To upgrade or build is the question

[KeithA]

Hello everybody, can someone please help this first timer get the speed I need. I have a Compaq s4020wm(wal-mart I suppose) desktop that is 5yrs old and sooo slow. My question is can I keep the windows XP 32bit OS on my 40G hard drive I have and upgrade the mobo ,processor,case and power supply? I saw a supercombo deal on Newegg.com for $299 minus the OS and hard drive, but they said they can't guarantee the compatibility. If I can't upgrade can you suggest a budget build around $400 since this will be my first build, AMD processor prefered. Also I'm not into gaming and know nothing about OCing, which is what the combo seem to be about. I just want decent speed and upgradability. Any help would be appreciated.
Phenom II X2 555/MSI 770 OC SuperCombo


Enjoy overclocking with AMD black edition CPU and MSI OC Genie




Combo Discount: -$29.96
Combo Price: $299.99



Save $29.96 when purchased together
Antec One Hundred :$59.99
MSI 870-G45 :$69.99
Antec EA500 :$64.99
AMD HDZ555WFGMBOX :$89.99
G.SKILL F3-10666CL9D-4GBNQ :$44.99
Combined Total:$329.95
Combo Discounts:-$29.96
Combo Price:ty of the parts.

[PiousDevil]

The phenom II BE is a very good processor, and just because it's easily overclockable doesn't mean that you have to overclock it.

That old hard drive you have is going to be a huge bottleneck, and is really probably a large part of why that old junkbucket you're running is so damn slow.

Here is a supercombo with everything that you'll need (albeit a weak onboard video chipset, but you're not gaming anyway). Unfortunately, the mobo is out of stock so the combo is currently unavailable, but keep an eye on it, maybe it will come back in stock before the sale ends ($284 until 2/8). You'll still need an OS, get windows 7 home premium 64 bit OEM version, on sale for $89 at NewEgg (with promo code EMCKHKG22).

Newegg.com - Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptop Computers, LED LCD TV, Digital Cameras and more!

That athlon II quad core will be more firepower than you'll ever need.

[EzyStvy]

It wouldn't be legal to re-use the Compaq OS on the non Compaq machine.

[glc]

Build new from scratch, there is nothing in that system suitable for reuse. $400 is not going to be enough. Sorry.

[David M]

Even if it was legal, the way the OS is configured on your current hard drive, it will not work on a different motherboard/chipset.

Windows 7 Home Premium OEM is $100 if you want to build your own.

If you want faster, you might want to have a look at refurbished Dell's in the $400 price range. They will not be screaming fast, not at $400, but they will be faster than what you have.

[glc]

I could actually recommend a $400 build for you WITHOUT an operating system that would be halfway decent, but it would have a very limited future upgrade path, just like your Compaq.

[Nikon]

as for alternate OS's, if you are willing to learn something new, i would say go with Linux Mint. it is very user friendly, and nearly anything can be done via the GUI (rather than having to learn the linux command line). also, its free.

it also has a very nifty feature called 'mint install', which gives you a rather large, and completely searchable/refineable list of software that can be downloaded/installed for free with just a couple of mouse clicks. one of these is called Wine, which allows you to run windows based programs on linux, making it that much more appealing to people on a budget.

if this is something you might consider, goto Main Page - Linux Mint, under downloads get the top one (says Live DvD). you can burn it to a dvd and boot from it and try linux without having to format your HDD and wipe out windows, so you can test to see if you like it without commiting to it.

[David M]

You could also partition a drive and put Linux on one partition and Windows on the other, if you want to learn Linux and have a computer that runs Windows software as well.

Call me biased but I do not see Linux as a substitute for Windows for people who just want their computer to work without going through big fuss or having to learn a lot of stuff.

Partitioning would be the best of both worlds..a computer that can get work done immediately and teaching yourself how to get Linux to work in your spare time.

[Nuclear Krusader]

You're not being biased David, you're being realistic.

[glc]

I do not see Linux as a substitute for Windows for people who just want their computer to work without going through big fuss or having to learn a lot of stuff.

I do, as long as they do not need to run Windows-specific software and are happy with the software that's available for Linux. What is not realistic is asking people like that to dual boot or run an emulator or a VM.

[KeithA]

Hey thanks, that combo would have done the trick, to bad one of the parts was out of stock.

[KeithA]

Thanks glc, because that dual boot and virtual environment setup is waaay over my head,maybe they forgot I'm new at this but I appreciate their thought. That Compaq I have is going to stay in my back room for Microsoft Works purposes and other programs that will not work on my Toshiba laptop running Vista. Since I already have a working laptop,plus I'm on a budget and in no real hurry to build, tell me a good mobo,AMD processor I can get now. Also include a case (tool-less) desired, with psu on-board. Win 7, hard drive dvd drive and monitor and what ever else needed can be purchased later. And thanks everybody for taking the time to look at my situation.

[PiousDevil]

This should be good. Check the mobo manufacturer's memory QVL for that board, newegg doesn't guarantee combos (though even if it's not listed it will most likely be fine.) Some people will question the thermaltake PSU, but i've never had any problems with them, my PSU is pretty solid, I'm not sure why the hate.

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/1895/build1u.png

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/4859/buildprice.png

[Nuclear Krusader]

That's a boxed processor and no aftermarket cooler is needed.

[David M]

Originally Posted by glc I do, as long as they do not need to run Windows-specific software and are happy with the software that's available for Linux. What is not realistic is asking people like that to dual boot or run an emulator or a VM.

Are you saying that learning Linux is easier than learning how to create a dual boot system? That's why I made the suggestion of creating a dual boot drive and loading Linux on one and Windows on the other. Windows will work right away for someone who already knows Windows basics and then they can play around with Linux learning how that works.

[PiousDevil]

Originally Posted by Nuclear Krusader That's a boxed processor and no aftermarket cooler is needed.

that was actually in my cart for my uses and I didn't want to take it out and lose track of it, and figured it's never a bad idea to upgrade your heatsink

[David M]

Stock heat sinks actually work very well if you are not interested in overclocking. They also preserve the warranty on your CPU. Intel and AMD know not to provide junk heat sinks.

[PiousDevil]

Originally Posted by David M Stock heat sinks actually work very well if you are not interested in overclocking. They also preserve the warranty on your CPU. Intel and AMD know not to provide junk heat sinks.

yeah, I've been wanting to dabble with overlocking (phenom II 965 on Asus M4a79XTD EVO), and during stress test (prime 95) before any OC my CPU temperature got up to 65c before I aborted. Somewhat concerned.

[PiousDevil]

holy crap, I joined this forum in 2007?

[glc]

The system you recommended is almost $550. To the original poster, are we still looking at a $400 budget? What would have to be included in the budget in addition to the case and its contents?

We don't HATE Thermaltake PSU's, we just don't think they are that great. They are not noted for having much power on the +12v rail. I'll use them for AGP builds but not PCI-E. If I want a cheapo, I'll get an Antec Basiq.

[KeithA]

Whatever you suggest would be fine since $400 won't get me much. I'd just like to be able to upgrade in 3yrs or so without having to do another complete build. Let's stay around $500 or less if at all possible, like I said this would be my first build and I don't want to put much money in it if something goes wrong, just want to get my feet wet.

[glc]

Okay, now what needs to be included in the $500 in addition to the case and contents?

[KeithA]

I guess that's it, I have a monitor,mouse,keyboard and 2.1 speaker system. I've been reading other posts where people are building gaming rigs around $400, all I want is a basic system to surf the web, do a little light multi tasking and things like that plus be able to upgrade the parts later down the road. I know I can go to Wal-Mart and buy a Emachines pre-built system with everything in it for $298 but I also know better. I'm like a lot of other people, I know what to expect from a pre- built system, but I'm a lost ball in high weeds when it comes to pairing parts for a build. I'd like to hear what that $400 build would have in it. I'm not sure what you were refering to when you said " besides the case and contents but I hope that the above was what you were talking about, so please be patient with my lack of knowledge and thanks again everyone.

[quartet-man]

Does the $500. also include the OS?

[glc]

Here is an upgradeable system with an entry-level gaming card for $460, without an operating system:

Newegg.com - GIGABYTE gz-ph2a3 Black SGCC ATX Mid Tower Computer Case

Newegg.com - Antec Basiq BP430 430W Continuous Power ATX12V Version 2.2 80 PLUS Certified Active PFC Power Supply

Newegg.com - ASUS P7H55-M LX LGA 1156 Intel H55 Micro ATX Intel Motherboard

Newegg.com - Intel Pentium G6950 Clarkdale 2.8GHz 3MB L3 Cache LGA 1156 73W Dual-Core Desktop Processor BX80616G6950

Newegg.com - CORSAIR XMS3 4GB (2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Dual Channel Kit Desktop Memory Model TW3X4G1333C9

Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar Black WD5001AALS 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal Hard Drive -Bare Drive

Newegg.com - LG Black 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 16X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM SATA DVD Burner - Bulk - CD / DVD Burners

Newegg.com - ASUS EAH5670/DI/512MD5/V2 Radeon HD 5670 512MB 128-bit DDR5 PCI Express 2.1 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card