My Rebuild/Upgrade Plans: The Shopping List

[FluxCapacitor]

Okay, currently I have a prebuilt Gateway 812GM Media Center. I have bene fine with it for a while but have started really wanting to speed it up. I got an ATI Radeon X850Pro AGP, a Soundblaster X-Fi sound card and just today I put in 2GB DDR 400 RAM, along with the AMD 64 3200+ that came with it. I figured it should be hot stuff now..but I noticed the RAM didnt make a huge difference, and one look at my motherboard info and I know why. The sucker is running the RAM at PC 2700 (333mhz) and doesn't support dual channels. Damn!

Plus, I have been itching to go to a PCI-E GPU but I am stuck with this AGP only mobo.

So...I belive the time has come to part this baby out and rebuild it.

First I need to go with a new case, and I think this one will do nicely:

RAIDMAX Sagitta ATX-921WBP Black/Silver

And of course a much better mobo will be needed. PCI-E, DDR 400 support, SATA and perferably 3 or 4GB max RAM capacity. I have found this one, which has everything I want but the RAM capacity, but I may just let that go as 2 is pretty nice already.

BIOSTAR NF4 4X-A7 Socket 754

I will need to find a way to get rid of the X850Pro. I paid a pretty penny for it ($279) so I'd like to get at least some of that back. I found a great looking PCI-E version for about $100 less than I paid for the AGP!

ATI Radeon X850XT

Once I have that I can swap out the processor, memory, DVD drives, soundcard (and then either use my exisiting hard drive or go with a bigger SATA.) from the Gateway and be all set. My reason for posting this is to find out if maybe I am forgetting something. I am curious as to is the processor will be able to be swapped. The mobo I posted is a Socket 754 as is my current board, so I assume it will be a straight over swap. ANyway thanks in advance for any advice or tips.

 

[ceewi1]

but have started really wanting to speed it up

Speed it up in what? Games?

I noticed the RAM didnt make a huge difference

How much RAM did you have before, and what programs are you using to judge the difference?

and doesn't support dual channels.

S754 doesn't support dual channel - you won't be able to use it with your new system either.

So...I belive the time has come to part this baby out and rebuild it.

To be honest, I don't think it's worth the money. Unless you upgrade to a reasonably good S939 based system (new CPU), I doubt you'd notice the difference.

3 or 4GB max RAM capacity.

3-4GB of RAM on this sort of system is utterly wasted, I wouldn't bother looking for it.

I will need to find a way to get rid of the X850Pro. I paid a pretty penny for it ($279) so I'd like to get at least some of that back.

Ebay?

I am curious as to is the processor will be able to be swapped. The mobo I posted is a Socket 754 as is my current board, so I assume it will be a straight over swap.

Yes.

Overall, TBH, I think this is going to become a fairly expensive way of getting a relatively insignificant upgrade. S754 is pretty much dead, so there's no way to upgrade from there. If you're desperate for an upgrade, i'd be inclined to get a reasonable S939 based system, and sell your current CPU. Depending on your expectations, though, your system is quite good already. Have you looked at the software side of things to determine if anything is slowing your system down? E.g. viruses, spyware. Before you buy a new system, you may want to try reformatting your current one, as it may be just what's needed to give it a new lease on life.

 

[FluxCapacitor]

I'd like to speed it up a bit more for games but also for Photoshop and video editing programs.

I had 1GB before, but it was a mix of a 333mhz 512 and a 400mhz 512. I had no idea the 754 didn't support dual channel, but I expected having two of the exact same speeds would make a difference. I tried one of my graphic intensive games before the memory swap and after and the framerates really weren't all that much different. In fact I almost felt like the whole system was running slower with the new memory, but it could just all be in my head.

I am checking for any software issues like viruses and have considered a fresh reformat. My only issue with that is I have a lot of software on the HD that I don't exactly have the original CD for and don't want to lose it all. I have tried backing up programs before but they always seem to need the setup files.

 

[FluxCapacitor]

Well, I'll need to save up a lot more but perhaps this mobo/processor pair will do me better?


Motherboard
Processor

I am mostly going by price, quality and what speed I can get from them.

I feel rather silly thinking my Gateway was fast at all, when it apparently is using dead technology.

One question, would I be able to use the Windows XP disc from my Gateway on this new system? I'd reeeally rather not have to purchase Media Center XP for it.

 

[ceewi1]

Well, I'll need to save up a lot more but perhaps this mobo/processor pair will do me better?


Motherboard
Processor

I am mostly going by price, quality and what speed I can get from them.

Yes, they're quite good, but it's worth considering either the DFI NF4 Ultra Infinity or better yet, the Asus A8R-MVP. The A8R-MVP in particular is well worth the extra few dollars.

One question, would I be able to use the Windows XP disc from my Gateway on this new system? I'd reeeally rather not have to purchase Media Center XP for it.

Is it an actual XP CD or is it a recovery disc?

 

[FluxCapacitor]

It is a Recovery disc.