Do i need a hardrive?

[pyro786]

So i'm building a new computer. I have a good mobo, a 6800 gt, 1gb of patriot dual channel ram, and an athlon x2 3800. Do i need to buy a new harddrive, or can i just put my old one in? I'd really love to not have to start everything over again; reinstalling programs, getting my music, and all that jazz. Thanks guys.

[freakitchen]

You'll be able to re-use your old hard drive, but it would make a lot of sense to perform a repair install of Windows. This will give you a clean template, ready for new hardware drivers, but will keep your data intact. It will require re-installs of your programmes however.

FK

[pyro786]

How do i do that?

[glc]

No, a repair install does not require programs be reinstalled - it only needs new drivers and service packs and windows updates.

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=151522

[pyro786]

wow... Thanks alot guys. That was super speedy.
So should i do this before i put in my old hard drive?

[freakitchen]

No, a repair install does not require programs be reinstalled - it only needs new drivers and service packs and windows updates.

Thanks for that info, glc.

So should i do this before i put in my old hard drive?

No, you should put the drive in your new computer to perform the repair install. You'll need to boot from the Windows CD first, so it can detect the current install on the drive. To do this, change the boot order in the bios, so that your CD-ROM drive is before the Hard Drive. Then have the CD in the drive as you reboot, and press any key when it prompts you.

FK

[glc]

You can probably avoid the repair install if you change the IDE drivers as indicated before removing the drive from the old computer. It would make sense to remove whatever drivers and software you can for hardware that's not making the move.

[pyro786]

Wow. So i may not even have to do the repair install after all?

[pyro786]

Hello?
Also, i need a mobo that will support a dual core 3800, but also has an agp slot for my 6800. From what i gather, the nforce series is the fastest. I beleive the best board for me is this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...30#DetailSpecs
Unfortunately, it's out of stock. If anybody can find this for me, or can find a better board for my needs, i will be very thankful.

[glc]

That's the best one out there - and hard to find right now. Wait till someone gets it back in - both Newegg and Zipzoomfly have auto notifiers.

[pyro786]

Great. All my other parts are on the way, but i can't find my mobo. Is this really the best for me? Do nforce3 chipsets really have an advantage of uli and whatnot?

EDIT: I know its not nforce3, but this one also has a pci-e if i want to upgrade my agp card. Will it support a dual core amd 3800?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813157081

[pyro786]

bump

[jayb1234]

Nvidia chipsets are much better than uli.

[glc]

Will it support a dual core amd 3800?

Go to Asrock's website and look it up - if they have a CPU compatibility chart - most decent motherboard manufacturers do.

That Asrock board is getting decent reviews in spite of (my opinion) the ULi chipset. However, Asrock is a low end manufacturer so I don't trust the quality or reliability.