So, for the last year or so, I've been out of the loop. I discovered a terrible and expensive obsession besides computing (bicycling, not narcotics), and have since become Out of the Know on recent developments. However, my roommate's emachine just died, and out of pity I'm offering to sell her the parts of mine that she needs - video card, mobo, cpu. Of course, I'll be using the proceeds to fund an upgrade.

What I need to know is what I have that's compatible with what I want. I've been looking at building around that new favorite, the 805. So I choose a socket T mobo, and it's got Sata II slots. Can I plug my current (aka old) SATA drives into this hypothetical motherboard? Also, it's got DDR2 slots. Can I plug my regular DDR into DDR2 slots?

Is there a motherboard out that's just the greatest, like back in the day when everyone on the boards went out and bought the Abit NFS-7?

SATA ≠ SATA II... (that I know of...)

DDR ≠ DDR2...

You should be able to find a s939 board/combo/full setup for relatively cheap now... I've seen some CPUs for under $100 that should last you at least a couple years before you'll need to upgrade, and boards with x16 PCI-Express slots...

All in, you should be able to string together a "Mid-Range" machine for right at if not under $1000, a "High-End" for about $2000...

I (WE) would need more info from you about your budget, usage, etc. before we can start spewing out components and figures and whatnot...

i thought that sata 2 and sata work just you wont have sata 2 speeds. i certainly can be wrong its late, but my connectors look the same.

GPN is right about the mem, ddr and ddr2 arent the same.

Memory won't work.

SATA drives, however, are backwards and forwards compatible. That means you can use SATA (150MB/s) drives on newer SATA2 (300MB/s) controllers, and vice versa.

OK, a little more info -

The emachines we are "resurrecting" has been dying a slow death for a while. The only original parts are the mobo/proc, the integrated video card, and the case.

1k is pretty high, and I'm sure I can build for far under that. Since my hard drives will work, the things I have to replace are motherboard, processor, memory, and video card. How about a budget of $500 at the most ($400 is more doable)? At least a gig of ram, preferably two, and the only performance requirements right now is that it be able to run Vista with all (or most) the bells and whistles, and play the latest installment in the Need for Speed series without it freezing every 45 minutes.

Thanks all.

Quote: Originally Posted by Dakas OK, a little more info - The emachines we are "resurrecting" has been dying a slow death for a while. The only original parts are the mobo/proc, the integrated video card, and the case. 1k is pretty high, and I'm sure I can build for far under that. Since my hard drives will work, the things I have to replace are motherboard, processor, memory, and video card. How about a budget of $500 at the most ($400 is more doable)? At least a gig of ram, preferably two, and the only performance requirements right now is that it be able to run Vista with all (or most) the bells and whistles, and play the latest installment in the Need for Speed series without it freezing every 45 minutes. Thanks all.

HMMMM thats a tall order for what you are asking.

I would suggest contacting Thrasher2 or Sleepy_Sentry, the deal pimps, to see what they may be able to come up with.

I'm sure you can catch them by PM or over in the deals and steals thred
http://forums.pcapex.com/deals_and_steals/

You can do one of two things, actually... If $1K is too high, you can look into getting a Dell, or expect to be buying some not-so-well-known-brand parts...

The $1K price tag I quoted is for well-known, quality components, and for a Mid-Range system. If you want the Budget System that still has quality components, you can usually roll it up to about $600... That's without a case, BTW...

Quote: Originally Posted by GrandpaNoob72 You can do one of two things, actually... If $1K is too high, you can look into getting a Dell, or expect to be buying some not-so-well-known-brand parts... The $1K price tag I quoted is for well-known, quality components, and for a Mid-Range system. If you want the Budget System that still has quality components, you can usually roll it up to about $600... That's without a case, BTW...

I'm sorry I'm not being clear enough. I have a complete system right now, I'm just doing an upgrade. PSU, case, hard drives, all of that I already have. The only things I need are motherboard, processor, memory, and CPU.

Quote: Originally Posted by Dakas The only things I need are motherboard, processor, memory, and CPU.

I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume that by CPU you mean GPU, the graphics card...

Do you have a die-hard preference for Intel or AMD?

EDIT: Keep in mind that depending on what sort of mobo/CPU/RAM/GPU you are looking at getting as an upgrade, you may also have to look at a PSU that can handle all your new hardware...

eg: Your new mobo has a 24-pin connector, the GPU has a 6-pin PCI-Express connector, but your old PSU doesn't have those connectors...

Quote: Originally Posted by Dakas I'm sorry I'm not being clear enough. I have a complete system right now, I'm just doing an upgrade. PSU, case, hard drives, all of that I already have. The only things I need are motherboard, processor, memory, and CPU.

These numbers are just gona be estamates and will vary depending on where you shop and the quality you expect:

mobo, overclockable = $120+
CPU, dual core = $325+
mem, overclockable = $150+
GPU, midrange = $175+

SO good gaming guts can be had for less than 1K yes.
The deciding factors are going to be your spending CASH and the level of your desire for top quality or midrange parts.

Quote: Originally Posted by Pharaoh These numbers are just gona be estamates and will vary depending on where you shop and the quality you expect: mobo, overclockable = $120+ CPU, dual core = $325+ mem, overclockable = $150+ GPU, midrange = $175+ SO good gaming guts can be had for less than 1K yes. The deciding factors are going to be your spending CASH and the level of your desire for top quality or midrange parts.

Sorry, did mean GPU. Been working long days for about a week now to make up for vacation time, a little out of it.

Hadn't thought about the PSU bit. So I'll add another $100in the budget for a decent PSU.

You quote $325 for a dual core proc, but the 805 can be had for <$120 at the egg right now, and I plan on waiting until conroe comes out, and then buying (but not conroe), so I'm thinking that's a bit high?

My desire for top quality is minimal - I upgrade about every 2 years, and all I really want is enough to let me not feel like my computer is hopelessly out of date until it's time to upgrade again.

I can set you up with an AM2 rig for around 5-600 bucks. Lemme pull together some links real quick.
Keep in mind that these prices will drop once Conroe hits.

• Asus M2N-SLi Deluxe mobo $143.99
• AMD Athlon AM2 3200+ $104.99
• OCZ Gold 2 x 512GB PC2-800 @ 4-4-4-12 $111.99
• eVGA Geforce 7600GT $169.99
• Hiper 580W modular SLi ready PSU $99.99

Grand total of $630.95 but you still get all quality components.

Edit: Forgot the links, but these prices are at newegg

That's not too bad a setup. I'll definitely keep that in mind a few weeks from now. Power supplies don't seem to be getting any cheaper per watt - but they are fancier!