Ditching my Socket 775 System - Advice Needed

Bazzer

Bazzer

Bazzer

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Joined
31 Oct 2009
Posts
5
Been looking at the forum for a little while and it has been a very useful resource. First time posting though, and I’m after some assistance from your collective expertise.

My current Socket 775 XP Pro system has been running like a pig for some time and no matter what I do, from changing the HDD and reinstalling the OS, doesn’t seem to make any difference. A Memtest has come back OK, so I think that it must be a problem with the Mobo.

If I’m going to change the Mobo, then I think it would be worthwhile upgrading and go for a Win7 set up.

After doing some research, I’m considering the following configuration:-

 Mobo: ASUS P7P55D Intel P55 (Socket 1156) or ASUS P7P55D PRO
 CPU: Intel Core i5 750 2.66Ghz (Lynnfield) (Socket LGA1156)
 RAM: Corsair XMS3 4GB (2x2GB) DDR3 PC3-12800C9 1600MHz Dual
 Fan: Arctic Cooling Freezer Pro Rev2
 OS: Windows 7 Pro

I’ll use my current SATA HDD’s & DVD's

My main questions are:-

1) I’m not a big games player, so will my current graphics card be suitable with the above set up:- nVidia GeForce GT9600 DDR3 512mb PCI-E
2) Is the RAM compatible with the Mobo ? Or is any other RAM better ?
3) Do I need a Thermal Compound with the cooler ?
4) Re the CPU - Retail or OEM ? Any differences ?
5) Any alternative suggestions to improve this setup without spending too much more. Can probably stretch to an additional £100
6) More a Win 7 question. I currently use Acronis True Image to do full disk backups of my system. After installing Win7, can I reinstate my most recent backup (done under XP Pro) and will all my programs still work OK
7) Any other considerations or suggestions ?

Thanking you in advance for your help

Baz
 
1, yes should be ok for you, if your happy with ts current performance then no need to change.
2, ram looks fine, just check its low voltage stuff, 1.65v max.
3, no as the artic cooling has it pre applied.
4, oem if your buying the above cooler.
5, you dont have a power supply listed maybe its time for a new one.
6, dont know.
7, with going windows 7 it might be a good idea to get a ati 57** series graphics card as its a dx11 card and OS, and should definatly last you quite a while.


oh and welcome to the forum:)
 
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Not quite sure what you mean by #6. If you are asking can you restore your applications into Windows 7, then no.

You can just dump the application folders into the Program Files directory and some or most apps will work - but you will have no shortcuts or entries on the system so Windows 7 will have no idea they exist. Some applications need stuff built into Windows or downloaded separately [such as .Net] and may not work with a simple drag&drop/restore.

If you are going from XP to Windows 7 just make everything clean. Reinstall software properly and then import any saved data or profiles if possible.

Alternatively, if you are asking can you restore your entire system back to Windows XP - I don't see why not. I am sure Acronis can be booted from CD/DVD or USB.
 
What hyper says is pretty true, however if you want better informed answers then you need to give more info, what will your system be used for? (other than not games) whats your total budget?
One point on what you've specced is the w7pro, do you need pro? most people dont
 
Thanks for the replies guys.

My PC is mainly used for Photoshop, Databases, Digital Mapping, some gaming (mainly Half Life or similar), MS Office.

Budget is about £550.00 so may go for Win7 Home Premium Retail to save some £££

Did not intend getting another PSU as the current one is only 18 months old and rated at 800W

I may go with your suggestion of upgrading the graphics card to one that is better suited to the overall configuration. I don't claim to know much about them, but what is generally considered better between ATI and nVidia ?

It looks like my idea of simply reinstating all my apps via Acronis is a non starter and that I will have to reinstall everything from scratch. Would have been nice if I could.

Thanks again

Baz
 
Generally ATI and NVidia are about as good as each other, however atm ATI have their new line of DX11 cards out where as NVidia doesnt, if I were you Id look at a 5770 for your set up, should bring you nicely up to date, just over a ton
 
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