can this be done........

[raider]

i would like to upgrade my computer. it is a celeron dual core (yeah, i know, but it was high tech 3 years ago). i can get the amd phenom quad-core with a motherboard for around $260 from tigerdirect.

what i would like to know is: can i simply take out the old motherboard and processor, and put in the new one, hook all the peripherals up, install the operating system and everything should be good?

can this be done and does it sound a little too simple?

thanks.

[Sirius]

Depending on the RAM you have now and what the new board will use you may need to change that as well. The RAM you had 3 years ago would probably need to be upgraded anyway or it will just slow your system down. A memory upgrade actually makes a huge difference in performance.

Secondly, do you have a standalone video card or integrated? Or at least, does your new board have integrated graphics or not? If it is standalone, you need to decide if you are going to keep your current card and make sure the new board can support it - AGP versus PCI Express.

[BW]

Well drat. I had a big reply typed up by Sirius nailed it before me. :ugeek:

The only other things I wanted to mention were

(1) Windows activation theoretically might give you trouble if you are reusing the same license. Shouldn't be hard to work out anyway (assuming it does turn up).

(2) It's good to do a fresh OS install since that eliminates any possible issues with the old drivers sticking around. Remember to install your motherboard/chipset drivers after install.

[raider]

thanks for your responses guys, i appreciate it.

sirius,

the memory i have now is i believe, pc400, so i definitely will have to upgrade the memory. i am pleasantly surprised at the relative low cost of the newer memory, though. i also realise that the amount of memory has a major impact on the speed of the computer. i have a standalone video card, so i will keep it, unless of course i get some ridiculous deal on a newer, better one.

breadwinner,

'Remember to install your motherboard/chipset drivers after install.'

did you mean to say 'upgrade your motherboard/chipset drivers'?

i understand that upgrading the bios, drivers and other components are very important.

once again guys, thanks for the help.

[BW]

i have a standalone video card, so i will keep it, unless of course i get some ridiculous deal on a newer, better one.

Just curious, but what video card is it exactly?

Just throwing this out there, but video cards these days are pretty darn good for what they cost. The Radeon 4850 goes for $130US on amazon.com, which is a mind-bogglingly good deal compared to what you could have gotten back in '06.


'Remember to install your motherboard/chipset drivers after install.'

did you mean to say 'upgrade your motherboard/chipset drivers'?


Yes.

[Sirius]

No prob raider - on thing with the graphics card, just make sure it uses the same interface as your new board. You won't be able to use an AGP card on a PCI-e board and vice versa.