I have a question on building....

[suitcase]

Do you think it would be possible to build a new pc and use all the drives from my son's old one? It's a gateway PIII 1ghz. I know it has integrated gpu and sound but thats basicly all I know about it. Or.......... could I upgrade his gateway by installing a new mobo, ram, cpu and use everything else in his case?

[Force Flow]

If you got a new motherboard, CPU, RAM, and possibly a video card (if you don't want onboard video), and keep everything else, I think it would be okay. Just make sure what kind of ATX case it is (full, mid, etc.) and get a motherboard to fit it. That shouldn't be too much of a problem though.

If the HDD spins at 5400rmp, I'd strongly advise getting a 7200rmp one. By looking at the speed and model of the processor, I'm pretty sure you'll have a 7200rpm drive.

When I build my PC, I saved a PCI firewire card, zip drive and CD-ROM drive from my old PC. Those don't change much.

[Cricket]

Hi suitcase,

It's possible to re-use some of the parts from the Gateway PC, but you might not be able to re-use the case or power supply. The case might be a standard ATX case or it might be made to only fit a proprietary Gateway motherboard. The motherboard power connector from the Gateway power supply might be wired differently from a standard ATX power connector too...it could fry your new motherboard if it's doesn't follow the standard ATX wiring layout.

If the Gateway is an older one it might follow the standard ATX format, but the newer ones might be more proprietary.

It might be easier to just go with a standard ATX case and power supply, install the new parts and then transfer the parts you want from the Gateway.

Cricket

[Force Flow]

Gateway wires their PSUs specially?

[suitcase]

Ok, thanks for the info. suitcase

[i3OSS]

look into enlight cases, quality psu and cheap price.

[suitcase]

Do the drives just screw in or does it have the snap in rail type.

[glc]

Enlight cases use a rail system for the 5.25" bays - you screw a rail onto each side of the drive then slide it into the case from the front. The 3.5" bay is a cage that holds 3 drives which slides in and out on rails, you screw the drives into the cage.

[easyco16]

I dont think Dell uses a case that only fits their mobo's, so gateway shouldnt either no? just check anyway and be sure about everythuing before you start the build.

[glc]

easyco: be careful there - Dell is the one who does use proprietary cases - in fact, some of their "ATX" power supplies have a nonstandard pinout on the motherboard connector!

[suitcase]

Haven't been here for a while, but Hal is right concerning the Dell PSes. Just read that today in a mag.