This is one for the techies..

[Sidewinder]

I've decided to buy parts to update my dell xps gen 4 and have two questions.

1) I've decided to update 5 main things (HD,Motherboard,Gfx,Ram,Processor,PSU) , with these:

a)Hiper 880W 85% Efficient PSU - Quad SLI Ready, 4x 12V Rails


b)Zotac GTX280 1GB GDDR3 Dual DVI HDTV Out PCI-E Graphics Card


c)Corsair 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 XMS2 Memory Non-ECC Unbuffered CL5(5-5-5-18) Heat Spreader Lifetime Warranty


d)Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550 2.83GHz (FSB 1333MHz) Socket 775 L2 12MB Cache Retail Boxed Processor


e)Seagate ST3100340AS 1TB Hard Drive SATAII 7200rpm *32MB Cache* - OEM

f) motherboard??? I don't know

And I have two queries on this matter:

1)What motherboard should I get for these?

2)Will it fit into an xps gen 4 case?

Now, my second question is about the reliability of ebuyer. Who's had experience with this site and how was it?

[Peatie]

Unfortunately I can't give you any definitive answers, but a quick Google suggests that you might have problems...
(PSU standard, but strange shape? Custom fixtures for MB?)

From your list it sounds like you are upgrading everything apart from just the case... and as you can pick up a new case pretty cheaply, just buy a new one would be my suggestion!

Peatie.

[Robotek]

Originally Posted by Peatie

...
From your list it sounds like you are upgrading everything apart from the just the case... and as you can pick up a new case pretty cheaply, just buy a new one would be my suggestion!

Peatie.

What he said, very true. Keep the current one as a backup system or D/L machine or sell It and buy a new PC.

And you will gamble with some possible complications if you put the thing together on your own...(Risk of static discharge..., etc.) I ve put together a lot of PC`s in my hobby room... and done some damage while at it... not many times but It can happen.

Also, been reading there are some issues with the new gfx`s 280 or w/e they are called now... Search toms hardware for this, Im almost sure this news was in june 08.


Cheers,
Robo

[Mega]

I'm doing the exact same thing at the moment, even down to buying from Ebuyer!

I've already bought a 650W Corsair PSU which I am very happy with.

I am also purchasing c) d) and e) although I think theres another Quad core that may be better for me. On b) I think I'll be buying the Radeon 3850 but that because I've used ATI since 1998 and been very happy with them (on the whole)

I've also been trying to read up on f) too. I think I'll be buying ASUS is as far as I've got so far. I dont need the latest and greatest, so around £60ish for the mobo although you can pay double that depending on your budget.

As for reliability - I can recommend Ebuyer wholeheartedly - and should there be a problem - their returns procedure is good.

[Sidewinder]

Originally Posted by Mega

I'm doing the exact same thing at the moment, even down to buying from Ebuyer!

I've already bought a 650W Corsair PSU which I am very happy with.

I am also purchasing c) d) and e) although I think theres another Quad core that may be better for me. On b) I think I'll be buying the Radeon 3850 but that because I've used ATI since 1998 and been very happy with them (on the whole)

I've also been trying to read up on f) too. I think I'll be buying ASUS is as far as I've got so far. I dont need the latest and greatest, so around £60ish for the mobo although you can pay double that depending on your budget.

As for reliability - I can recommend Ebuyer wholeheartedly - and should there be a problem - their returns procedure is good.

Thanks guys.

I've noticed a huge huge flaw in my plan.

Dell's are assholes to modify.

So I guess I'll be making one from scratch.

[Mega]

Originally Posted by Sidewinder

Thanks guys.

I've noticed a huge huge flaw in my plan.

Dell's are assholes to modify.

So I guess I'll be making one from scratch.

From what you are buying - you pretty much are already? Just add a nice case.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/134797

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/115479

I'm trying to decide between these two.

[OnTarget]

You shouldn't decide on your ram before your motherboard. You should be matching the speed of the ram with the motherboard and the processor. All will have specs on their site for what you should use.

Oh and 1TB HDD may not be the best idea. They are still very highly priced compared to the smaller drives. I would be looking for multiple smaller to make up the size. You'll save a few bucks and wont cry as much when it breaks and you loose all your data.

[Mega]

Originally Posted by OnTarget

You shouldn't decide on your ram before your motherboard. You should be matching the speed of the ram with the motherboard and the processor. All will have specs on their site for what you should use.

Oh and 1TB HDD may not be the best idea. They are still very highly priced compared to the smaller drives. I would be looking for multiple smaller to make up the size. You'll save a few bucks and wont cry as much when it breaks and you loose all your data.

1 TB drive for £84 isn't expensive (including delivery). I paid £200 for 200GB 5 years ago and about £60 for 400GB about 6 months ago. I have never in 20 years of PC ownership had a HD failure. Might be the brand I buy, might be luck, might be how much I spend on cooling but has never happened so far

I agree about the ram - but basically I'll be buying 2 x 2gb ram sticks once I have decided on the motherboard - presume this is the same for the OP.

[Sidewinder]

Originally Posted by Mega

From what you are buying - you pretty much are already? Just add a nice case.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/134797

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/115479

I'm trying to decide between these two.

I've fallen in love with the coolermaster cosmos case (I was thinking about your first choice case though :P)


Nice big case for air to circulate.


And yah, I'm gonna be going with 2x2 sticks. I just named that paticular one to give an idea. Oh and Mega..how much do you spend on cooling? :P

[Sidewinder]

Oh and Mega? + rep for opening my eyes to Ati.

I'll be setting up two 4850's in crossfire mode. Tom's hardware says it's better than a single gtx 280 and i save 100 pounds.



EDIT:wierd..cant rep you.

It says i cant give to that post.