Need Help Please upgrading PC with cpu/ram/mobo

Hello fellow Major Geek pros!

I've built a PC way back in 2006, it's a dual core and yes I'm in a much needed upgrade. I was told I could just upgrade the motherboard, Ram, and new CPU and plug everything back up and be good to go basically.


I would love to get a new sandy bridge i7 chip and motherboard and ram, but clueless what is compatible these days with what since it's been 6 years since I build a PC. I was wondering if someone could help me with this project and for now just answer some questions so that I'm ready when the time comes.

Here's my Rig specs right now:

mobo A8N-SLI premium
win 7
AMD athlon 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4400+ 2.21 GHz
Ram 4.00 GB
Delta 1010 rack mount for audio

I actually added Raid after building the PC, but just using that as the storage drive, and windows is installed on a single hard drive.


I just want to know if this is possible to do and if so, will any newer mobo work with a sandy bridge i7 chip? Thanks so much for taking your time to read this and greatly appreciate all of your help major geeks!

 

When you say sandy bridge i7 chip, which chip do you mean in particular? It's a pretty long series. I think it started sometime in 2006? >.> Not sure.

That will determine which motherboard I'd recommend, which then leads to which RAM you'd want.

A good thing to include is a budget. How much you looking to spend?

(Yes it's possible to do but if you are planning on keeping the same hard drive and still use all your programs installed on it AFTER this major hardware overhaul, you will have to do a complete system back up and restore. If you need help with that, I can give you the steps to do it)

-X

 

Note a common mistake is many users assume they can use their old Windows license on a new computer. Understand only a "boxed" full Retail license can be transferred to a new computer (or upgraded motherboard). It is illegal to use an OEM license that came with or was purchased for one computer on another computer. A disk “branded” with a computer maker’s brand name, or is labeled with “OEM/System Builder”, “Upgrade”, “Academic Edition”, or "For Distribution with a new PC only", is not transferable to a new PC (or upgraded motherboard) under any circumstances. These OEM licenses are inextricably tied to the "original equipment". So if that is the case, I recommend 64-bit Windows 7 or one of the many free Linux alternatives.

 

Sorry about the delay of replying back and Thanks for the information Digerati about the Win 7.

Xenith thanks very much for getting back to me. The sandy bridge cpu chips i was talking about was the newest ones that came out. I had a budget around 750$

I didn't know I had to complete system back up and restore though to do this and have never done this before. How hard would this be from a scale from 1 to 10, if you built a PC rig before? Also I would prolly need to buy a drive to put my backup on I assume as well?

First step would for me to back up all my stuff then? Xenith, it's been 6 years since i did any PC building and a lot has came out and I'm now a newbie at things again, but appreciate all the help from you and/or anyone else with knowledge with this.

 

There are two options open for you to save your Programs and files.
First you could partition the HDD (if it is large enough) and when you come to load the OS on the completed PC use the new partition for your OS and all your old files will still be there.
Secondly you could buy a new HDD and when you build the new PC install the OS on the new drive and install the old drive as a secondary drive that will give you access to all your files and Programs.

 

But with a new OS installed all registry files would be new, there for all past installed programs/games would not work. You can replace the new registry with the old one, but then you might run into problems involved with file pathing. If you have all the install discs for your games, it would be a better idea to just install the new hard drive, then new OS, then all your new programs.

(I've been busy with college the last few days, and I swing by and check the forums from time to time. I'll be checking this out in a 'bit', I'll have a link with a custom build PC posted up here for you by then...)

-X

 

You want the i7 2600K aand this Motherboard (assuming you have ATX case) they are bundled on NewEgg

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.882251

This RAM http://www.newegg.com/Product/ComboDealDetails.aspx?ItemList=Combo.810696.20-231-476

I would then spend spend the remaining budget on either and SSD like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820227726

Or a GPU like this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127593

The i-series processors have have a built in GPU so you may not need a separate GPU unless you plan to do some serious gaming.

You may need to bare in mind that your current PSU may not be up for the job in which case I would get the SSD and a new PSU then use the GPU on the processor.

You will have to re-install your OS as your chipset drivers are installed as part o the install, so when you change the motherboard your OS wont be able to boot.

If you get the SSD you only put your OS and software on there then put your files on your standard HD.

You mentioned that all your files are currently stored on a RAID array. On that basis you wont need to back up you file but you should just need to re-install the OS and software.

Hope this helps?

 

edit: the motherboard is micro ATX but should still fit in an ATX case

 

I dont know why the RAM was in a combo. Here i the RAM only link

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231476