Frankenstein style upgrade... some questions

[Mad4Sax2]

I'm assuming this idea will probably work just fine, but I just wanted get some opinions on it. My mom needs a new basic e-mail/internet/MS office kind of computer, and I could use an upgraded mobo/CPU/memory on my current gaming system. I realized I could spend about the same amount of money building my Mom a brand new computer as I could by giving her my current mobo, CPU, and memory; purchasing the rest of the new components for her; and buying a new mobo, CPU, and memory for me. My question would be if this swap would cause any compatibility problems with either system.

Here's the plan (new components will be *):

My system:
Thermaltake Tsunami Dream Case
OCZ Modstream 520 watt PSU
*Intel Core 2 Duo E6600 Conroe (2.4GHz) LGA 775 CPU
*eVGA NVIDIA nForce 680i LT SLI ATX Intel Mobo
*Corsair XMS2 2GB (2x1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 800 PC2-6400 SDRAM
Pioneer DVR-109 DVD±RW
Plextor 52x/32x/52x CD-RW
Seagate Barracuda 200GB 7,200RPM SATA-150
Creative Labs SoundBlaster Audigy 2 ZS
BFG Tech GeForce 7900 GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-E x16
Microsoft Windows XP Professional w/ SP2

Mom's system:
*Cooler Master Centurion 5
*Thermaltake TR2 ATX 430 watt PSU
AMD Athlon 64 3800+ (2.4GHz) Newcastle Socket 939
Asus A8N-SLI Deluxe
Corsair XMS 1GB (2x512MB) DDR400 PC-3200 SDRAM
*Samsung 18x DVD±RW Burner
*Western Digital Cavier SE 160GB 7,200 RPM SATA 3.0 GB/sec
*eVGA GeForce 7600 GT 256MB GDDR3 PCI-E x16
*Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium

Let me know if this plan seems like it could work. Thanks

 

[DaveSimmons]

I've used the Antec NSK4400 for a couple of X2 3800+ builds (with mATX motherboards but the A8N should fit), the included power supply and 120mm fan are very quiet.

A 7300 card should be fine if mom doesn't game.

 

[Mad4Sax2]

My concern was mostly with the difficulty switching out the mobo, CPU, and memory on my current system. Would it cause any difficulties?

 

[myocardia]

No, your psu will handle that system just fine.

 

[themisfit610]

Yeah, don't waste the $ for a gaming card with mom 🙂

Get the cheapest PCIe card you can, that doesn't share system RAM.

I'd also suggest XP, as Vista can be pokey with "only" 1 GB of RAM :|

~MiSfit

 

[soydios]

Everything looks like it should work without a hitch.

I agree with the other responses on the video card, get the lowest 7300 you can, just not TurboCache/HyperMemory (whichever tech is nVidia's).

If you're running Vista on 1GB of RAM, get a USB thumbdrive to use for ReadyBoost at least, but preferably just get 2GB of RAM.

 

[mercanucaribe]

Originally posted by: themisfit610
Yeah, don't waste the $ for a gaming card with mom 🙂

Get the cheapest PCIe card you can, that doesn't share system RAM.

I'd also suggest XP, as Vista can be pokey with "only" 1 GB of RAM :|

~MiSfit

How do you know his mom isn't a gamer? She is probably the one always headshotting you in CS:S.

 

[jordanpr]

Originally posted by: mercanucaribe

Originally posted by: themisfit610
Yeah, don't waste the $ for a gaming card with mom 🙂

Get the cheapest PCIe card you can, that doesn't share system RAM.

I'd also suggest XP, as Vista can be pokey with "only" 1 GB of RAM :|

~MiSfit

How do you know his mom isn't a gamer? She is probably the one always headshotting you in CS:S.

I KNEW that person named "your mom" was actually someones mom! frickin crap....