Noob MoBo Install

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dave_w

New Member
Hi, I've been lurking for a while, and finally have a question.

I've never done a MoBo swap before, and recently concluded that my Intel D85GLC just isn't doing it anymore. My current, still mostly-uninformed intent is to upgrade to a modern `board with PCI-e, preferably with the possibility of SLI capability later.

So far, I'm thinking I want an Asus board with an AMD CPU (also a new PSU, at least 500-watt). My question is two-fold:

-Will switching from my current Pentium 4 3.2GHz HT to a current AMD make the process any more complex than sticking with a Pentium Dual-Core?

-I care not for my data! My laptop has all my important data on it as well, and I can afford to do a clean Windows XP install (I even have a spare copy of Windows lying around). How well does the Microsoft-recommended clean install procedure work? I really don't want to take any chances, due to my level of inexperience. Aside from forcing the BIOS to look at Drive C for Windows data, what else will I have to do in those mystical menus?

All I really want is to get the new hardware running. For reference, I'm competent enough to swap video cards all willy-nilly, and I can change out a hard drive without too much trouble.
 
It would be about as complicated to do both (and neither are complicated). Installing xp is easy. Just make sure you have your hard drive set to master and on the primary channel (unless its sata then even that doesnt matter!) and put the xp cd in and boot from that, it tells you exactly what to do and takes 30-40 mins normally. Don't forget about your RAM.
 
Thanks for the response, I really appreciate it. So, my current thinking, assuming I am not horribly uninformed is that, after pulling off whatever stuff I DO want to save...

1-I insert Windows Boot CD, click "Repair Current Install", and shut the computer down.

2-Open the case, strip off the old cards, the power supply, then the motherboard, making sure I label where every line and cable went.

3-Put the new CPU into the new motherboard, install the CPU fan, then plug in all those wires and cables, then pop in the new video card and my old PCI sound card.

4-Double-check everything. Say prayer.

5-Turn on computer, go into BIOS, and set it to look at Drive C for OS data first, and make sure HD is set to Master. My hardware will autodetect itself, and I reformat the old hard drive, install a clean copy of Windows, and everything will begin working itself out, bearing in mind I may have to reactivate Windows or resort to my spare copy.

6-Open bottle. Consume beer. Repeat a necessary until hands stop shaking. reinstall software I feel like keeping.

If that's it, then I'm ready to rumble. Right now I'm leaning towards a bundled Asus MN32 SLI board and AMD Athlon 64 FX62 2.8GHz chip, starting off with 2GB of DDR2 and a 500-watt power supply. If all goes well and I still feel confident after all this, I may at some point replace the case with a clear-sided one to show off all my neat stuff.
 
I would recommend that you get an Core 2 Duo first.

Motherboard switching is easy. Unscrew unscrew, unplug unplug, then just screw screw plug plug and your done :D.

Budget?
 
Thanks for the replies, guys. Oscary, is there any reason to go with the Core 2 Duo over the AMD Athlon 64 FX-62? I have a Core 2 Duo in my laptop now, so I'm not opposed to Intel's products, I'd just thought I'd give AMD a twirl.

My purchasing plans:

Asus M2N-E SLI motherboard/AMD Athlon 64 FX-62 2.8GHz package...$260
OCZ GameXStream 700-Watt PSU...$135
OCZ Platinum Revision-2 DDR2 800MHz...$60
XFX GeForce 8800 GTS 320MB DDR3...$275

Total price...$720

I went a touch over my budget by spending on the video card (in order to step up to an 8800-series. I may end up just not going SLI, but the capability is there, and that's what I'm really interested in--the ability to go farther if I have to somewhere down the road.

Any thoughts on the package? I'm growing somewhat confident in my ability to pull this off. This is, quite possibly, dangerous.
 
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You may have a problem validating Windows. I'm not sure if MS will give you a go-ahead on the board/cpu or not.
Bronson7
 
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