Please help me spend my money!!!

[Blain]

You don't have to worry about activation issues with Windows 2000.
Drivers may be a bit of a problem, but with some rewriting, you should be able to conquer that.

 

[hoyaguru]

You don't have to worry about activation issues with Windows 2000.
Drivers may be a bit of a problem, but with some rewriting, you should be able to conquer that.

Thanks Blain, but I have XP. Just read an old article (from 2001) that addressed this, I remember it was a problem, don't know if Microsoft changed their policy, or if they don't care any more since they no longer support XP. Will have to do more research.

 

[Blain]

From my research, XP will still require activation after an install.

 

[Cerb]

Quick question on that, mistersprinkles recommended 4X4GB DDR3 2133, but Win 8.1 64 bit can handle 32GB of Ram (I think). Wouldn't I be better off with 2X8GB Ram on a MB with four slots, then I can upgrade another 2X8GB later if I need it.

Yes. 4x4GB offers no advantage over 2x8GB.

 

[Cerb]

Less parts, and no video card:

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4690K 3.5GHz Quad-Core Processor ($239.99 @ Newegg)
Motherboard: Asus SABERTOOTH Z97 MARK2 ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($165.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Memory: Mushkin Stealth 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-1600 Memory ($65.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.97 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: NZXT H230 (Black) ATX Mid Tower Case ($69.99 @ Newegg)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($94.99 @ B&H)
Total: $715.91
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-06 09:21 EDT-0400

Faster RAM, like 2000MHz+, is not warranted if you have a video card. However, the added bandwidth can be helpful if you use the IGP, and stress it. Likewise, 1x8GB v. 2x4GB makes no difference to speak of with a video card, but double the bandwidth can help the IGP. That kit was among the cheapest I saw that works at 1.5V (the standard), and runs faster via XMP profiles (like SPD, built-in settings the motherboard can work with). By some serendipity, it has $14 off w/ the NZXT H230, at NE. Kits using overvolted RAM of unknown bin I'm just not keen on for Intel CPUs (like the 1.65V kits).

Similar 16GB kit.

I also can't disagree about MicroATX, though the case selection is still a bit limited. I use a MicroATX board in a MicroATX case, myself. It would mean getting a motherboard less feature-packed for the money, of course.

Similar MicroATX (slightly slower CPU, but, only slightly):

PCPartPicker part list / Price breakdown by merchant

CPU: Intel Core i5-4460 3.2GHz Quad-Core Processor ($177.98 @ SuperBiiz)
Motherboard: ASRock H97M PRO4 Micro ATX LGA1150 Motherboard ($81.98 @ Newegg)
Memory: G.Skill Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) DDR3-2133 Memory ($82.99 @ Newegg)
Storage: Crucial MX100 256GB 2.5" Solid State Drive ($109.97 @ SuperBiiz)
Case: Fractal Design Define Mini MicroATX Mini Tower Case ($98.74 @ Amazon)
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 8.1 (32/64-bit) ($94.99 @ B&H)
Total: $646.65
Prices include shipping, taxes, and discounts when available
Generated by PCPartPicker 2014-10-06 09:35 EDT-0400

Change of case for a bit fairer pricing, since the NZXT is both $70 by itself, plus had a deal going for it. The Define Mini is a very good case, mind you. The NZXT H230 is not the superior case (unless you prefer the looks of it 😉), but is a good value, ATM. For MicroATX, the Fractal Design Arc Mini is also a good one. The Corsair 350D isn't bad, but I don't like that they do not include a top cover, which is a fair risk if the PC will be on the floor, IMO.

The Bitfenix Prodigy, Silverstone SG10, and Silversone TJ08-E/PS07 (same case, w/ bezels and intake fans being different) are also good cases, but can be a bit tricky to build in.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Thanks VirtualLarry & Carson Dyle. So, it looks like I will have to go with the new OS then. Bummer. Might as well go large and get Win 8.1 64bit like mistersprinkles recommended. Quick question on that, mistersprinkles recommended 4X4GB DDR3 2133, but Win 8.1 64 bit can handle 32GB of Ram (I think). Wouldn't I be better off with 2X8GB Ram on a MB with four slots, then I can upgrade another 2X8GB later if I need it. If I go with 4X4GB and I want to upgrade, I have to take out all four and replace them. 4X4GB and 2X8GB sell for just about the same amount, seems logical to go with the two eights to start out. Am I wrong?

From your previous posts, it's pretty unlikely you'll be able to use much more than 8GB, so if you do 2x4GB now, you'll still be able to go to 4x4GB later and have 16GB.

Also, I already have a DVD burner, all set in that department.

IDE or SATA? If it's IDE you're pretty much SOL. But like I said, you don't really even need an optical drive today unless you actually need to play (or rip) DVDs or CDs, which not everyone does.

 

[hoyaguru]

From your previous posts, it's pretty unlikely you'll be able to use much more than 8GB, so if you do 2x4GB now, you'll still be able to go to 4x4GB later and have 16GB.



IDE or SATA? If it's IDE you're pretty much SOL. But like I said, you don't really even need an optical drive today unless you actually need to play (or rip) DVDs or CDs, which not everyone does.

My DVD burner is SATA, so I'm in good shape there.

 

[hoyaguru]

Woohoo, I'm back up and running... for the moment. Tried just about everything with my old PC, could not even get into the CMOS, it would count up the memory and stop. Swapped out everything on the board, cleared the CMOS, nothing worked. Just for the hell of it, I tried hooking up an old IDE hard drive, and it worked. Got into CMOS, set everything back up, hooked up the SATA drives, and nothing worked again. Before it got to CMOS, it said something about searching for IDE drives, and hung there. So, I hooked up a little 20GB IDE drive and both of my SATA drives, set one of the SATA drives as the boot drive in CMOS, and now I can get into Windows. As soon as I disconnect the IDE drive, I can't boot up any more, so I'll just leave it plugged in. I guess somewhere this makes sense...

Anyway, at least I'm not so frantic to get a new system, I can take a little time to research all the info you great folks have given me, and pick parts with a little more knowledge instead of rushing through the purchase. Thank god for Anandtech, where else can you get answers to frantic computer questions at 3AM. Thanks again for everyone's help, I'm off to back up as much as possible before this dinosaur dies out again.

 

[mfenn]

Thanks VirtualLarry & Carson Dyle. So, it looks like I will have to go with the new OS then. Bummer. Might as well go large and get Win 8.1 64bit like mistersprinkles recommended. Quick question on that, mistersprinkles recommended 4X4GB DDR3 2133, but Win 8.1 64 bit can handle 32GB of Ram (I think). Wouldn't I be better off with 2X8GB Ram on a MB with four slots, then I can upgrade another 2X8GB later if I need it. If I go with 4X4GB and I want to upgrade, I have to take out all four and replace them. 4X4GB and 2X8GB sell for just about the same amount, seems logical to go with the two eights to start out. Am I wrong?

Also, I already have a DVD burner, all set in that department.

If you're coming from a 2GB machine, an 8GB kit like Cerb recommended will feel ridiculously spacious. I'd start with that. However, if you really want to go for 16GB, then 2x8GB is definitely the way to go.

Regarding the OS, times change and you've got to adapt. In my opinion, it's easier to do that incrementally than putting it off and being faced with a huge shift all at once. So I'd look at Windows 7 right now, you can use it pretty much the same as you did with XP.

Eventually you'll get used to the new features and wonder why you stuck with XP for so long. I literally cannot use XP these days without getting irritated because it is missing so much. For example, Start -> Type to run is mandatory for power users who don't like taking their hands off the keyboard.