twolves90

Signature has my current specs.

I want to upgrade to:

Gigabyte Mobo LGA 775 here
E6400 Intel Core 2 Duo here
ZALMAN CPU Fan here
1 GB RAM here
eVGA 7600GT here
Rosewill 550W PSU here

If I upgrade to these parts in my system, I don't HAVE to upgrade HDD, correct? Which means I don't have to buy XP, right?
I hope so.

What would I, an average comp-user, need to be precautioned about when replacing these parts?

Thx

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Current:
Intel Core 2 Duo e6400
ASUS P5B Deluxe / Wifi (Socket 775) Mobo + ZALMAN CNPS9500
Corsair XMS2 3 GB ddr2 800 (2 x 512MB) + (2 x 1GB) PC2 6400
eVGA 8800 GTS 320MB & Antec 500W PSU
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy 7.1 Channels
Seagate 120 GB 7200 rpm HDD 3 GB/sec
Windows XP Home Ed
Cooler Master Centurion 5 Blue/Black+Window Case
LG Dual Layer DVD RW & LiteOn DVD R - - - I've finished 5 builds so far! P.S. XP > Vista

PC eye

If you are currently running 98 or ME you will run into problems with board drivers. With the current boards having 2K/XP support only with Vista coming out soon. Upon finishing the build you may still have to reinstall Windows due to the amount of hardwares being swapped.

The power supply is the questionable item there however. That's a world apart from an Antec TP II or TP III 550w supply as well as some other good brands. Patriot is a rather recent brand of memory to emerge from somewhere. I am currently the Zalman cpu cooler here with satifactory results. So you know that's a good choice. Just make sure you use some Artic Silver or even the new Liquid Pro that's supposed to be better? then AS5.

ceewi1

Firstly, that board is not compatible with an E6400. Here's a good alternative: Gigabyte 965P-S3.

You don't need to upgrade the hard drive, but you should run at least a repair reinstall of Windows.

As for the PSU, it's OK, but not the best. The Sunbeam Nuuo 550W is better at the same price.

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Cheap PSUs - 2% of system costs, responsible for 28% of system deaths