New Build with some recycled parts... Questions/Advice! Please

[Ballistic]

current computer: HP PAVILION A6347C


It's specs are as follows

16X DVD(+/-)R/RW 12X RAM (+/-)R DL LightScribe SATA drive

Windows 7 Ultimate 64Bit

AMD ATHLON64 X2 DUAL CORE 5600+ 2.8GHZ

3X2GB Kingston 667MHz DDR2

Asus EN9600GT TOP

Realtek High definition Audio

2X Seagate Barracuda 320GB 7200RPM

BFG Tech GS series 500 watts

HP Brand Nettle2 mobo #MCP61PM-HM

Chipset: GeForce 6150SE nForce 430


I plan to reuse the hard drives, ram, power supply, graphics card and the cd/dvd rom



I have purchased the following items to replace the case, mobo and cpu



mobo.... Newegg.com - BIOSTAR A770E AM3/AM2+/AM2 AMD 770 ATX AMD Motherboard

cpu.... Newegg.com - AMD Athlon II X3 450 Rana 3.2GHz 3 x 512KB L2 Cache Socket AM3 95W Triple-Core Desktop Processor ADX450WFGMBOX

flashy case lol... Newegg.com - NZXT LEXA S LEXS - 001BK Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case



My concerns come into play at the cpu and mobo... they are both rated for 95W Thermal Design Power... Does this mean I would have no room to play with overclocking if I chose to actually learn how to do that in the future? I also intend to attempt at unlocking the fourth core on the cpu... It's said that if I'm successful I will incur added heat that was not accounted for when AMD selected the stock heat sink and fan that they include in the package... As such I would need to buy an aftermarket heatsink and fan package... I'm partial to either the "Arctic Cooler 7 Pro" or the "Cooler Master Hyper 212"... The thing is that the mobo was very cheap.... On sale for only $50 bucks shipped so I grabbed it without really taking everything into account... turns out the ram dimms are nestled right next to the cpu slot... Because of this any of the larger aftermarket heatsinks would overlap the dimm slots... so I wonder if the heatsink pipes will be long enough to make the heat sink fins themselves actually clear the ram.... I also plan to upgrade the psu to something in the 750W range as well as upgrade the gpu to an ati 5770 but that won't happen for a few months due to lack of funds at present.... I also want to thank anyone that is willing to offer their opinion or advice addressing my concerns, I'm certain you have better things to do with your time but my level of tech knowledge is very limited.. I have pretty much only ever replaced parts like psu or graphics cards along with a few cpu replacements but exact replacements so no real brains involved in such a trivial task... I know a lot of the folks that frequent this board are true pros so I figured the best place to throw out all this information and hope for expert responses would be at the Windows 7 forum!

 

[Darician]

No objections really. It will run just fine. If anything, if you're willing to spend a bit more, you can get a quad core Athlon II X4. But apart from that, looks good.

 

[Ballistic]

No objections really. It will run just fine. If anything, if you're willing to spend a bit more, you can get a quad core Athlon II X4. But apart from that, looks good.

Thank you for the reply... At this point though, it's not a viable option to go with a better cpu because I already have the cpu and mobo... The only thing that hasn't arrived yet is the case... Also thinking that I may wait on the build until I order and receive an aftermarket heatsink and fan.... Just because it seems like it would be easier to do everything at the same time, rather then go in later and possibly need to pull the mobo to attach the bracket for the aftermarket cooler... This is a problem though because I cannot decide on a heatsink and fan due to my previously mentioned concerns

 

[Ballistic]

One more thing... I have Windows 7 Ultimate on the current setup and I plan to use the same hard drives and key to activate after I'm done with the build... Will the key work after changing things up or will I have to some how get another key ?

 

[Nigsy]

One more thing... I have Windows 7 Ultimate on the current setup and I plan to use the same hard drives and key to activate after I'm done with the build... Will the key work after changing things up or will I have to some how get another key ?

As long as it's not OEM you will be fine, or at leat I've never had an issue.

 

[Ballistic]

It's retail

 

[LiquidSnak]

You might not even have to muck around with re-installing windows.

Newegg.com - ZALMAN CNPS 9300AT SuperFlo CPU Cooler

I recommend Zalman coolers to everyone now that I have tried their product

 

[Ballistic]

You might not even have to muck around with re-installing windows.

Newegg.com - ZALMAN CNPS 9300AT SuperFlo CPU Cooler

I recommend Zalman coolers to everyone now that I have tried their product

Looks nice... I could get that one but are you sure it will clear the ram dimms? And what do you mean when you say "You might not even have to muck around with re-installing windows." ?

 

[LiquidSnak]

If your install is good, you might be able to plug your HDD in and run it. If you mount that cooler so that the long way is vertical it should be no wider than the cooler mount on your MoBo.

 

[Ballistic]

If your install is good, you might be able to plug your HDD in and run it. If you mount that cooler so that the long way is vertical it should be no wider than the cooler mount on your MoBo.

So after installing and getting everything together... I could possibly just turn on my computer without reformatting and doing a clean install... I mean your saying it's not outside of the realm of reasoning that it could all work fine without reinstalling or doing anything more then adding the hdd and letting it go?

 

[Zeplash]

Definite!!

 

[LiquidSnak]

Precisely

 

[Ballistic]

Thanks

 

[James Colbert]

So after installing and getting everything together... I could possibly just turn on my computer without reformatting and doing a clean install... I mean your saying it's not outside of the realm of reasoning that it could all work fine without reinstalling or doing anything more then adding the hdd and letting it go?

Possible, but not optimal. Also possible under those circumstances is the neccessity of a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

I myself believe it better to start with a clean install.

James

 

[Ballistic]

So after installing and getting everything together... I could possibly just turn on my computer without reformatting and doing a clean install... I mean your saying it's not outside of the realm of reasoning that it could all work fine without reinstalling or doing anything more then adding the hdd and letting it go?

Possible, but not optimal. Also possible under those circumstances is the neccessity of a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

I myself believe it better to start with a clean install.

James

So repair install then clean install ??? -scratches head-

 

[linnemeyerhere]

Highly suggest using a Corsair H50 or better yet H70 cooler and please compare with the Cool-it systems. Sealed water systems will cool well beyond any air system I'm aware of with all the risks of water removed. Then upgrade the corsair fan to two Noctura's or similar in a push pull configuration out the back of the case. Heat being the enemy of any system and for sure any OC'd system.

 

[James Colbert]

So after installing and getting everything together... I could possibly just turn on my computer without reformatting and doing a clean install... I mean your saying it's not outside of the realm of reasoning that it could all work fine without reinstalling or doing anything more then adding the hdd and letting it go?

Possible, but not optimal. Also possible under those circumstances is the neccessity of a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

I myself believe it better to start with a clean install.

James

So repair install then clean install ??? -scratches head-

No. I suggest a clean install, but if not, putting the old drive with new components may require a repair install.

Also, since you are changing the motherboard, have you verified that your existing RAM will be compatible with the new board? There is a good chance that it will not be.

Again, a clean install is the best way to go if you want the best out of your new system.

James

 

[Ballistic]

Possible, but not optimal. Also possible under those circumstances is the neccessity of a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

I myself believe it better to start with a clean install.

James

Why wouldn't the ram work ?? It's DDR2 667 and the mobo is for DDR2 533/667/800/1066

So repair install then clean install ??? -scratches head-

No. I suggest a clean install, but if not, putting the old drive with new components may require a repair install.

Also, since you are changing the motherboard, have you verified that your existing RAM will be compatible with the new board? There is a good chance that it will not be.

Again, a clean install is the best way to go if you want the best out of your new system.

James

Why wouldn't my ram work ?? The mobo is rated to work with DDR2 533/667/800/1066... My ram is DDR2 667mhz

 

[James Colbert]

Something you don't mention is whether you have a retail Win 7 disk or if it came with your HP Pavillion? If it came with your HP (OEM), it will not be of use on your 'new' system regardless of a clean or repair install. OEM windows are locked to the OEM equipment and will not install to a new system or new motherboard.

If indeed your windows version is OEM, you can buy the upgrade (cheaper) version of win7 only if you have a retail version of XP or Vista.

James

 

[Ballistic]

It's retail