[Q] computer rebuild

[good4y0u]

ok, i know this is a site for phone devs but im sure some of you guys have built yourself a computer or to. i have built them but never assembled by hand. im trying to re build an old Compaq using a new mother bored and video card ( even a new power supply if needed) i would like to use all my old parts if possible other then the ram ( that can be new) id like it to be a high powered computer with DDR3 ram for gaming and media editing ( it needs to have more then 2 monitors plugged into it) if i have to i will buy a new case but i would very much like to use AS MANY of the existing parts as i can (ex: HD,fans, disk drive ..etc... my price range for the new parts is about $300-600 over time . (so i will buy the parts one at a time)

(it will run win 7 x64 or Linux upon completion ) if anyone knows ..how to *ehem* get ahold of the OS in an easy fashion please post/pm me

here is a link to the specs
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883107288

General Spec

Brand
COMPAQ

Series
Presario

Model
SR2150NX(RR790AA)

Type
Home / Home Office

Processor
Intel Celeron D 356(3.33GHz)

Processor Main Features
64 bit Processor

Cache Per Processor
512KB L2 Cache

Memory
512MB PC2-4200 DDR2

Hard Drive
120GB 7200RPM SATA

Optical Drive 1
SuperMulti DVD Burner with LightScribe Technology

Graphics
ATI Radeon Xpress 1100 Graphics with 64MB dedicated graphics memory. Up to 128MB Total Available Graphics Memory as allocated by Windows Vista

Audio
Integrated audio

Ethernet
10/100BaseT network interface

Operating System
Windows Vista Home Basic

Motherboard

Chipset
ATI Radeon Xpress 1100 Chipset

CPU

CPU Type
Celeron D

Installed Qty
1

CPU FSB
533MHz

CPU Speed
356(3.33GHz)

L2 Cache Per CPU
512KB

CPU Main Features
64 bit Processor

Graphics

GPU/VPU Type
ATI Radeon Xpress 1100 Integrated

Graphics Interface
Integrated video

Memory

Memory Speed
DDR2 533

Form Factor
DIMM 240-pin

Memory Spec
1000MB x 2

Memory Slots (Available/Total)
1/2

Hard Drive

HDD Capacity
120GBx2

HDD Interface
SATA

HDD RPM
7200rpm

HDD Spec
SATA 3Gb/s
Audio

Audio Chipset
Integrated

Communications

Modem
56k modem

LAN Chipset
Integrated

LAN Speed
10/100Mbps

Front Panel Ports

Front USB
2

Front Audio Ports
Headphone

Back Panel Ports

PS/2
2

Video Ports
1 VGA

Rear USB
2

RJ45
1 port

Rear Audio Ports
Microphone/line-in/line-out

Expansion

PCI Slots (Available/Total)
(2/3) PCI slots
(1/1) PCI Express x16 Slot
front
http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/83-107-288-05.jpg
inside
http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/83-107-288-10.jpg
back
http://images10.newegg.com/NeweggImage/productimage/83-107-288-12.jpg


thank you for your help!

 

[orb3000]

.

Thread moved. Would advise you to read forum rules and post in correct section.

Failure to comply with forum rules will result in an infraction and/or ban depending on severity of rule break.

 

[drpsyko]

The only thing that you can get from that is a working PSU, all the fans, RAM, HDDs, CD/DVD drive and the casing itself. Based on your preference, you have to change the motherboard and the processor to a newer one.

OR, you can stick with the old setup, but with liquid cooling for extreme overclocking and higher spec PSU. I think there is a PCIe slot in it, doesn't it? So stick in a higher end GPU and voila! XD

Budget? Dunno, there is so much difference in monetary exchange I lose my calculation.

 

[good4y0u]

The only thing that you can get from that is a working PSU, all the fans, RAM, HDDs, CD/DVD drive and the casing itself. Based on your preference, you have to change the motherboard and the processor to a newer one.

OR, you can stick with the old setup, but with liquid cooling for extreme overclocking and higher spec PSU. I think there is a PCIe slot in it, doesn't it? So stick in a higher end GPU and voila! XD

Budget? Dunno, there is so much difference in monetary exchange I lose my calculation.

I was planning to upgrade the mother bored and put a i7 in it with a new video card a bit later . I should be saving a bunch of money by recycling the old components. Considering I'm only going to need the mother and the i7 right away. Then mby a power supply ( which I may be able to take from an old computer somewhere )

It has 2 PCi and 1 pci e ( I was going to just upgrade with a video card at one point but the computer is just so slow and incompatible with most new cards )

I don't have much in terms of monetary funding so I was planning to do this over time .

sent from my Atrix 4g using tapatalk 2

 

[OmegaRED^]

I was planning to upgrade the mother bored and put a i7 in it with a new video card a bit later . I should be saving a bunch of money by recycling the old components. Considering I'm only going to need the mother and the i7 right away. Then mby a power supply ( which I may be able to take from an old computer somewhere )

It has 2 PCi and 1 pci e ( I was going to just upgrade with a video card at one point but the computer is just so slow and incompatible with most new cards )

I don't have much in terms of monetary funding so I was planning to do this over time .

sent from my Atrix 4g using tapatalk 2

Don't buy parts over time.
You will end up kicking yourself.

 

[good4y0u]

Don't buy parts over time.
You will end up kicking yourself.

OK , so its better to save up and buy at the same time then?

sent from my Atrix 4g using tapatalk 2

 

[drpsyko]

Don't buy parts over time.
You will end up kicking yourself.

So true. Though this is a bad time to purchase parts. Urgh, how I wish I bought my PC from back then before the flood happen. But then, purchasing all of it in one go is a good thing. You can get bundle price, freebies, and you ought to buy different things in that specific time, given that you have accumulate enough money. Aaaand, all the prices will be lower eventually. So, it's best for you now to start saving money and generate patience.

 

[OmegaRED^]

Since i often help guys with upgrades and so on.
I would suggest you please take my advice.

Too many people i know hurt them self by not saving and buying a entire new machine.

Sometimes they end up wasting way more than what was planned.

Also ask yourself this question "what am I using my PC for?"
Because i7 is way hardcore overpowered... but a very good choice for gaming.

Best of luck.

I'm on a:
AMD Phenom II x6 T1100
8GB ram
"Hybrid" gpu setup "not recommended to AMD 2GB 7890HD + n-vidia 250gtx on crossfire board"

It's not the best.. but it's a bang for what i paid.
So far nothing lags my pc... ever.
i can play "lol" while compiling in the background, watching anime and still have loads of resources left.

 

[drpsyko]

I'm on a:
AMD Phenom II x6 T1100
8GB ram
"Hybrid" gpu setup "not recommended to AMD 2GB 7890HD + n-vidia 250gtx on crossfire board"

Dat setup!
Damn, you made me jelly. It really is not recommended, but that firepower...even Unigene would cry.

 

[OmegaRED^]

Dat setup!
Damn, you made me jelly. It really is not recommended, but that firepower...even Unigene would cry.

I know... completely overpowered.
And the price wasn't even that bad.
And i can safely say stability is spot on with intel.

 

[good4y0u]

So true. Though this is a bad time to purchase parts. Urgh, how I wish I bought my PC from back then before the flood happen. But then, purchasing all of it in one go is a good thing. You can get bundle price, freebies, and you ought to buy different things in that specific time, given that you have accumulate enough money. Aaaand, all the prices will be lower eventually. So, it's best for you now to start saving money and generate patience.

I have a laptop that has an i7 chip in it and a dedicated graphics card + an integrated one
. So I can't have a desktop with less power then my laptop . ( I used a replacement to get this laptop ) verizon expert care or w/e its called is amazing ! I told them " the reason my computer failed is because of the inter grated graphics card" and they said OK and showed me computers with dedicated ones ( it was a true statement ) . I have started saving up for the computer and Im hoping if I get the money right before win 8 is out I can by the parts cheeper because the company have new parts coming out at that time.when I used to have the money I would buy a new system . But I just can't spend 1 grand on a computer...when what I really want is a project and something to have fun with and video edit+ play games .

Since i often help guys with upgrades and so on.
I would suggest you please take my advice.

Too many people i know hurt them self by not saving and buying a entire new machine.

Sometimes they end up wasting way more than what was planned.

Also ask yourself this question "what am I using my PC for?"
Because i7 is way hardcore overpowered... but a very good choice for gaming.

Best of luck.

I'm on a:
AMD Phenom II x6 T1100
8GB ram
"Hybrid" gpu setup "not recommended to AMD 2GB 7890HD + n-vidia 250gtx on crossfire board"

It's not the best.. but it's a bang for what i paid.
So far nothing lags my pc... ever.
i can play "lol" while compiling in the background, watching anime and still have loads of resources left.

Im going to use it for gaming and video editing + school

sent from my Atrix 4g using tapatalk 2

 

[OmegaRED^]

I have a laptop that has an i7 chip in it and a dedicated graphics card + an integrated one
. So I can't have a desktop with less power then my laptop . ( I used a replacement to get this laptop ) verizon expert care or w/e its called is amazing ! I told them " the reason my computer failed is because of the inter grated graphics card" and they said OK and showed me computers with dedicated ones ( it was a true statement ) . I have started saving up for the computer and Im hoping if I get the money right before win 8 is out I can by the parts cheeper because the company have new parts coming out at that time.when I used to have the money I would buy a new system . But I just can't spend 1 grand on a computer...when what I really want is a project and something to have fun with and video edit+ play games .






Im going to use it for gaming and video editing + school

sent from my Atrix 4g using tapatalk 2

Then go for power.. save up.. buy once.
Phenom II should serve you well.
Nothing less than the T1050... and i suggest you stay away from the new bulldozer chips.
They need to mature more first.


Else core i5 if your a bit AMD shy.

 

[good4y0u]

Then go for power.. save up.. buy once.
Phenom II should serve you well.
Nothing less than the T1050... and i suggest you stay away from the new bulldozer chips.
They need to mature more first.


Else core i5 if your a bit AMD shy.

i am AMD shy, im sorry to say i am a huge Intel fan ( due to the fact that most of the computers i have had that are AMD haven't lasted but the Intel ones have) im working on saving up the money , i should have enough in about a month or two i hope

 

[drpsyko]

Then go for power.. save up.. buy once.
Phenom II should serve you well.
Nothing less than the T1050... and i suggest you stay away from the new bulldozer chips.
They need to mature more first.


Else core i5 if your a bit AMD shy.

+1

i am AMD shy, im sorry to say i am a huge Intel fan ( due to the fact that most of the computers i have had that are AMD haven't lasted but the Intel ones have) im working on saving up the money , i should have enough in about a month or two i hope

I'm sorry for your AMD loss.
Good luck with the savings and the new computer.

 

[good4y0u]

+1







I'm sorry for your AMD loss.
Good luck with the savings and the new computer.

i appreciate it !

 

[good4y0u]

what i have picked thus far

i chose liquid cooling due to the fact that the case i am using is small and doesn't have very much air flow.
(push pull configuration from back fan)

the PSU is variable but so far to be safe im going with a 500W

the memory is also something i might lower to 1x4gb however at this moment im going with 8

the I7 is so the computer has more power then my laptop

what i need to decide upon is a good Micro ATX motherboard that can handle the equipment im using and be able to have more then one 4 pin fan plug in

the motherboard also needs to be able to use all 4 of the PCIe/PCI slots on my computer with the ability to use the existing front USB (2x) ports and the 1 headphone jack also in front

i also need a good video card, i would like to be able to at some point fit 2 in (as an upgrade in the future ) but that is wishful thinking im going to be installing a wireless N card (at some point) so the MB needs to be able to have that with the video card

any ideas on a video card?
( i like nvida as a #1 and ATI as #2) in order of my favs

thanks for your help, also the links to the parts above are below .!


TOPOWER ZU-500W 500W ATX12V Ver. 2.0 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817101011

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?item=N82E16820231314

Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid Cooling System
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835209049

Intel Core i7-2600 Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 ...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115071

 

[good4y0u]

motherboard

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=n8p9f7wlxa1y

this is the micro ATX board i thought was the best i could find. any ideas? i am measuring to see if i could put an ATX instead of a micro atx (i believe i might be able to get one to fit)

*edit*

im looking for full size cases just to see if i could get a bigger board (and more fan space) so that means for the time being im looking at both micro atx and atx

*edit #2 *

I decided to get a new case so i can put a full ATX board in and have the ability to cool the machine.

im still looking at motherboards and video cards i have everything else either picked out or i own the part already

NEW CART

COOLER MASTER HAF 912 RC-912-KKN1 Black SECC/ ABS Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233

TOPOWER ZU-500W 500W ATX12V Ver. 2.0 Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817101011

G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231314

Antec Kuhler H2O 620 Liquid Cooling System
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835209049

Intel Core i7-2600 Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor Intel HD Graphics 2000 BX80623I72600
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115071


*edit 4*

here are the mother and the video card and the new case

LIAN LI Lancool PC-K58 Black CECC Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112237

XFX Double D HD-695X-CDFC Radeon HD 6950 2GB 256-bit GDDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready CrossFireX Support Video Card with ...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814150549

ASUS P8Z68-V PRO/GEN3 LGA 1155 Intel Z68 HDMI SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard with UEFI BIOS

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.892323

 

[good4y0u]

what i have picked

ok what case should i go with
Rosewill BLACKHAWK Gaming ATX Mid Tower Computer Case, come with Five Fans, window side panel, top HDD dock
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.892323

vs

LIAN LI Lancool PC-K58 Black CECC Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811112237

 

[drpsyko]

Hmmm...seems like a decent setup. But then, please revise your selection of PSU. The HD 6950 could drain a lot of power from that PSU as high as 300w. And for future expandability, I would recommend you to use higher output PSU. That is if you planning to use SLI or crossfire configuration. The casing is an OK, but for me, I don't really emphasis on casing. I'm a DIY user, that is. Hehe. As my opinion on the cooling system, there is no need for the processor's liquid cooling. For now, it is best for you to use stock cooling block as it is already adequate enough.

As for the alternative option, you can change entire casing and cooling system into custom liquid cooling system from Koolance. IF, you have extra budget to spare AND planning for expanding your setup or overclocking your processor and GPU.

 

[good4y0u]

Hmmm...seems like a decent setup. But then, please revise your selection of PSU. The HD 6950 could drain a lot of power from that PSU as high as 300w. And for future expandability, I would recommend you to use higher output PSU. That is if you planning to use SLI or crossfire configuration. The casing is an OK, but for me, I don't really emphasis on casing. I'm a DIY user, that is. Hehe. As my opinion on the cooling system, there is no need for the processor's liquid cooling. For now, it is best for you to use stock cooling block as it is already adequate enough.

As for the alternative option, you can change entire casing and cooling system into custom liquid cooling system from Koolance. IF, you have extra budget to spare AND planning for expanding your setup or overclocking your processor and GPU.

what would you recommend as a good enough PSU? also i figured that if i off the bat installed liquid cooling in that one spot then when i did upgrade further (another day) and put in another video card i could still be safe in knowing that certain parts will stay cool .

like this one? http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817159126