From single core to dual

Daveybhoy · 15 Aug 2008 at 16:14

Hi Folks,

Need a little bit of guidance (again). Currently I have a 2-3 year old PC. It’s a single core running a AMD 4000+ san diego.
I’d like to put in a dual core, obviously involving a new motherboard and CPUs. What I would like to know is (having never built a dual core PC) how much room with the dual core take up? Do I need a new case to fit it all in? Will be PSU be ok for all my components?

Here is what I currently have

Thermaltake VA7000BWA Shark Aluminium Full Tower
DFI LanParty UT NF4 Ultra-D (Socket 939) PCI-Express Motherboard
Samsung SpinPoint P SP2504C 250GB SATA-II
Gigabyte G-Power Pro (Socket A/754/939/478/775) Cooler
Hiper HPU-4K580-MK Type R 580W Modular ATX2.2 PSU
2 x Corsair 1GB DDR XMS3200C2PT Platinum CAS2
Creative Sound Blaster X-Fi Xtreme Music
Gainward ATI Radeon HD 4850 512MB GDDR3 TV-OutDual DVIHDMI (PCI-Express)
AMD Athlon 64 4000+ San Diego (Socket 939)

Ideally I would like to just take the cpu and mobo out and not have to splash out on a new case but if I need to then so be it. I need a new PSU anyway as this one can’t be converted to work in the states – so replacing that right now won’t be a problem, but obviously the new one will have to work in the states.

Also if you guys could recommend specific motherboards, CPUs and fans that would be a big help. I'd be using the PC for gaming. I'm not sure of what the current prices are for these components so I don't know what kind of price range I could put on it - as what I suggest might buy me a hamster running in it's wheel for me fan!

Thanks in advance
Dave

UKDTweak · 15 Aug 2008 at 16:17

A dual core CPU is No bigger than a sigle core so should easilly fit in your old case.
As for the PSU, i use the same one with a Q6600 thats OC'd and i have two optical drives, four HDD's and a few usb powered items and it runs it all fine

rjk · 15 Aug 2008 at 16:23

if the pc you have is on a ATX motherboard it will fit a ATX and microATX motherboard

the size is standard

dualcore doesnt mean bigger motherboards

whats your budget?

personally for future proofing i would reccomend any asus p45 board

you should deffo get a new psu
nobody here trusts hiper
perhaps a corsair one

this is a nice spec to work off for a cheaper upgrade
and should make your games fly!!!

core 2 e7200 @£85

asus p5q@ £83

Geil 4gb black dragon @ £50

and perhaps this for the psu

corsair 650W @ £65

so looking about £300 for a massive boost
and there is a lot of OC potential too

Daveybhoy · 15 Aug 2008 at 16:25

Excellent, could you recommend any parts that would work well together? Don't worry about the price too much at the moment I still need to get an idea of what price range we are talking about - obviously don't go overboard and line me up something that could run NASA

Daveybhoy · 15 Aug 2008 at 16:30

Geil 4gb black dragon @ £50

Do I need the extra RAM? I have 2GB at the moment and don't get anywhere near using it all.

rjk · 15 Aug 2008 at 16:37

i specced it so parts work well together

you could use your existing ram but the black dragon is pc6400
your existing ram is pc3200

so im not sure it would work in the more recent boards - someone else would have to clarify that for you

if you want good performance out of the cpu you need some reasonable performing ram imo

Daveybhoy · 15 Aug 2008 at 16:42

Cool, thanks for your suggestions. If the RAM is ok to put in the new board then I might keep it for a couple of months and buy new RAM when the money is more free flowing. That is, of course, if my current RAM will work with a new mobo.

pastymuncher · 15 Aug 2008 at 17:00

Daveybhoy said:
Cool, thanks for your suggestions. If the RAM is ok to put in the new board then I might keep it for a couple of months and buy new RAM when the money is more free flowing. That is, of course, if my current RAM will work with a new mobo.

You need new ram. Yours is DDR and all new rigs use DDR2/3 depending on the motherboard. Personally i would hold off building a new rig for a couple of months to see what prices the new Nehalem cpu's and boards are going to be.

Definately ditch the Hiper though.

Daveybhoy · 15 Aug 2008 at 17:09

pastymuncher said:
You need new ram. Yours is DDR and all new rigs use DDR2/3 depending on the motherboard. Personally i would hold off building a new rig for a couple of months to see what prices the new Nehalem cpu's and boards are going to be.

Definately ditch the Hiper though.

Alright cool. I'll give it some time.

I'm actually thinking I might be better waiting until after I've moved to the states. With the weak dollar I will get a lot more for my money...

Thanks for all your help guys.