Upgrade/new build advice?
I've been given a computer that I want to upgrade slowly over the next few of months. The specs are:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 400+
2GB DDR2
ASRock N61P-S mobo
GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
120GB Maxtor IDE hard drive
This is replacing the old computer that was being used on and off since I joined Icrontic. Anyway, the Maxtor hard drive is a bit noisy. Any suggestions for a quiet and fast hard drive between 500GB-1TB? Budget is between £50-£60. I will probably be purchasing from Scan
Thanks.
AMD Athlon 64 X2 400+
2GB DDR2
ASRock N61P-S mobo
GeForce 6150SE nForce 430
120GB Maxtor IDE hard drive
This is replacing the old computer that was being used on and off since I joined Icrontic. Anyway, the Maxtor hard drive is a bit noisy. Any suggestions for a quiet and fast hard drive between 500GB-1TB? Budget is between £50-£60. I will probably be purchasing from Scan
Thanks.
0
Comments
I will get the WD7502AAEX as it looks a good match. Any reason why the WD6401AALS is slightly more expensive?
I have not purchased the hard drive yet, although I will likely get the Samsung soon.
However, a slight issue with the computer described in my initial post. I decided to open the case and have a look around, but now the computer will not display anything upon switching it on. It seems to power on as the fans are spinning. I have reseated the memory and checked all cables are secure.
I don't have another memory stick to test against. Any help?
I think the on board graphics card has somehow messed up as the monitor shows a very faint fuzzy screen before it fades and says "Going to sleep". What do you think?
Thanks.
Should I get a cheap video card to test with? Or get a better card that can be used for the new system?
Thanks.
Hope this helps out a bit man.
As for the new build, I don't have a set budget as I will be buying the components each month so there is flexibility. I aim to spend approx. £150-£200 each month. If it is easier to work within a budget, I would say around £500-600.
Etailers:
Scan
Ebuyer
Amazon.co.uk
The computer will be used for usual things (Internet, Office, music, films, CD burning). Playing games occasionally. Currently testing with VMWare and Virtual PC (these two ran like s*** with the above PC)
I have a USB keyboard, mouse and a Windows 7 CD. Also have a SATA DVD-Rom drive that can be used.
Not expecting a super machine, but something better than above PC. This will be my first complete build.
Any questions, let me know. Thanks.
Also, my whole computer build (minus the graphics card and hard drives, which I already had) came to just under 600$ Canadian with tax...
I have attempted to compile an AMD system using advice from this thread and from Thrax in another thread. This is what I have:
Case: Antec 300 - Dabs - £46.99
CPU: AMD Phenom II X4 965 Black - Dabs - £99.00
Mobo: Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD3 - Dabs - £119.98
RAM: Corsair Memory Vengeance Black 4GB DDR3 1600 - Scan - £34.08
Hard Drive: 1Tb Western Digital WD1001FAES - Scan - £47.96
GPU: have no idea on which to pick.
PSU: Corsair CMPSU-600CXv2 Builder Series 600W – Dabs - £49.99
DVD-Rom: Sony Optical DVD Writer, AD-7260S-0B - Scan - £14.87 or PIONEER DVR-S19LBK - Scan - £17.98
Total = £415.99
Apart from selecting a graphics card, I'm also looking for a new monitor which I will likely purchase last.
Any advice on the above? I will try and compile an Intel system shortly.
Edit: fixed error with PSU and corrected price.
Honestly, I don't know if I'd advise anyone to shove a 69xx (Over 11" cards) card in there, maybe think more around the 68xx (Around 9.5") line, or perhaps consider a slightly larger case. It's not that the longer cards won't fit, it just takes up drive bay space as the back end of the card will interfer with anything you try to put into those bays.
In that case with that board, I'd actually consider a pair of 6770's or 6850's a better power build strategy vs. shoving a single long card into those bays.
Would thermal paste be necessary for a new processor?
What surface is best to do the build and what to avoid?
#1 I've used one with no problems.
#2 If you're using a HSF that's not the stock one, yeah. Even if you are using the stock HSF I would scrape the thermal paste/tape off and use some better stuff.
#3 You can't go wrong with a wooden table.
2) Yes.
3) No cloth/vinyl.
Thanks for the replies.
2) Arctic Silver is common and fine for average use.
2) This thermal paste good to get?
2) That's fine.