Building a PC Upgrade

[Partridge9]

Recently Built a new PC for the Father in Law.

Please note I had a mouse, keyboard, screen and a spare CD rom (anyone still use them?!), I also had my own copy of windows 7.

This PC was not going to be used for games - but it will comfortably support two monitors for standard (non-gaming) stuff.

PowerSupply - 52€
Case - 58€
8 Gigs Memory - 76€
Fast SATA3 HDisk - 52€
Core i3 Processor with GPU - 127€
Asus Board  - 75€

Please note - this is not a normal cheap board - see the specs - its a small ATX board - with SATA3 and support for this fast memory. It has a built in graphics card that utilises the GPU in the Processor to deliver half decent graphics.

The hard drive is fast (SATA3) but only 500gb - so not really for MP3 / Movies etc - you can buy a 67€ 1.5tb one for that. It has a decent cache and ultimately will be limited only by the 7200rpm.

I have it built - it claims to fast boot windows - but its more like 6 seconds (3 of that is getting out of the BIOS) - but I'm not complaining.

So to summarise - this is a very fast - low power -  simple PC, perfect for email internet ms office etc. - and it has plenty of space for expansion

Oh - forgot to mention - comes in at about 440€

Sweet !

[Greg2013]

I would be interested in replacing the motherboard in my old desktop with something like what you have there. How difficult a job is it ? No soldering skills at all btw.

[Partridge9]

Good news and bad news -

Good new - No soldering skills required what-so-ever

But the processor sockets change all the time - so typically you change the board and CPU at the same time. Also removing a processor from a heatsink can be interesting.

Now - unfortunately - depending on how old the machine is - your probably going to need some fresh memory to run at the new speeds.

and finally there is a chance that the power supply might not be up to task - a certain molex is required to attached to the new mother boards
and also the new power supplies have attachments for PCI Express and SATA power.
Now you can buy adapters etc - but being realistic a new PSU is going to be the order of the day.

The upgrade replaces the box of the PC - so the old box is always there should a some file be required or whatever - I always get the -
'what happens if I need a file 3 months from now'

Regards

James

But on the upside - the case will probably be grand - ATX and Mini ATX have been around for years.

[Jacob]

And here's a list of hardware needed to replace main board:

[Greg2013]

Feck of Jacob My desktop is at least 7 years old so not worth the hassle i think. Silly me i thought it might be as simple as pull one out and push the new one in dammit. Need to upgrade the laptop to a slightly newer one but was hoping to boost the desktop as well since most of my college work is done on this.

Any idea where i could get just the tower bit in good shape, less than 3 years old, runs windows 7 ? How much should i pay for that?

[Jacob]

You can try to find some used pc on Adverts.ie
If you'll have any questions just post them here.
There a lot of IT guys on the forum.

[Partridge9]

That upgrade above is 'just for the tower bit'

but adverts ones will probably come with an OS in fairness !

[Greg2013]

You can try to find some used pc on Adverts.ie
If you'll have any questions just post them here.
There a lot of IT guys on the forum.

I have OS up to wazoo so its only the physical tower i need, also have all the other stuff like screens etc. i just want something a bit fresher that will run W7

[Greg2013]

If the PC is only for web surfing and you're happy with Linux, buy a Raspberry Pi or a Beaglebone Black.

Never even heard of the Tube :O Anyway i think i may perservere with this for college until it calves