Need Help With Building a New Computer

I think I might build a new computer during the summer when school is over. Right now, I have a Dell Dimension 2400. I have some questions.

1. If I upgrade the motherboard, I would need a compatible CPU, CPU fan, RAM, power supply, and graphics card with the motherboard. Is there anything else required?

2. How will I know if the hard drive, power supply, and motherboard will fit in my computer case? Is it just a matter of the size and screwing everything in, or are there plugs or compatibility issues to look at?

3. I am planning on just putting everything in my Dell Dimension 2400 case and remove the rest already in it. Can I use anything already in my Dell Dimension 2400 that is required from my previous questions (ex. hard drive)?

May I please request that someone make a list of anything I need or might need to build my new computer in my Dell Dimension 2400 case?
Thanks

 

Dell cases/motherboards are not compatible with other hardware, you will probably need to use another Dell motherboard, or replace the case as well.

 

Thanks for replying. Can you list all the things I will need to build my own computer? How will I know if the motherboard, power supply, and hard drive is compatible with the case? How will I know if the power supply and hard drive is compatible with the motherboard?

Thanks

 

Generally, it's best to assume that nothing of Dell's is compatible with anything that isn't dell, outside the obvious, so you can keep the disk drives at least. The power supply, case and motherboard will all have to be changed together though, and if your PC is old or you want to upgrade the CPU, you will need a new motherboard. You will also need to buy a graphics card, as the graphics on your current system are integrated to the motherboard.
Before I recommend you parts to buy, what will this new system be for? Just Web browsing and watching normal videos? HD video playback? Multimedia work? Games?

 

This PC will be for gaming. So all I can use from my old system is the disc drives? Can I use the hard drive? How will I know if the motherboard, power supply, and hard drive is compatible with the case? How will I know if the power supply and hard drive is compatible with the motherboard? Thanks

 

Dell PSUs are a different shape so will not fit in normal cases, and Dell motherboards and cases use different electrical connectors for the front panel, so only a Dell board can be used with a dell case, and vice versa. Changing these three components is a given if you want to upgrade.
The Hard disk will be compatible with any new motherboard you buy, however if you have two CD-ROM drives, then you may need to get an adapter for one of them, as newer motherboards only allow two old-style (IDE) drives to be plugged in at once, rather than four like old boards do. These adapters are very cheap though.
What games do you plan on playing, and how big a monitor will you be using. Lastly, and most importantly, what's your budget for the upgrade?

 

I don't plan on making it right now, but currently I am playing Team Fortress 2, maybe later I might get Far Cry 2. I have a 27 inch monitor running at 1024x768 pixels and don't plan on buying another one. My budget is anything less than $1,000. I would like the new i7 processors (or Core 2 Quad) if that is possible within my budget, and maybe try overclocking it. So right now were are looking at a new CPU, motherboard, RAM, case, and power supply. I would like to use my HD, disc drive, and Nvidia GeForce 8500 from my old system. Is there anything else?

 

A i7 for that really isn't necessary, and i7s are no better than Core 2 Quads for gaming anyway. That aside, For $1000 you won't be able to build an i7 system. If you're keeping the Geforce 8500 then why are you upgrading? The Geforce 8500 you have, is it AGP or PCI express?

 

I guess I will upgrade that at some point, but it seems to work perfectly with TF2 already. My cousins have the same one but for PCI-E (I have PCI) and it works perfectly. Right now for me, it lags when there are tons of people on the screen and my cousins do not have that problem. Maybe when I get Far Cry 2 I will upgrade it to a 9800. SO I guess I will go with a Core 2 Quad processors then.

I see there are barebones kits at TigerDirect. Couldn't I just buy one of them with the Core 2 Quad CPU in it and just put everything together? Is the link below a good deal, that was the best one I could find? How do I know what drivers I need for this? Could I OC the CPU included in the kit?

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4319598&CatId=3446

 

Perfectly isn't really the word. It works well enough with reduced graphical detail, and you're happy to accept that, which is fine. However, there are many more demanding games out there than TF2, and if you want to play those later on, a more powerful graphics card will be a necessity. A PCI 8500GT is a very, VERY weak graphics card by comparison these days, and any game above Team Fortress 2 will require an upgrade. The good news is that that card will still work in a new motherboard.
TigerDirect barebones are often awful. This one isn't much different. They use Ultra cases, which are fine, but Ultra power supplies, which are positively dangerous, and unreliable XFX Geforce motherboards. You will do far better to build a system yourself (as you still would with this barebone) but using separate parts. A Core 2 Quad Q9300 or 9400, 4GB of Corsair PC6400 RAM, something like an NZXT Alpha and Corsair VX 450W power supply would be streets ahead of that barebone kit.

 

Okay. So how will I know if the motherboard and power supply will work with my computer case? What motherboard, power supply, and case would you recommend that fits in my price budget?

 

I have just suggested a case and power supply above. For a motherboard, if you decide to use AMD, this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128352
For Intel, this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359

 

I found the case at Newegg. Can you give me the link to the power supply.

 

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139003

 

If I do upgrade my graphics card in the future, wouldn't I need more than 450 watt. I was looking at the Radeon 4870 and it requires a 500 watt power supply.

 

That's a recommended guideline, not all PSUs put out what they say they do, so it's a safety comfort zone. The typical PC with a Radeon HD4870 in it will use no more than about 270W. The 450 will be fine with a 4870, as I only use a 520W Corsair with an HD4870X2. If you would like some extra breathing room though, for perhaps more hard drives, then you can go with the 550W version here:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139004

 

Shouldn't the RAM be DDR2 1066 (PC3 8500), not PC6400? It says the RAM you need is DDR2 1066 on the motherboard specs page. Can you give me a link to the correct RAM?

 

That's up to. You can use any speed below it, just not above it, and even then it'll work, but it'll just slow down.

 

Okay, thanks. Do you have a link on how to OC the processor and graphics card, Or should I just contact you when I finally decide to make my computer?

Do I need thermal paste for the processor, or does it come with the processor?

 

Post in our official overclocking thread!

Thermal paste is already applied to the CPU stock cooler, you just attach the cooler and off you go. You only need worry about thermal paste and cleaning if you decide to change to a different cooler later on.