Building/upgrading PC

[The Great Wallsendo]

My hard drive died in my desktop last year and in theory all I need to do is replace that and I'll still have a fully functional PC unit...

...however, being a typical bloke I want to maybe upgrade if I can...

My questions are:

Depending on the motherboard can I just stick in a new processor and hey presto?

or should I be thinking along the lines of upgrading the motherboard and processor at the same time?

...and where can I buy cheap components?

Want to ideally have a unit that can handle high end gaming and streaming afterwards...

[codseeker]

most new hardrives are sata lead connectors no ide leads and need the sata connection on the m/board most older m/boards dont have the sata option ,so if need new mother board ya wud have to upgrade the proseccor too

[KeithB]

Processor socket types and memory types change all the time so it's probably not viable, you might get a slightly faster processor but probably not worth it.

I'll probably have a spare IDE hard drive you can have if you need one.

[5150]

I used to build all my own machines for the family and kids, but this xmas I realised I was better off, since we wanted 3 new base units for the kids for xmas, buying a pre-built bare-bones system and just installing the operating system and other software myself - got to admit it was a lot less stress/hastle and the machines are canny. Got them from a place that has a shop down south but also sells through ebay, since i bought 3 he hoyed in free courier delivery and a pile of usb memory sticks and other bits and bobs. Got a mail saying they were being built and tested and then another with the shipping tracking info saying they were posted.

Proper chav machines like - clear side casings with neon blue everything, including psu and fans inside and neon blue bubble tubes each side at the front, just missing some alloy wheels, a spoiler and a big-bore exhaust!!!! Cant fault them though, performance compared to the old machines I built them quite a few years back is blistering and there's still plenty scope to upgrade them if i wanted to.

[flux]

My hard drive died in my desktop last year and in theory all I need to do is replace that and I'll still have a fully functional PC unit...

...however, being a typical bloke I want to maybe upgrade if I can...

My questions are:

Depending on the motherboard can I just stick in a new processor and hey presto?

or should I be thinking along the lines of upgrading the motherboard and processor at the same time?

...and where can I buy cheap components?

Want to ideally have a unit that can handle high end gaming and streaming afterwards...

Judging by what you said about the HDD died on you last year, I'm assuming your PC is at least a year and a half old?
If so, PC's are nearly always obsolete 9 month after being bought, so I wouldn't bother upgrading.
I would build a new one if you got the cash to do it

Harddisks are so cheap atm, I would buy a harddisk for that old pc, reinstall and keep it just for internet.

dabs.com is where we buy a lot of our gear from and my boss is tight as a gnat's chuff (we build industrial PC's... but we also build our own desktops)

[The Great Wallsendo]

PC prob 5-6 years old

could I build a new PC around my existing gubbins?

IE new motherboard, processor and hard drive? the plug'n'play stuff and RAM is all interchangeable anyway?

Judging by what you said about the HDD died on you last year, I'm assuming your PC is at least a year and a half old?
If so, PC's are nearly always obsolete 9 month after being bought, so I wouldn't bother upgrading.
I would build a new one if you got the cash to do it

Harddisks are so cheap atm, I would buy a harddisk for that old pc, reinstall and keep it just for internet.

dabs.com is where we buy a lot of our gear from and my boss is tight as a gnat's chuff (we build industrial PC's... but we also build our own desktops)

[KeithB]

RAM isn't interchangeable Tony, power supply will probably out of date as well, so that only really leaves the tin box

[The Great Wallsendo]

RAM isn't interchangeable Tony, power supply will probably out of date as well, so that only really leaves the tin box

...it's a start...

will check which hard drive I need and prob send you a PM ...may end up just being a pipe dream after all this...or I'll just save up for a PS3

[flux]

Unfortunately, chances are that the only bits you could reuse is the case/powersupply and the CD/DVD Drive.

RAM will be no good, we're up to DDR3 now, and yours will probably be just DDR. its not compatible, and it won't fit the socket anyway.

You might get away with the graphics card if its PCI-express, but I'm thinking its more than likely AGP (again, not compatible and different socket) but that would be the first thing you want to upgrade for high-end gaming anyway.

so....

new motherboard
new cpu
new RAM
new HDD
new graphics card

..... basically new PC

[garyp]

depends what your after mate.

If its for newer games etc, then no not really, if its just for browsing the internet then more than likely.

however, you'll probably get a better deal just buying a whole new base unit, especially if you have a monitor already.

by the time you've got a new mobo and processor anything from £100 up, compatible ram £30 and then a HDD, depends on size but avearge £30, plus sorted out putting windows on (about another £100 if you are being all legit)

And possibly the power supply in your old case is not good enough also,, so you are still looking at a few hundred just to get the bits and pieces

As for your old HDD, the data is more than likely still all ok, a simple usb converter and you can plug it into another pc/laptop and retrieve it, or even better, get an external caddy and turn it into an external drive to store more pics etc.

lets know if you want any more info, (unfortunately I work with them all day )

[garyp]

LOL, beaten to it!!!

[flux]

Get a PS3

[The Great Wallsendo]

could this be inserted into an older PC unit with little or no hassle?

AMD Athlon 260 Bundle including AMD Athlon II X2 260.. | Ebuyer.com

[KeithB]

You might need a new power supply.

It only has one IDE connector so you'll be limited if you're DVD's etc are IDE.

By the time you add a hard drive and possibly a power supply you may as well buy a pre-built machine.

HP G5350uk Desktop PC - Intel i3/ 4GB RAM/ 750GB HD/ WIN 7 Home Prem £323 Delivered @ HP SHOP (Quidco + Code) - HotUKDeals

[SIXFOOTSTEVE]

Why don't you just let Dell do the hard work for you ,they have some good offers and the two we have here have never let us down.