View Full Version : computer advice...
i bought this case a while ago, when my last computer was on its last legs. However between then and now i bought a new desktop that was a good price.
Yesterday I finally assembled the case i had bought and i still want to build a computer but nothing too crazy, just a simple setup. I have 3-4 old harddrives that i want to install in this new computer. I also want to put in a dvd burner drive. The video card will be the same one i have in my current comp, an HDMI one.
So basically i need an ATX motherboard, and cpu and power supply right? I saw tons on newegg but i dotn know what im looking at. I dont do gaming so keep that in mind. I email, message and surf the web. I also will be using the HDMI output to my 46 LCD tv so id like good video output quality(what i have now with my video card is nice).
can someone suggest a motherboard cpu combo and a good dvd drive?
and also, whats involved with running 4 HDs?
I may need a new HD with an operating system to run everything. The other ones are old and MAY have viruses that id need to scan for first.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d50/SmokingSS/181.jpg
Tru2Chevy
01-16-2010, 06:20 PM
First off, we need to know what type of video card you have, and what type of HDD you have that you are planning to use. What type of connection do they use? The video card should be either AGP or PCI-Express, and the HDDs should be either ATA or Serial-ATA. If you don't know the difference, either post of up the brand and model numbers, or just take a pic of the connections on them.
- Justin
video card is a PCI something, it came with 2 rear plates to fit 2 size openings, right now i have the smaller one on it, but the clear case has the bigger rear plates. Its a long video card if the means anything lol.
i am pretty sure this is the card i'm currently using...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127412
as for the HDDs.. no idea, they are at home in NJ and are old. One is out of a eMachine and the other... a dell i think. 3rd may be from an old school HP.
ill post pics of the HDDs next weekend
Tru2Chevy
01-16-2010, 06:54 PM
Well you are in good shape with the video card, it's certainly not the best thing out there, but it's more than enough for what you are doing with it.
The HDDs are likely older ATA drives. Considering the price of HDDs, it's pretty much useless to stuff old ones into a new machine unless it is absolutely necessary.
1TB HDD for $85.00 shipped, and that's just at a quick glance on one site.
- Justin
yea, cheap is good for me, lol and as for the HDDs, i want the old ones due to their contents.
Tru2Chevy
01-16-2010, 07:13 PM
It's easy to pull the contents from the old drives and put 'em together on one or two new larger / faster drives.
- Justin
FlyingDutchman
01-16-2010, 10:32 PM
Don't forget about memory, that makes a big difference in performance (size & speed & price) and could affect your mobo/cpu choice (ddr2 vs ddr3 and max memory supported)
Since your hdds are older they probably dont have sata connections and most newer mobos have like one ata/pata port your better off just buyin a nice 1Tb like he said
do you have a set budget your looking to spend? that would make it easier to browse for a combo...
well, i dont really need a whole new comp, so im thinking maybe ill just sell the case and buy a 1TB external HDD and get someone to help me transfer the files over from the old HDDs...
FlyingDutchman
01-16-2010, 10:48 PM
ah okay the OP seemed like you were building up a comp and i didnt see memory listed, but if thats not the case nvrm then :mrgreen:
Tru2Chevy
01-16-2010, 11:02 PM
ah okay the OP seemed like you were building up a comp and i didnt see memory listed, but if thats not the case nvrm then :mrgreen:
No, that was the case - but he has changed his mind... :mrgreen:
- Justin
me? change my mind??? neverrrrrrr
how would i even go about transferring the files from the old drives? how would i hook them up?
The Fixer
01-17-2010, 09:04 AM
They do make adapter cables to connect an old-school ATA-style HD to a USB port - my buddy at work has one, but I don't know where he got it. Alternatively, they make adapters to go from the old ATA to the new SATA connector, so then you would connect it inside your new PC as a slave, then copy/paste the files from the old HD to the new.
bobb1589
01-17-2010, 09:30 AM
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2329300&CatId=3770
something like that will let you copy files over... i actually have this tool and it works great
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2329300&CatId=3770
something like that will let you copy files over... i actually have this tool and it works great
yea that seems like exactly what i need. That and a nice 1TB external HDD would serve me well. Then i could sell off that case. hmmm
Knipps
01-17-2010, 01:20 PM
There's also this one (out of stock currently)
http://www.thinkgeek.com/computing/usb-gadgets/bdbf/
r0nin89
01-18-2010, 12:08 AM
How old are these drives? SATA has been out for nearly ten years now and has been the harddrive standard for like 6.
Theres nothing wrong with that video card just for HDTV out.
I recommend you go AMD for a budget PC its much more bang for the buck. Going quad core is like $10 more than dual core so theres no reason not to. Just pick out an ATX standard mobo produced by gigabyte, msi, or Asus (which I dont stand by anymore but alot still do). Get a socket am2 board and the cheapest quad core phenom 2 am2 to match.
I'd recommend a ddr3 bored for upgradability but its totally not necessary if your not gaming.
The oldest drive i have may be pushing 12 or so year old. Every time i throw out a PC, i yank the drives. My thinking behind it is that in the future ill get around to recovering any info/pics off them. Now if i actually can, we shall see.
r0nin89
01-18-2010, 02:31 PM
The oldest drive i have may be pushing 12 or so year old. Every time i throw out a PC, i yank the drives. My thinking behind it is that in the future ill get around to recovering any info/pics off them. Now if i actually can, we shall see.
You can. 99% of mobos made still have a ribbon cable socket simply because XP can properly recognize SATA burner drives.
Other than that I cant throw computers out cause I always go, O this one is still good for this game I still like to play, or this one is still fine for surfing the net, or this one is good for playing counter strike when my buddy is over.
I have 3 desktops, 1 netbook, and 1 laptop and had an incar mini itx touchscreen in my truck until I sold it last week.
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