|
Buying new MOBO + CPU [ combo or seperate???]
|
View this Thread in Original format
| Tranex02 |
ok guys.... i fried my 3yr old mobo and the processor is stuck....
plus it's pretty old.... so i need to buy a new set!
Does it make a difference if i buy the motherboard and the cpu as a COMBO or should i buy them seperately?
I've never installed a new mobo or cpu, only HD's and that kinda stuff.... so i don't want anything too complicated! a challenge is good, but nothing beyond on capabilites..:D
anyway..... i'm using pricewatch.com to look at them....
have any of u bought anything from that site??? Cuz i'm not sure if it's reliable or not...but it offers good deals!
i need a mATX, cuz i'm using my old case, and i was thinking of a AMD XP 1700... i don't plan on spending more than $100..... max.
So basically, does it make a difference if i buy a combo? and what are some things i should keep in mind when trying to buy one and then install it???
Thanks in advance!:) |
|
|
| Tranc3 |
Pricewatch has worked for me quite well in the past, although you never can be completely sure about anything made by humans:rolleyes:
As for the installation, if you plan to do a separate purchase and then put the cpu on the mobo, I recommend you familiarize yourself VERY VERY well with the proper rules on static and whatnot. Oh and there's a bunch of gold pins that connect the cpu to the mobo, at least for that AMD model. You just have to make sure you don't accidentally bend one of the pins, cause if you do your processor is ed. And it's fairly easy to bend them. I uhh...know from experience:(
Considering the risk involved vs. how much extra you would have to pay, I'd just go for the combo. |
|
|
| jonsimmonds |
| if you do get seperate, make sure the cpu is RETAIL and not OEM. Retail cpu's come wiht a 3 year warenty, while oem ones dont. |
|
|
| Tranex02 |
If i do get a combo, would i need to do anything with the jumper settings? and will the heatsink and fan be installed or will i have to install it later.?
Here are some of my concerns before i buy something:
When installing the mobo, how can i make sure that the holes on the board will correspond to the holes in the case?
As for the Power supply, how can i make sure that the power plug thing that goes into the mobo is the same? or same place?
basically, i don't want to buy something and then realize that it won't fit, or that i can't install it properly. esp. cuz it's a micro ATX. |
|
|
| jonsimmonds |
the screws all comply to the atx standard, and always will (it would cost to much for the case manufractuers and motherboad manufractuers to change) and i can safley say that any mobo will fit in any case (so long as its an atx case and not a mac case - which you would know about)
the same atx standard also specifies powersupply conectors, althouth pentium 4 motherboards have an additional 12v conector to give the cpu some extra juice. nearly all powersuplies today have this conector, (its been around for at least 2 years now) and it will probabley say something like p4 compatable on the powersuply
as to the combos it depends on where you buy it from if its asembled or not. most motherboards dont have many jumpers and the majority of settings are made in the bios, on my current motherboard theres a jumper to clear the cmos (bios settings) and a keyboard power up one, the manual will explain these and there will probably be 5 jumpers at the most, the rest of the setings are done in the bios (which is pretty simple to do , coompared to playing with jumpers)
i think the heatsink and fan wont be installed, but it is preyy simple to install, so long as you have a steady hand, both intel and amd have guieds on their websites how to do it.
Jon
p.s with it being micro atx do you mean ur case is micro atx or the board you are buying is micro atx? |
|
|
| Tranex02 |
| quote: | Originally posted by jonsimmonds
p.s with it being micro atx do you mean ur case is micro atx or the board you are buying is micro atx? |
the case is mATX, meaning i would need a mATX board to fit. (I'm using my old Compaq case)
but anyway, do you think 350W of power is enough???? since i'm getting a Athlon XP 1800.
Since the case is mATX, everything is really cramped! I need to make sure that the cables won't interfere with the CPU fan, cuz on my last one, the fan stoped working!:p and also want to make sure that the heatsink and fan arn't too high because my HD is right infront of it...
I want to ensure that's there's enough cooling, inorder not to burn out the cpu! But anyway,
Thanks alot for the input!:) |
|
|
| jonsimmonds |
a 350w powersuply should be ok, on the actual power supply it should say the total output on the 3.3v and 5.v line, this is the most important one for amd systems as this is what gives the cpu its power, what does it say it is?
you can easily arange your cables with cable ties etc not to affect airflow, if space really is tight you could get rounded ide cables.
are they any holes for fans on the case? |
|
|
| Emrld |
From my experience, the best place to buy a combo from is THIS place. When you buy your combo they install your RAM and power it up to make sure it is all working properly, plus they are extremely good to work with and fair. Through work and for personal use I'd say we have purchased over one hundred combos alone from them not to mention the other hardware, cases, PS, HD, ect. ect.
E
;) ;) |
|
|
| Tranex02 |
| quote: | Originally posted by jonsimmonds
a 350w powersuply should be ok, on the actual power supply it should say the total output on the 3.3v and 5.v line, this is the most important one for amd systems as this is what gives the cpu its power, what does it say it is? |
well, now that i actually looked at it, i'm not sure where i got the 350W from:p but anyway....
on the +5.0V line --> 12.0A
on the +3.3V line --> 6.0A
Is that enough????
| quote: | you can easily arange your cables with cable ties etc not to affect airflow, if space really is tight you could get rounded ide cables.
are they any holes for fans on the case? |
If things get really cramped, which hopefully they won't, rounded cables seem like a good option.
As for the holes.....
the only holes in the back are small holes that are on the powersupply box. and in the inside, there is a 80-90mm fan also connected to the power box. So the airflow is basically passing through the power supply and going out the holes on the back of it.
There is a place on the lower front of the case, with a shaft like design, that permits airflow from the front.
But that's it. What do u recommend?
Thanks again for the input! |
|
|
| jonsimmonds |
| it should be, ill asume that you wont have loads of hardrives and cdrom's etc as its a little case, if it is to low all that will happen is it will reset its self randomly. |
|
|
|
|
