right then, i am going to upgrade my machine before giving it onto my brother and his only stipulation was "can i play crysis 2 on it?" 
cpu: Q8200 @ stock - runs at 60 degrees idle with arctic freezer pro 7, read on...
ram: corsair ddr2 4gb
mobo: asus p5ql-epu
case: generic rubbish - no airflow
gfx: palit 1gb 9500gt
psu: 350w generic rubbish
hdd: 250gb boot, wd 2tb, deskstar 2tb
i have some components to upgrade it with:
psu: antec basiq 550w modular
gfx: ati radeon hd 4870 512mb xfx (non-reference)
case: antec 300
case fans: thermalright 88cfm fans
the big problem is that the flat is incredibly hot (it is 16 degrees outside, 22 degrees in my room). I have theroom fan on max all year round. When i first upgraded the cpu, i put arctic silver 5 on it but i was an absolute noob and took the heatsink off the check the paste had spread nicely *MORON* my cpu idles at 60 degrees and i have never stress tested becuase i dont want it to burn out
my plan was:
1) take apart machine
2) clean all the components
3) reapply mx4 to the cpu properly this time
4) install the psu in the antec 300
5) install the mobo+cpu+heatsink+ram in the new case
6) connect the front panel connectors
7) install hdd's and dvd drive
8) hook everything up
9) test
i am hoping that the better air flow in the antec 300 and the new thermal paste will allow the cpu to idle a lot cooler and that the 4870 doesnt get overly hot... hoping
i was planning on wiping the mahcine and installing windows again fresh becuase there is a lot of junk that has accumulated, also it seems like the right time, especially when messing around with the graphics drivers!
is there anything that i have overlooked/forgetting?
thanks again guys - i always appreciate your help
cpu: Q8200 @ stock - runs at 60 degrees idle with arctic freezer pro 7, read on...
ram: corsair ddr2 4gb
mobo: asus p5ql-epu
case: generic rubbish - no airflow
gfx: palit 1gb 9500gt
psu: 350w generic rubbish
hdd: 250gb boot, wd 2tb, deskstar 2tb
i have some components to upgrade it with:
psu: antec basiq 550w modular
gfx: ati radeon hd 4870 512mb xfx (non-reference)
case: antec 300
case fans: thermalright 88cfm fans
the big problem is that the flat is incredibly hot (it is 16 degrees outside, 22 degrees in my room). I have theroom fan on max all year round. When i first upgraded the cpu, i put arctic silver 5 on it but i was an absolute noob and took the heatsink off the check the paste had spread nicely *MORON* my cpu idles at 60 degrees and i have never stress tested becuase i dont want it to burn out
my plan was:
1) take apart machine
2) clean all the components
3) reapply mx4 to the cpu properly this time
4) install the psu in the antec 300
5) install the mobo+cpu+heatsink+ram in the new case
6) connect the front panel connectors
7) install hdd's and dvd drive
8) hook everything up
9) test
i am hoping that the better air flow in the antec 300 and the new thermal paste will allow the cpu to idle a lot cooler and that the 4870 doesnt get overly hot... hoping
i was planning on wiping the mahcine and installing windows again fresh becuase there is a lot of junk that has accumulated, also it seems like the right time, especially when messing around with the graphics drivers!
is there anything that i have overlooked/forgetting?
thanks again guys - i always appreciate your help
