Okay - I'd just like to ask if folks can verify that these parts (Ram, Motherboard, Case, Supply, HD, etc) will work together without confliction. Any advice or information regarding construction along the way will be greatly appreciated - you know..things to watch out for or be careful of. Hoping I can learn from other people's experiences and avoid hassle and problems.
My current or 'old' set up is a Pentium 4 1.3 GHZ with maximum ram (512k). Upgraded video card Verto 4000 MX with 64 DDR ram (Brand PNY) Generally speaking it's a 'mass produced' Sony Vaio with a few upgrades here 'n there.
Quite a bit of time has passed since I bought the system (I bought it when the Pentium 4 1.5 GHZ was all the rage and the 1.3 was pretty nice to have at the time as well). I've learned a lot on computer construction. A lot of my friends have instructed me on sockets, DIMM, pins, etc. I'm no expert, but I'm not rushing into things, at least.
The new system will be as follows and contain the parts listed:
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 FX-53, 2.4 ghz 939 Pin (Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...19-103-459&depa=1)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE "GA-K8NSNXP-939" nForce3 Ultra Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 939
(Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...13-128-254&depa=1)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Series Dual Channel Kits 184-Pin 2GB(1GBx2) DDR PC-3200
(Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...20-144-145&depa=1)
Hard Drive: Seagate 120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model ST3120026AS-RK, Retail
(Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...22-148-030&depa=1)
Case: ASPIRE X-Navigator Silver/Black Aluminum ATX Mid-Tower Case with side window and 500W Power Supply, Model"ATXA8NW-AL/500" -RETAIL
(Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...11-144-089&depa=1)
Power Supply: (Included with case - 500W, Adjustable PSU)
Dvd/Cd optical: PIONEER Black DVD±RW Drive, Model DVR-A08XL, Retail
(Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...27-129-154&depa=1)
Soundcard: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS Platinum PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0350" -RETAIL
Video card: * See Below
Others: 3.5 Floppy drive and Ethernet card as well.
Mainly - I want to make sure that the ram/ CPU/ MB are compatible. Everything suggests that it is by my calculations - though I don't have a lot of experience in computer assembly. I've heard varying stories about the motherboard, and if worse comes to worse, I'll make the switch if need be. I just want to know basically if everything in the above is compatible. I'm also aware that the brand/model of power supply included with this case has no native SATA power connections - but I'm pretty sure since the SAtA hard drive is a retail kit - chances are it will hopefully have a molex to sata converter.
I have a few concerns a part from my general nervousness that comes with assembling a system.
First - I don't have the funds for a new video card. I will probably remove the video card in my current system and put it in the new one. The video card in question is this -->
PNY nVIDIA GeForce MX4000 Video Card, 64MB DDR, TV Out, PCI, Model "VCMX4000PPB" -RETAIL
(Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...14-133-105&depa=1)
I'm very patient. Although games are fun for me - I'm just fine waiting for awhile. I use my system mostly for multitasking a ton. Winamp, Seti, Messenger programs, Firefox browsing windows, Zmud client programs for socializing and all that. Webcam software, etc.. - so I'm just jazzed to have a system that will handle all that with little troubles. Thing is - will the older video card mentioned above *work* in the new motherboard? I know old motherboards can't always handle new video cards..but can new motherboards handle older video cards? This will just be a 'temporary thing' until I have some funds for a 6800 or 6800 GT (Or would folks here recommend Ultra? That seems a bit steep for the slight increase you get)
So that's one of my concerns. Another one of my concerns is cooling. This is probably my main thing. I know the case I selected has plenty of fans - and noise really isn't an issue for me - I have a side/window mounted 6000 BTU A/C unit in my room that runs the fan at all times.
Given that the system will probably eventually have a high end video card - and has a lot of high end stuff in it - What would people here recommend as a really good cooling route? Liquid cooling sort of scares me - I'd rather wait until I feel confident in assembling a computer before tackling something like that - but I suppose I can give it a shot if it's absolutely required for the safety of the system. Anything involving heat sinks/fans and so forth I feel a bit more confident about - but there seems to be so many types and classifications out there that I have no clue which is considered 'best' for my set up. I will do my best to bind all the cables neatly so air flow inside the case is unrestricted for the system fans.
The SATA hard drive. I've installed and partitioned IDE hard drives. Never done SATA. Other then the different plugs and installing a driver from floppy at windows install, should I beware of anything? I need to read up on 'Raid configurations' - I'm not quite sure which setting is best for me (I've seen that there's like 4 or 5 settings or somesuch) - given that I've never installed a raid or 'SCSI' driver when installing windows - any information on what I should do/expect at that point would be welcomed. If the kit doesn't include a molex to sata power connection converter, I'll go out and get one, I suppose.
Given the specs of the above - do you guys consider it safe to run the system if/when fully assembled without getting extra cooling (which I will purchase if deemed necessary by the feedback I get in this post) - but considering I probably won't be doing games for awhile - I don't want to shell out even more for more cooling unless it's deemed a need be. Even if it's just a 'Better safe then sorry, given your specs' - I'm more then willing to do it. I just don't want to do it just for the halibut if the fans in that case will be more then enough. Again, I'm not an expert with a lot of this stuff - and even less of an expert with AMD normal temps.
Thanks for any and all responses guys. Much appreciated.
Jenn
My current or 'old' set up is a Pentium 4 1.3 GHZ with maximum ram (512k). Upgraded video card Verto 4000 MX with 64 DDR ram (Brand PNY) Generally speaking it's a 'mass produced' Sony Vaio with a few upgrades here 'n there.
Quite a bit of time has passed since I bought the system (I bought it when the Pentium 4 1.5 GHZ was all the rage and the 1.3 was pretty nice to have at the time as well). I've learned a lot on computer construction. A lot of my friends have instructed me on sockets, DIMM, pins, etc. I'm no expert, but I'm not rushing into things, at least.
The new system will be as follows and contain the parts listed:
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 FX-53, 2.4 ghz 939 Pin (Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...19-103-459&depa=1)
Motherboard: GIGABYTE "GA-K8NSNXP-939" nForce3 Ultra Chipset Motherboard for AMD Socket 939
(Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...13-128-254&depa=1)
Memory: Kingston HyperX Series Dual Channel Kits 184-Pin 2GB(1GBx2) DDR PC-3200
(Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...20-144-145&depa=1)
Hard Drive: Seagate 120GB 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, Model ST3120026AS-RK, Retail
(Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...22-148-030&depa=1)
Case: ASPIRE X-Navigator Silver/Black Aluminum ATX Mid-Tower Case with side window and 500W Power Supply, Model"ATXA8NW-AL/500" -RETAIL
(Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...11-144-089&depa=1)
Power Supply: (Included with case - 500W, Adjustable PSU)
Dvd/Cd optical: PIONEER Black DVD±RW Drive, Model DVR-A08XL, Retail
(Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...27-129-154&depa=1)
Soundcard: Creative Labs Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS Platinum PCI Sound Card, Model "SB0350" -RETAIL
Video card: * See Below
Others: 3.5 Floppy drive and Ethernet card as well.
Mainly - I want to make sure that the ram/ CPU/ MB are compatible. Everything suggests that it is by my calculations - though I don't have a lot of experience in computer assembly. I've heard varying stories about the motherboard, and if worse comes to worse, I'll make the switch if need be. I just want to know basically if everything in the above is compatible. I'm also aware that the brand/model of power supply included with this case has no native SATA power connections - but I'm pretty sure since the SAtA hard drive is a retail kit - chances are it will hopefully have a molex to sata converter.
I have a few concerns a part from my general nervousness that comes with assembling a system.
First - I don't have the funds for a new video card. I will probably remove the video card in my current system and put it in the new one. The video card in question is this -->
PNY nVIDIA GeForce MX4000 Video Card, 64MB DDR, TV Out, PCI, Model "VCMX4000PPB" -RETAIL
(Link: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...14-133-105&depa=1)
I'm very patient. Although games are fun for me - I'm just fine waiting for awhile. I use my system mostly for multitasking a ton. Winamp, Seti, Messenger programs, Firefox browsing windows, Zmud client programs for socializing and all that. Webcam software, etc.. - so I'm just jazzed to have a system that will handle all that with little troubles. Thing is - will the older video card mentioned above *work* in the new motherboard? I know old motherboards can't always handle new video cards..but can new motherboards handle older video cards? This will just be a 'temporary thing' until I have some funds for a 6800 or 6800 GT (Or would folks here recommend Ultra? That seems a bit steep for the slight increase you get)
So that's one of my concerns. Another one of my concerns is cooling. This is probably my main thing. I know the case I selected has plenty of fans - and noise really isn't an issue for me - I have a side/window mounted 6000 BTU A/C unit in my room that runs the fan at all times.
Given that the system will probably eventually have a high end video card - and has a lot of high end stuff in it - What would people here recommend as a really good cooling route? Liquid cooling sort of scares me - I'd rather wait until I feel confident in assembling a computer before tackling something like that - but I suppose I can give it a shot if it's absolutely required for the safety of the system. Anything involving heat sinks/fans and so forth I feel a bit more confident about - but there seems to be so many types and classifications out there that I have no clue which is considered 'best' for my set up. I will do my best to bind all the cables neatly so air flow inside the case is unrestricted for the system fans.
The SATA hard drive. I've installed and partitioned IDE hard drives. Never done SATA. Other then the different plugs and installing a driver from floppy at windows install, should I beware of anything? I need to read up on 'Raid configurations' - I'm not quite sure which setting is best for me (I've seen that there's like 4 or 5 settings or somesuch) - given that I've never installed a raid or 'SCSI' driver when installing windows - any information on what I should do/expect at that point would be welcomed. If the kit doesn't include a molex to sata power connection converter, I'll go out and get one, I suppose.
Given the specs of the above - do you guys consider it safe to run the system if/when fully assembled without getting extra cooling (which I will purchase if deemed necessary by the feedback I get in this post) - but considering I probably won't be doing games for awhile - I don't want to shell out even more for more cooling unless it's deemed a need be. Even if it's just a 'Better safe then sorry, given your specs' - I'm more then willing to do it. I just don't want to do it just for the halibut if the fans in that case will be more then enough. Again, I'm not an expert with a lot of this stuff - and even less of an expert with AMD normal temps.
Thanks for any and all responses guys. Much appreciated.
Jenn
If you'll be using WindowsXP and don't have a hardware firewall (a router), then the Resources page has advice on avoiding worm attack during the 'larval' stage where Windows is not yet patched or firewalled.
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