Build new pc out of older hardware

By L1520
in The Hobby Corner

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L1520

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Hi there,

I'm considering giving my pc a new lease of life and install in a new case...it works fine, though I'd like to take my time bit by bit & buy parts over a period of time so I can afford it. I need a project always to keep focus and learn new things.

I have a limited budget but want higher performance than my Dell Dimension 9200C currently gives.

Any help/advise on building a cost effective, durable, fast, QUIET (small if possible) desktop PC in a new box would be appreciated!

I wont be doing any hardcore gaming, just mainly internet browsing, MS Office documents, itunes (for my girlfriends iPad & iPhone), media consumption.

I'll give you a low down on my current spec :-

  • Dell Dimension 9200C (purchased early 2007)
  • Dell 9200C original BTX case
  • Q6600 2.00GHz quad core processor (B3 step) -> installed 18 months ago when upgraded from E6400 2.13GHz core 2 duo
  • 4GB DDR2 RAM (originally 2GB)
  • Intel P45 or G45 chipset (cant remember which)
  • ATI Radeon X1300 Pro 256MB dedicated graphics card (not particularly easy getting compatibility with Windows 8 CP)
  • 640GB WD caviar HDD (7200rpm)
  • Standard PSU
  • USB 2.0 multi-socket (using pci slot)
  • Linksys WMP-300 wireless network adapter (pci-slot)
  • Hauppauge HVR-4000 tv card
  • Dell 22" monitor
  • Buffalo 2.0TB raided external HDD for media

Items to definitely salvage to install in new case :-

  • 2.0 Q6600 processor
  • 4GB RAM (may upgrade to 8GB at some point??)
  • 640GB HDD (SSD is more preferable but unsure if affordable)
  • Hauppauge HVR-4000 tv card
  • Dell 22" monitor
  • Buffalo 2.0TB raided external HDD for media
  • Linksys WMP-300 wireless network adapter (pci-slot)

Items to possibly salvage to install in new case :-

  • USB 2.0 multi-socket (using pci slot) [iF USB 3.0 is not affordable)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

New items I need advise on please :-

  • A case
  • A future-proof motherboard
  • PSU
  • Dedicated Graphics card (with HDMI out and Windows 8 compatible)
  • Touch-centric "pad" instead of touch based screen (similar to a large mouse track pad?)
  • Anything else I need (i.e. PSU etc)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I cant wait to hopefully hear some of your ideas, I'd be ever so grateful for your help.

Thanks in advance.

Kind regards,

WP7.

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