Upgrade plan, money problems

[DarkWasp]

Originally for Christmas I just wanted to get a PII 955 BE and a good mobo to support it, buuuut it's never that easy.

First I realised that i'm limited to m-atx boards. My PC is a mini-tower but it holds the PSU up top, plus the expansion slots wouldnt be lined up if an ATX went in there.

So new case? Or just get a micro-atx?

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/83-103-059-08.jpg (Don't worry that's not the PSU I have anymore)

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/83-103-059-06.jpg

The case doesn't get hot, it actually gets cold when its running, which is odd because because my HD4890 idles at 60C. (Even when I took off the panel and had a desk fan blowing into the case)

Another issue I ran across is formatting. It would make things easier if I had another HDD and I just installed/reactivated vista on the new one then transfered all my games and saves over before I format the old one.

BUT THEN, uh oh! Almost forgot the RAM. I'll need all new RAM since I don't have any DDR3 sticks in the house. 4GB would be ideal for me, I dont have a 64-bit OS yet.

Current specs:
Radeon HD 4890 (don't worry about the temps i'ma crank up the fan as soon as the return policy/warranty ends)
Athlon 64 X2 4200+ (2.2ghz)
2GB DDR2 ram
Coolermaster silent pro 600w (40a on 12v)

So, what should I be looking at to cut costs here. Maybe some sweet Christmas deals? Any specific low-price-yet-quality mobos rams and HDDs out there?

I wanna stay as close to 300$ as possible, I know it won't reach that low, but close would be nice.

Should I cut out the HDD and 2GB of ram for later?

[renegadeafk]

There are plenty of good matx boards out there :)
MB:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128397
Memory:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820220371
Hard Drive:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136283
$247

and you can always get a cheaper drive if you don't need that much space
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136320

[DarkWasp]

500gb is good for me. I forgot to mention though, that the 955 itself would be included into the price. I just don't want to break the 400$ mark unless I have to split the buying.


Edit: I found my old Artic Silver 3, do you expect that would be better than what comes with the CPU?

Edit 2: Setting manual fan speed to 40% good? It isnt very loud at that speed. Dropped my idle temps to about 49C

[DarkWasp]

Aye? Aye?


(btw, I set my fan speed down to 36% so it'll sit at 50-50C. Does this thing set the minimum fan speed? Or is it constant?)

[DarkWasp]

Aaaand here's another question.

Should I really be looking into DDR3?



(I've been reading about hybrid-crossfire, is that possible between a 4200 and a 4800? Or is there like a driver difference or something?)

[lhwj]

I just don't want to break the 400$ mark unless I have to split the buying.



You probably want that 955 real badly but I think it's just not gonna fit in your budget right now. So you have to make do with a tri core 720 which is going to be much better than your 4200+ anyway. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103649) (it's a very odd combination, your 4200+ with a 4890) You can move up to a quad core later when you have more funds available.

Do get a new case. Not being able to fit an ATX case severely restricts your upgrade options. Even a cheap Rosewill like this will do: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147095

So with that case you can get a decent AM3 board like this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128392

4 GB DDR3: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227479

And of course, it's time to move on to 64 bit. Vista with 7 upgrade coupon: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16832116677

Total comes up to $404.96, which is slightly beyond your budget but this is what I think would be best if you're looking to upgrade now.

Luke

[DarkWasp]

I've been looking into the 720, but I don't know if I want to go lower than a 955 because I think it'll last me longer which in the end will save me money. My CPU upgrades are usually like once every 2 years.

Also this isn't my money we're talking about, the fam hates it when I can't think of presents for myself. So I've started giving them Newegg links :D

In the end I will have to spend some of my own money. Maybe if I only have them buy maybe 2GB of RAM I can pull it off.

We can factor out the 64-bit sytem, I think I can get everyone to chip in to buy Win 7 (64-bit ofcoarse) for my dad [He'll love it] and we'll do a household upgrade

We have 5 computers, I think it supports 7 upgrades?

[lhwj]

We have 5 computers, I think it supports 7 upgrades?

Hmm? One OEM copy, one computer. So you would have to spend just $500 on just the OS to cover all five PCs.

So wait, what's your total budget for the upgrade, your own money combined with your family's?

Luke

[DarkWasp]

still pretty much 400


Sorry, let me clarify.

I'm expecting 320 from them 250 +50 +20

Then about 80 from me afterwards, if I need 30 or so more I can work for it before Christmas.

[Bad_Motha]

I found my old Artic Silver 3, do you expect that would be better than what comes with the CPU?

Artic Silver 3 or 5 works very well, but try not to make a mess of it as it can be conductive as it has real silver mixed in it to better help with heat transfers. Apply it once the CPU has been locked down into it's socket. If there is any white or other goop on the stock CPU cooler, remove that and clean the surface with rubbing alcohol, then allow it to dry which shouldn't take but a minute or so. Apply the silver paste to your cpu in minimal stages as not to use too much. Break off a piece of plastic from the cpu/fan packaging and use that to spread the silver paste across the metal top base of your cpu. Don't allow it to run to the very edges or down along the side. If you do, be sure to clean it up with Q-tips and alcohol. If cleaning is required for the silver paste, be thorough with it and don't allow any to remain where it shouldn't. If you allow any to get on the motherboard it could fry the board. When you're ready to install your heatsink/fan. Put the motherboard over top of the anti-static bag it came in and place that on a hard flat surface, like a work table. Hold the heatsink over the cpu and line up where you're going to place it, then slowly move it down to sit on the cpu itself, once it's there, try not to move the heatsink around as you may push some of the silver paste off to the cpu's sides. Now secure the heatsink in place with it's mounting bracket. Once secure push down slightly on the heatsink/fan assembly "use caution and take it slow" but this is done to ensure proper connection between the heatsink and the silver paste, although the mounting bracket should hold and push it tight enough together, I do this simply to ensure it's tight. Don't push on it too hard as you don't want to break anything. Have fun, good luck.

[DarkWasp]

Hmm? One OEM copy, one computer. So you would have to spend just $500 on just the OS to cover all five PCs.

So wait, what's your total budget for the upgrade, your own money combined with your family's?

Luke

I was thinking of a box copy for Windows 7, how does that work out?


Also thanks to the above poster for the Artic Silver info +rep.

[lhwj]

Box copy, meaning retail? You would have the ability to transfer it between computers as many times as you like, but it can be installed on only one PC at one time.

Luke

[DarkWasp]

What a shame. Oh well, I'll get a 64-bit OS for myself later next year then, I don't see it as urgent.

Is it?

If I got a mobo+955BE (or even 965, sometimes the 965 has better combo deals[rare though]) for around 290$ and a 30$ case then spent around 80$ myself on 4GB DDR3... I think that might work?

[lhwj]

Yeah that will work. It's best to reinstall Windows after you install your new motherboard and components, and after installing you can do a telephone activation, as if you have an OEM copy of Windows it's tied to your old motherboard so an internet activation will fail. Just tell them that you're installing it on the same PC and they will give you an activation code.

If you know anyone who has a copy of Windows 7 RC1 build 7100 you can install it, as Microsoft is still giving out free CD keys: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/download.aspx

Luke

[DarkWasp]

I found a program that's supposed to transfer activation for Vista.

And I might know someone with Windows 7 RC 7100.

[lhwj]

I found a program that's supposed to transfer activation for Vista.


That works only if you install Vista on the same PC, without hardware changes. The moment any change is detected, the activation program will be triggered and you will be forced to activate.

Luke

[DarkWasp]

I suppose a phone call will have to do then.

OR, could I use the Windows 7 RC until I buy it? Or does that need an activated Vista to install?

Also would I need reactivation for RC if I installed it now then again after the upgrade?

[lhwj]

Also would I need reactivation for RC if I installed it now then again after the upgrade?

Activation would probably be triggered by a motherboard change. I've swapped hard disks, RAM, graphics cards and even processors without triggering activation.

But that shouldn't be a problem, the keys available are unlimited, simply get a new key after you change your motherboard.

OR, could I use the Windows 7 RC until I buy it? Or does that need an activated Vista to install?

Yes, you may. RC1 works normally until March, when it will shut down every two hours. It will stop working completely by June.

You may install RC1 on a blank hard disk, without requiring any previous versions of Windows.

Luke

[DarkWasp]

You may install RC1 on a blank hard disk, without requiring any previous versions of Windows.

Luke

Oy, I forgot about the HDD I was planning on buying. Maybe I can get that now.