible incompatibilities between components I have tentatively selected? (I worry that the motherboard will have some issues with such an upgrade.)
■Suggestions for changes to my list of components?
■Suggestions for a first-time builder?
■Any other suggestions/ideas/criticisms of my upgrade plan are welcome.
Thank you for reading. Thank you to any who take the time to respond.
Based on the price and quality and power research I have done on different components, this build will be more of an extensive upgrade than a from-scratch build.
This will be my most extensive build/upgrade yet. I have some minor experience in upgrading and doing things inside a case.
I plan to run XP or Vista, and Linux. (Debian/Ubuntu) I've done many OS installs/configurations.
To the point:
APPROXIMATE PURCHASE DATE: June 27th/28th (Next weekend) BUDGET RANGE: Around 500$
SYSTEM USAGE FROM MOST TO LEAST IMPORTANT: Programming, Internet Browsing/Chatting, Gaming, Movies
PARTS NOT REQUIRED:
■Motherboard
■CPU (AMD Athlon 64 x2 4200+, 2.20GHz)
■2 sticks 512MB DDR2 RAM
■CD/DVD Burner
■1 ATA (IDE) HDD
■1 SATA HDD
■Monitor, Speakers, Mouse, Keyboard
Upgrading from an HP Pavilion a1610n. Full specs available on HP's site, including motherboard specs. (This is the closest to a motherboard manual that exists for this, as far as I can find.)
PREFERRED WEBSITE(S) FOR PARTS: http://www.newegg.ca and possibly http://www.ncix.com/ and http://www.tigerdirect.ca/
I live in Canada land. Never really bought anything online before, thus my website preference is based entirely on what people have told me.
PARTS PREFERENCES:
Currently considering the following items:
■Antec Three Hundred Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case - Retail
■ EVGA 512-P3-N871-AR GeForce 9800 GTX+ 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready SLI Supported Video Card - Retail
■PC Power & Cooling S75CF 750W EPS12V SLI Certified CrossFire Ready 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply - Retail
■CORSAIR 1GB 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 533 (PC2 4200) Desktop Memory Model VS1GB533D2 - Retail (Two sticks)
■Scythe S-FLEX SFF21E 120mm Case Fan - Retail (Two additional fans for the above case)
(Total price with shipping and tax: around 500$)
Preference is for nVidia card.
OVERCLOCKING: Maybe SLI OR CROSSFIRE: Maybe
Will only OC/SLI after I can afford to upgrade my mobo/ram/cpu.
MONITOR RESOLUTION: 1680x1050
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:
This all started with wanting a new graphics card, to be able to actually play some games. (Hopefully in high-ish resolutions.) New graphics card means stock PSU likely won't cut it at all. Good PSUs would have lots of trouble fitting in to this case, thus a new case. (Also, good graphics cards would have trouble fitting.) Only 1GB RAM, thus more RAM.
I'm hoping to buy parts that will allow me to eventually upgrade my motherboard/RAM/CPU without having to buy anything else. (Barring possibly a non-stock cooler for the CPU.)
I considered full-tower cases, but could find none in the style/quality I desire for the budget I have. I do have the space for a full tower.
I do understand the PSU is probably a good deal of overkill for the immediate upgrades. However, I do wish to get a PSU that will let me upgrade more in the future.
My questions include:
■Do you think this type of upgrade (Everything but the mobo and CPU) is a decent upgrade path for allowing future upgrades? If not, please do suggest ways I should go about upgrading.
■Do you see any possible incompatibilities between components I have tentatively selected? (I worry that the motherboard will have some issues with such an upgrade.)
■Suggestions for changes to my list of components?
■Suggestions for a first-time builder?
■Any other suggestions/ideas/criticisms of my upgrade plan are welcome.
Thank you for reading. Thank you to any who take the time to respond.
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram