Small upgrade – need advise.

northrop

northrop

grumman
2FA
Joined
Sep 27, 2005
Messages
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I’m upgrading my friend’s computer. All we need is mobo, CPU, memory and I’m guessing PSU because I don’t think his 230W is up for the task.

Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 500W Power Supply - $68.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817103937

ASRock 939Dual-SATA2 ATX AMD Motherboard - $68.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813157081

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400+ 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Dual Core Processor - $497.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103546

Memory is the one I need help with. 1GB should be enough. Keep the total under $800.

IMPORTANT: this will all go to hell if the HSF doesn’t fit. So how tall is the retail HSF? He’s using a Dell case, so the PSU cage is directly over the chip (well, it will be once we install ASRock). There is approximately 3.5” clearance between the mobo and the PSU.

This Zalman should fit with about ¾”-1” clearance (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16835118113), but that’s $50 out of the budget that could potentially go into better memory.

Your suggestions? No OC will be done to it. Thanks.
 
I don't think the ASRock is going to fit into the Dell case. At least that's what happened to me. :(
 
the ASRock is 12.0" x 7.5" and the current mobo is 14.0" x 8.5".
 
No, I meant I don't think the backplate is going to fit. Dell cases (or at least the newer ones, not sure about the older ones) are built proprietary to Dell motherboards, which have a different design. If I were you I'd try testing with a spare mobo first.
 
Don't ever upgrade a Dell...seriously. They use all proprietary parts, so upgrading is next to impossible.
 
You need a case with good ventillation for that dual core X2. You'll be having temps of 56C idle with everything so tight. Thats a high wattage processor.

You don't need a $500 processor in and $800 rig.

Stop building and earn some more build budget.
Or get a 148 Opteron Venus core Skt 939 for $222.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103595
These opteron are on FX die and they are great, work like the devil and heavy duty stuff.

Just my 2 cents.

What video card, nice you have choice of AGP or PCI-ex.
 
I’m not building this comp for myself, and if I was, believe me the set-up would be completely different.

Anyway, he already ordered the X2 along with the mobo. I got him a pair of OCZ memory from Micro Center, so the only thing left is the case.

He’s using AGP 800XT.

And it’s not an $800 rig… he’s actually got some price stuff… to be fair the only thing left from the original Dell set-up is the already mentioned case, mobo and chip.

Thanks for the heads up on that case.
 
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