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Dumb question?

T

TehJams

Weaksauce
Joined
Aug 17, 2009
Messages
84
Hi, I'm new to this forum but I'm finding some really great info all over the place!

I'm going to be putting together my first self-built system this week (as soon as everything comes in from Newegg) and I have a question about using an old HDD in the new system.

Originally I had an HP Pavilion s3100n with a 250GB hard drive. That motherboard on that machine went out which is why I'm building a new system. I purchased a new hard drive (WD 500GB Caviar Black) and I used Acronis True Image Home to make a copy of the original hard drive.

I am planning on using the 500GB in the new system and my question is, will I be able to simply plug in that hard drive, then boot up and install the new system's drivers? Or will I have to completely wipe it and start over?

I would prefer to avoid the complete wipe due to the huge pain that is re-installing all of my old programs.

I can list the components for my new system if necessary, just ask. And thanks ahead of time.
 
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I just thought of something else.

Would it be possible to use the 250GB HDD from the HP as the OS disk and also use the 500GB HDD for everything else without having to reinstall programs?

In other words, I would do a clean install on the 250 for the OS then just run programs from the other HDD?
 
^^^ Yes. Though you may want to keep the 500gb unplugged until you've completely formatted the 250 with the OS. The reason for this is just for extra percation as to not wipe or damage any data on the 500gb. Good luck.
 
My recommendation would be to boot it in safe mode first, remove any old motherboard drivers. Make it as bare bones as possible. If you restart and it works, then install the new drivers.
 
that older hd would be very slow compared to the newer one. I would partition the new hd for say 50gig for C: with the os then make the rest for everything else. I would put that older hd in but as a slave for data storage. If the drive is older than 5yrs I wouldnt store anything on it thats very important.
 
CruisD64 said:
My recommendation would be to boot it in safe mode first, remove any old motherboard drivers. Make it as bare bones as possible. If you restart and it works, then install the new drivers.
Click to expand...

This is pretty much what I was originally going to try. So I'm glad that my instincts were confirmed. I think I'll try this first because it seems to be the simplest solution.

I am going to reuse the CD/DVD drive from the HP as well so the hard drive will at least have a working CD driver. I figure that will help with further new driver installations.

Thank you all very much for the responses.
 
Well, just thought I would post an update. I built my computer last night (FINALLY!).
Here is some photo documentation in case anyone is interested:
http://picasaweb.google.com/james.a.greene/FIRSTBUILD?feat=directlink
I booted up with the old 500HDD and everything works fine. I just had to install all the new mobo and video card drivers and everything is working like a charm. Already I'm noticing huuuge improvements.

From what I've read about the ECS mobo, it's not a super OCer board. But i was thinking of doing a mild OC just to get past the 3GHz mark. Right now I'm at a stock 2.66 with a Q9400.

Any suggestions?
 
Suggestions for what?

Wait are you using the included PSU with that Raidmax case? What are the specs of your new system?
 
Yeah I hope your not planning to use that Diablotek psu in that system? That would be a terrible risk for such nice parts.
 
Also from your photos it looks like you don't have the memory in the appropriate slots for a dual channel config. You may want to make sure you have them in the right slots as this will make a difference in the overall performance of your system. Specifially when running memory intensive applications. Usually most modern motherboards it's the color matchings slots from your pictures this looks to be dimm1 and dimm3.
 
I was just curious to hear suggestions for simple overclocking. I made a post in the Overclocking board but no responses yet.

The Diablotek PSU did not come with the case. I ordered it seperately. Why would it not be good for my system? I figure 650W is enough for one GPU and one HDD.

Yeah, I noticed that I put the memory in the wrong slots for dual channel last night when I was looking through CPU-Z. I'm going to fix it today when i get home.

Specs are in my sig. Also, I'm using the stock cooler on the CPU.
 
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Intel Stock coolers aren't great on socket 775 for even mild overclocks. If you are interest and if your mobo offers any oc features you'll defiantly want an aftermarket cooler. There are several affordable options. and you'll also need some thermal paste for that aftermarket cooler.

$39.99 (Free Shipping and a $15.00 mail-in)
- Sunbeam CR-CCTF 120 mm Core-Contact Freezer CPU Cooler W/TX-2 - Retail

$44.98(free Shipping) - Xigmatek S1283V Dark Knight

With the Xigmatek you'd still need to purchase some decent thermal paste. The paste that comes with the Sunbeam is actually really decent paste.

On the note of the power supply hind sight is 20/20 but that isn't a great or reliable power supply. I will leave it up to the power supply gurus to post the links to all the review where it went up in smoke.
 
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Ok, thanks for the links on the coolers. I think I'm going to need one. I just downloaded some CPU temp monitors and I'm not sure but I think my temp is pretty high.

CoreTemp and RealTemp both report average of about 55c at idle. and over 90c max. According to Intel, "Thermal Specification" is 71.4c. Is "Thermal Specification" the max temp or the average temp?

If I'm going to buy a cooler, I might as well upgrade the PSU as well while I'm at it. Any suggestions for around $100?
 
TehJams said:
The Diablotek PSU did not come with the case. I ordered it seperately. Why would it not be good for my system? I figure 650W is enough for one GPU and one HDD..
Click to expand...

It's not the wattage thats the problem: It's the quality or lacktherof. It's a big warning sign to see a 650W PSU for $60. In addition, that 650W PSU only has 38A on the +12V rail, ridiculously low considering that there are 550W PSUs with 40A on the +12V rail. There's no info about who actually made the PSU, whether or not it was rated at peak or continuous, and what temperature it was rated at. Considering the price and the company, yes that Diablotek PSU is of pretty low quality and would not a good choice for your relatively high power system.

As a replacement, I recommend the Antec EA650 650W PSU with 45A on the +!2V rail and of far far superior quality than the Diablotek PSU:
$80 - Antec Earthwatts 650W PSU
 
Uh, aren't most --XStream PSUs still based off the FSP Epsilon design? You know, the one generates ripple at high loads?
 
Danny Bui said:
It's not the wattage thats the problem: It's the quality or lacktherof. It's a big warning sign to see a 650W PSU for $60. In addition, that 650W PSU only has 38A on the +12V rail, ridiculously low considering that there are 550W PSUs with 40A on the +12V rail. There's no info about who actually made the PSU, whether or not it was rated at peak or continuous, and what temperature it was rated at. Considering the price and the company, yes that Diablotek PSU is of pretty low quality and would not a good choice for your relatively high power system.

As a replacement, I recommend the Antec EA650 650W PSU with 45A on the +!2V rail and of far far superior quality than the Diablotek PSU:
$80 - Antec Earthwatts 650W PSU
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I checked reviews of the Diablotek on Newegg and TigerDirect before buying it and I didn't notice anything too bad. But I will probably upgrade it just to be safe.

Maybe I'll go with the Corsair linked above.

Does anyone have feedback on my question above about the CPU temps? If I'm going to buy a new PSU I will probably buy an aftermarket CPU cooler at the same time.
 
hossdaddy said:
Thats a nice one Danny, here
s another option

OCZ ModXStream Pro OCZ600MXSP 600W $74.99 + fs - $25.00 mir
Click to expand...

tiraides said:
Uh, aren't most --XStream PSUs still based off the FSP Epsilon design? You know, the one generates ripple at high loads?
Click to expand...

The ModXStream Pro line is actually based on an Sirtec PSU design. Still mediocre and not that good of a PSU.

TehJams said:
Ok, thanks for the links on the coolers. I think I'm going to need one. I just downloaded some CPU temp monitors and I'm not sure but I think my temp is pretty high.

CoreTemp and RealTemp both report average of about 55c at idle. and over 90c max. According to Intel, "Thermal Specification" is 71.4c. Is "Thermal Specification" the max temp or the average temp?
Click to expand...

Thermal Specification is the max recommended temperature IIRC.
 
Ok, I ordered a Corsair TX750W and I'll RMA the Diablotek for a refund. Thanks for the tips, Danny.
 
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