Can ya mix and match?

Can you mix and match old hardware with new for example an old harddrive with a new mother board or should i go the other way all new??? I'd like NOT to go all new I am a little stuck for cash, how long does it take to build and complete a PC??? First Time also?

[DragonNOA1]

For best performance and compatibility you would usually want your motherboard to be the "newest". But besides that you sure can mix and match computer parts.

To build your first PC, I would say probably anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour or two. Just depends if you take your time and the read manuals and such. But that is just hardware, you would still need to install the OS and all the software. That will take hours for sure to get everything the way you like it.

REALLY!, Thanks I tohught a few weeks or something but I guess getting the parts etc. Will take time and trouble shooting, and thanks for answering my question.

[TwoRails]

I very rarely do a complete build for my own systems. They all evolve as budget will allow: a new monitor here, a hard drive there, a new mobo when I can, and so on.

As DragonNOA1 indicates, the *actual* time for a build can vary, especially on how you "count" the time. If it's your first build, I would count on at least a 1/2 day. I count software install in the total time. Just loading Windows can take 35 - 45 minutes alone, and that doesn't include vid drivers, sound drivers, mobo drivers, downloading and installing the latest drivers of the above drivers, Windows Security and general Updates, and so on. Just that part can take hours, depending on you download speed and the like. Then you have to install all your software you will be using, and get updates for them, and so on... Stuffing the parts into the case is the quick part.

[Cricket]

If you can post the parts that you already have on hand (by brand and model if possible), we can help you figure out which parts would work together best. But post that information in the Hardware Forum.

Cricket