[Josh Dagreat]

And I have no bloody idea how to bring the Windows 7 hard drive over and make it primary without screwing up my software, graphics card, and all the other stuff... do I make sense?

Best way is a fresh install. You could even leave the XP HDD in and you will have a dual boot system, if desired.

By reinstalling W7 to the drive it will become primary automatically. Then when you boot up, you will be offered "W7" or "Older version of Windows" (Roughly worded.)

This avoids driver conflicts between mobos and is highly recommended.

I've never been a fan of swapping OS HDDs to a new mobo, then repairing everything that is broken. A fresh reinstall is the only/best way in my opinion.

[Lisa]

Best way is a fresh install. You could even leave the XP HDD in and you will have a dual boot system, if desired.

By reinstalling W7 to the drive it will become primary automatically. Then when you boot up, you will be offered "W7" or "Older version of Windows" (Roughly worded.)

This avoids driver conflicts between mobos and is highly recommended.

I've never been a fan of swapping OS HDDs to a new mobo, then repairing everything that is broken. A fresh reinstall is the only/best way in my opinion.

Alright so if I reinstall windows 7 on the 120Gb HDD and make the current 250GB HDD with XP on it a slave it should work fine?

[Stephanie Valentine]

Alright so if I reinstall windows 7 on the 120Gb HDD and make the current 250GB HDD with XP on it a slave it should work fine?

Yup. Are these SATA drives? If so, no need to make it a slave it will happen automatically with the W7 install. The W7 install supersedes the XP install.

P.S.

I guess if you like you could put the W7 connector in first SATA port but it's not necessary. You can swap boot devices in the BIOS should an issue pop up, but I doubt it will.

[Emmanuel Morales]

Yup. Are these SATA drives? If so, no need to make it a slave it will happen automatically with the W7 install. The W7 install supersedes the XP install.

P.S.

I guess if you like you could put the W7 connector in first SATA port but it's not necessary. You can swap boot devices in the BIOS should an issue pop up, but I doubt it will.

Yes they are all Sata.

Good to know the older 2 drives will automatically become a Slave. I was worried about plugging things in wrong there are so many wires ! :facepalm:

Thanks again for your help guys. I'll probably be doing all this tomorrow but I'll keep checking back to this thread in case you want to add anything else I should know. I'm not really confident doing this after all and I'm afraid I'll break something :unsure:

[Becky Cox]

Just take your time and be methodical about it.

It's quite simple really. You'll be surprised how easy in the end.

The cool thing with W7 is it's native driver support is awesome compared to XP. Much less missing hardware on first boot in the device manager. Though I still recommend you install the latest drivers for each piece of hardware.

[Robert Devlin]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for a laptop. I don't want to spend more than around ￡600 on it.

I'm looking for 4GB RAM, Windows 7 (64bit), 15.6" (or near enough) screen, a decent dual core or i3/i5 processor (1.8ghz upwards really), and a dedicated (and decent) graphics card... (The ATI Mobility Radeon 5000 series seems to be where I'm aiming at). I'd like a 500GB HDD as well, but that's not strictly necessary (I've got a 1.5TB external one which is half full, so there's not much of a problem there yet).

I basically want a half decent gaming/word processing/internet platform that I can move around relatively easily. HDMI port and bluetooth goodness would be good too. Is this a bit far fetched for the price?

Thanks in advance,
Alex

[Marine Arrègle]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for a laptop. I don't want to spend more than around ￡600 on it.

I'm looking for 4GB RAM, Windows 7 (64bit), 15.6" (or near enough) screen, a decent dual core or i3/i5 processor (1.8ghz upwards really), and a dedicated (and decent) graphics card... (The ATI Mobility Radeon 5000 series seems to be where I'm aiming at). I'd like a 500GB HDD as well, but that's not strictly necessary (I've got a 1.5TB external one which is half full, so there's not much of a problem there yet).

I basically want a half decent gaming/word processing/internet platform that I can move around relatively easily. HDMI port and bluetooth goodness would be good too. Is this a bit far fetched for the price?

Thanks in advance,
Alex

Sorry don't know the current exchange rate, but for a decent gaming laptop you'll probably be looking at atleast a grand US maybe $1200 depending upon where you get the laptop from. This one "might" fit the bill you are looking for it's on newegg and has some pretty decent specifications. It's about 2 notches above my laptop using the Core i7. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220696

Have a quick question for the techies of the forum here. I'm thinking about replacing my current stock cooling fan with this sweet http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835109021. If I replace my fan do I have to contact microsoft because I change a part in my computer because it is an OEM setup *I believe the OS is OEM not 100% sure*.

[Karine laverre]

Sorry don't know the current exchange rate, but for a decent gaming laptop you'll probably be looking at atleast a grand US maybe $1200 depending upon where you get the laptop from. This one "might" fit the bill you are looking for it's on newegg and has some pretty decent specifications. It's about 2 notches above my laptop using the Core i7. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220696

Have a quick question for the techies of the forum here. I'm thinking about replacing my current stock cooling fan with this sweet http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835109021. If I replace my fan do I have to contact microsoft because I change a part in my computer because it is an OEM setup *I believe the OS is OEM not 100% sure*.

The fan or the heatsink and fan?....

Those aren't really monitored by anything...

[Leah]

Sorry don't know the current exchange rate, but for a decent gaming laptop you'll probably be looking at atleast a grand US maybe $1200 depending upon where you get the laptop from. This one "might" fit the bill you are looking for it's on newegg and has some pretty decent specifications. It's about 2 notches above my laptop using the Core i7. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16834220696

Have a quick question for the techies of the forum here. I'm thinking about replacing my current stock cooling fan with this sweet http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835109021. If I replace my fan do I have to contact microsoft because I change a part in my computer because it is an OEM setup *I believe the OS is OEM not 100% sure*.

Thanks man, but I'm in the UK...no US $ for me I'm afraid and, worst of all, no Newegg

[Kayla Bee]

Hey guys,

I'm looking for a laptop. I don't want to spend more than around ￡600 on it.

I'm looking for 4GB RAM, Windows 7 (64bit), 15.6" (or near enough) screen, a decent dual core or i3/i5 processor (1.8ghz upwards really), and a dedicated (and decent) graphics card... (The ATI Mobility Radeon 5000 series seems to be where I'm aiming at). I'd like a 500GB HDD as well, but that's not strictly necessary (I've got a 1.5TB external one which is half full, so there's not much of a problem there yet).

I basically want a half decent gaming/word processing/internet platform that I can move around relatively easily. HDMI port and bluetooth goodness would be good too. Is this a bit far fetched for the price?

Thanks in advance,
Alex

This is the best I've found so far that's suitable:
http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/ASUS_K50ID_SX114X_Laptop_K50ID-SX114X/version.asp

What you're asking for I can't even find here in the States given the exchange rates

[Gemma Archer]

Hey, so I heard that PCI-E 2.0 cards are compatible with PCI-E x16 slots. But I also heard that it wouldn't run at it's maximum capability. Does it just degrade the card down to a point where it would run at the max ability of the PCI-E x16 slot? Or does it actually make the card worse than a card that was designed for PCI-E x16?

Bottom line: Is it a bad idea to buy a 2.0 card for a normal, PCI-E x16 slot?

Reason I ask is because the best PCI-E x16 card I can find is a Nvidia 8600. I don't know much about the 8 series, but I know a friend who has a 9500, and says it works well for him.

[FoReVeR_Me_N]

Hey, so I heard that PCI-E 2.0 cards are compatible with PCI-E x16 slots. But I also heard that it wouldn't run at it's maximum capability. Does it just degrade the card down to a point where it would run at the max ability of the PCI-E x16 slot? Or does it actually make the card worse than a card that was designed for PCI-E x16?

Bottom line: Is it a bad idea to buy a 2.0 card for a normal, PCI-E x16 slot?

Reason I ask is because the best PCI-E x16 card I can find is a Nvidia 8600. I don't know much about the 8 series, but I know a friend who has a 9500, and says it works well for him.

All PCI-E slot GPU's will run in PCI-E 16x mobo slots. You can put a 16x GPU into a 4x mobo slot and it will work, just not optimally. (It's still a x16 slot in physical dimensions, it's just crippled to run at 4x. Can be 8x as well.) A 2.0 GPU is backwards compatible with a 1.0 slot as well.

http://local-static4.forum-files.fobby.net/forum_attachments/0020/1409/800px-PCI_und_PCIe_Slots.jpg

So if you have a free 16x slot, any PCI-E GPU will fit!

[Jamie Lee]

The fan or the heatsink and fan?....

Those aren't really monitored by anything...

Would probably be both I imagine and i'm glad that component isn't monitored.

Do have 1 quick other question:

Should I stick with my 6gigs of Triple Channel set ram or would it be better to upgrade to 12 gigs down the road? Read different information and can't tell if my EVGAX58 MB can handle only 12 gigs or up to 24gigs. Newegg specs say 24 gigs, but i've read somewhere else that it only handles 12 gigs.

[D LOpez]

The fan on my graphics card is chirping. I had put some lube in there and it did the trick for a few days. Then it crept back. Did it again and it went away for a few hours. I don't know what else to do for it. Can it be replaced? It's an NVIDIA GeForce 9500 GT.

edit: nevermind

[Skrapp Stephens]

Would probably be both I imagine and i'm glad that component isn't monitored.

Do have 1 quick other question:

Should I stick with my 6gigs of Triple Channel set ram or would it be better to upgrade to 12 gigs down the road? Read different information and can't tell if my EVGAX58 MB can handle only 12 gigs or up to 24gigs. Newegg specs say 24 gigs, but i've read somewhere else that it only handles 12 gigs.

Stick with 6GB, nothing is going to require you to need 12GB.

Your mobo will also support up to 24GB.

[J.P loves]

Would probably be both I imagine and i'm glad that component isn't monitored.

Do have 1 quick other question:

Should I stick with my 6gigs of Triple Channel set ram or would it be better to upgrade to 12 gigs down the road? Read different information and can't tell if my EVGAX58 MB can handle only 12 gigs or up to 24gigs. Newegg specs say 24 gigs, but i've read somewhere else that it only handles 12 gigs.

I am using well waiting for my shipment of Mushkin 6GB ram... I have the x58 4way classified and heard that is the ram that gives the least amount of problems, since sometimes the motherboard can't read over a certain amount according to EVGA forums.

~~~~~~~~~


My question would be is it a good idea to buy a new dvd burner for a new computer build or just use my old one, as I would rather use the $30 for a new keyboard.

Hopefully I get an answer by the time I wake up as that is when I will place the order to newegg.

[Tamara Primo]

If it's working ok I'd just use the old DVD drive, unless you're unhappy with the speeds or something.

[Keeley Stevens]

So overall, do guys think I'd have to upgrade http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227261 pc at all or is it just fine? I plan on getting CoD: Black Ops, Two Worlds 2, and Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

Sorry about posting AGAIN about this pc but I just wanna make real sure that it'll be worth buying.

[Fiori Pra]

If it's working ok I'd just use the old DVD drive, unless you're unhappy with the speeds or something.

Alright I guess I'll just fiddle with my cart now...

[GLOW...]

So overall, do guys think I'd have to upgrade http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227261 pc at all or is it just fine? I plan on getting CoD: Black Ops, Two Worlds 2, and Amnesia: The Dark Descent.

Sorry about posting AGAIN about this pc but I just wanna make real sure that it'll be worth buying.

It's priced pretty well, and it'll have enough power to play those games. Whether you can pull max settings or not, I don't know, but you'll be just fine with that PC. The graphics card is better than my HD 4670 and I have no complaints with my PC.

[Genocidal Cry]

I'm trying to connect my PS2 to my computer monitor. Is there a (cheap) adapter I can buy to convert component video to HDMI/DVI?

[helen buchan]

I'm trying to connect my PS2 to my computer monitor. Is there a (cheap) adapter I can buy to convert component video to HDMI/DVI?

I don't see anything on the usual places... monoprice,google.
I use my PS2 with my monitor but mine has inputs for svideo/hdmi/dvi/component.

[Natasha Callaghan]

I'm trying to connect my PS2 to my computer monitor. Is there a (cheap) adapter I can buy to convert component video to HDMI/DVI?

http://www.a1components.com/itemdisplayn.aspx?item=12331

http://www.hdtvsupply.com/hdtocoad.html

The links provided are for the hardware options. Shop where you like.

[:)Colleenn]

http://www.a1components.com/itemdisplayn.aspx?item=12331

http://www.hdtvsupply.com/hdtocoad.html

The links provided are for the hardware options. Shop where you like.

Why are they all so expensive? :facepalm:

http://www.amazon.com/Component-video-YPbPr-Converter-Up-scale/dp/B0016SN49Y/ref=sr_1_2?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1283869738&sr=1-2

[Lynne Hinton]

Yup. Not a bad price either.