upgrade build

stishdr

stishdr

New Member
Ok, I wasnt' going to upgrade my mobo, i was going to do the cpu, psu, vidcard(pci),add some RAM and use my HDD cause it now has Vista(reason im upgrading) . i've decided to go w/ a mobo switch also, it will work with all parts im getting, except now i can have an AGP card, so...my question is, will it be easy to do this..what exactly do i do, do i just plug it all in..and then download drivers and such since my OS is on the HDD already? i need help, thank you.
 
because i wanted to stay w/ the socket 478, cheaper, cause i dont have to much money right now, and i dont mind agp, im not a HUGE gamer..just like to play a few games...im a college student so ya.
 
so, is it pretty much just plug and go since my OS is on the hard drive already..? will i need to select boot from HDD in the bios when i first start up? or will i have to throw in my DVD and do a re-install...i hear that i can do one "huge" re-install w/ my serial code before i have to call and get a reactivation code.
 
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Hey..sorry I didn't respond right away..I was doing some work..anyway...

Why don't you go AMD? If you get a S939 board and chip, you'll be able to get a decent CPU at an excellent price, and be able to go PCI-E x16 as well.

As for OS..booting up the OS from the old HDD with all new parts will be touchy. Seeing as the parts are all new, you'll probably run into alot of issues. Your best option would be to just format and reinstall, if that's an option. Otherwise, just a fresh install. As for your last query, theh latter is correct if you are using Vista. However, if you are using XP, you shouldn't run into problems when you try to reinstall it on your new(ish) comp. If you do run into problems, you can always call up Microsoft and I'm sure they'll give you a reactivation code, or whatever they're calling it.
 
would this work...since it's the same socket mobo, could i put my ram in now, then the new cpu so vista recognizes that as what is in there, then all i have to deal with right away would be installing the mobo, and when i do that...prob. have to stick my dvd in, etc...
 
Even though it is the same socket, it is a different motherboard. When you swap motherboards, there are usually issues unless you reinstall windows. Also, you haven't told us your budget.
 
Well...for the budget issue, i pretty much know what im all getting since im staying with the socket 478, but here's the list:
cpu: P4 3.0E Prescott w/HT upgrade from celeron 2.9ghz
psu:coolmax 500w
RAM: 1gb patriot signature (will have total 1.5gb)
cpu fan: Thermaltake TR2TT w/ artic 5
possible mobo:BIOSTAR P4M80-M4 Socket 478
HDD: same, has vista on it, would do reinstall when upgrade mobo
video card w/new mobo: HIS X1650pro 512
videocard w/old mobo: Diamond x1300 GDDR2 256pci

Even though i did an upgrade from XP, will i be able to reinstall or do a clean install when i pop the dvd in?
 
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I'm not very good at this as you can tell, i've never done this before. I'm a lil nervous about the mobo and reinstall of windows, the version of vista i have on dvd is from a msdn download i got for free..yay for school there...so yea, i have the dvd and serial code from b4, will this re-install still work? should i find someone who know what they're doing to help me? thanks
 
For about the same price, if you went AMD S939 you would get a pretty big performance increase...

Reinstalling Windows shouldn't wipe your drive, and hence anything you have on it (Vista) shouldn't be erased...
 
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