Upgrading older computer with newer parts

[djohn3853]

Hey all. I recently upgraded the System 1 in my sig to it's current config for BF3. Now I want to take the parts that were in there and put them in the System 2 in my sig.

So that's an E8400 cpu, Gigabyte EP45-UD3P, Radeon HD4870, 8G Gskill DDR2-1000 PC2-8000. I also bought a Crucial 64Gb SSD and Win 7.

The old system already has an 80G HD containing the os Win xp and another hd. I'm planning on keeping the psu. The computer is mostly used by my wife for email and general web surfing, nothing heavy. I use it for Quicken checkbook stuff and thats about it.

Now here's my plan: Swap out all the hardware. Add the ssd. Install Win7 to the ssd, and done.

Anything wrong with this? Do I have to uninstall Win xp?

[sttubs]

If you're going to leave the drive with XP on it in the new build then you really should use a dual boot option. If you no longer need XP you could always reformat it for a storage drive.

[djohn3853]

Well, I'm not leaving xp on because I want to use it. Just lazy to take it out. Will it harm anything if I do that.

There's other stuff on that drive beside the xp os. I wouldn't know how to remove only the xp.

Which brings up another question...When i put in the ssd where I'm going to install Win7, it won't be the C: drive cause I already have one. Does that matter?

[uddarts]

disconnect the 2 current drives and load windows 7 to the ssd. then reattach the other drives which will be seen as storage drives.

if the motherboard should ignore the ssd on boot and boot to the xp drive, enter the bios and set the ssd as the boot drive.


ud

[djohn3853]

That sound like good advice uddarts, will the ssd then be the C: drive?

[uddarts]

yes


ud

[djohn3853]

OK, I've run into the first hiccup.

The Asus board i'm replacing has 2 ide ports and a floppy. The Gigabyte only has one ide and a fdd which of course my fdd cable won't reach. thats ok, not worried about the fdd. My old setup had 2 dvd drive/burners and 2 hd all going into the 2 ide connectors. Now I only have one.

I can give up one of the dvd drives but I still want both hd's. Is it simply a matter of getting a different cable so all 3 can be hooked up to ide or do they make something to plug into another spot on the mobo? like plug ide hd into sata?

[uddarts]

been waiting for that question.

they have adapters but i'd go with one of these. i have the rc-212 which works just fine for my needs.

controller card


ud

[djohn3853]

where do these plug in? Each one only has one connector?

why are they better?

[uddarts]

the controller plugs into a pci slot.

here's the other choice adapters


ud

[djohn3853]

First of all, Thanks uddarts for helping me.

I had spotted those adapters after posting. That's my m.o., panic and ask for help first, then research myself.

If i go with the controller card, don't I need the adapters anyway? Where if i go with just the adapters, i just need sata cables which i have several already?

By the way, these solutions work for the dvd drives also right? i could dump both the dvd's and get a new one which will automatically be the sata type. Aren't these drives relatively cheap?

[uddarts]

the link for the controller cards show one connection for ide which with the standard ide cable will handle 2 ide drives.

yes, a new sata dvd burner run $20+ and would be the best solution for what you and your wife use this computer for.


ud

[djohn3853]

I think I totally misunderstood the the controller card. Maybe I should have actually read a little more. I thought you used a cable to connect the ide port on the mobo to the ide port on the controller card. Thats why i missed seeing the advantage. So then i'm thinking, ok you come off the card with a sata cable and I still need the adapters cause the drives and hd's have ide ports. Silly me

[uddarts]

no problem

maybe in 6 or 7 years from now when upgrading "older computer", those drives will have wore out.


ud

[djohn3853]

OK, next hiccup. Can't connect vid card to psu. My Corsair vx450w only has one 6 pin connector. Vid card has 2 spots. There are 2 4 pins connectors bundled together coming from psu.

Am I screwed and have to buy new psu?