Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Building my first machine

Nov 6, 2004 2:09AM PST

upgrading my old machine with athlon 64 bit 3200 & asus "K8V SE Deluxe" mobo with VIA K8T800 chipset. does the 64 bit architexture (boy, I know how to spell) jive with XP SP2?? heard there may be some issues. have two hd's now--1 for OS & 1 for music. is it easier to reformat my OS hard drive or just add another one for ease of install. can use another anyway for tons of pics. updating PS to 420 W. enermax. want 1024 ram. single or dual stick? does it make a difference? brand? kingston, crucial or corsair? does AMD usually come with quality heat sink and fan? any and all help and advice welcome. just need to find good case now. I'm a wannabe gamer what are some good choices for graphics card without having to make a loan from the bank?? thanks again. email is welcome.

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Some answers, the retail boxed CPU's
Nov 6, 2004 2:19AM PST

come with a HSF suited for the CPU all with a 3 year warranty.

Not sure about the SP2.

For gaming get a server case with beacoup fans. Thermaltake and Enermax have some great ones with a top fan and a side fan as well as the normal intake, exhaust and Poewer Supply fan. Buy the case sans power supply and buy a good supply separately.

Go to http://www.newegg.com amnd get to look at cases and photos of each case inside and out.

Is that the socket 939 CPU and Mobo?? If it is, the CPU [the MCH is on the chip] will support dual channel memory. If so get "matched" set. The socket 754 MCH cpu does NOT support dual channel although the FX version of the CPU does.

Very important to realize that the MCH is on the CPU, no longer part of the northbridge chip of the chipset. Thus the term FSB no longer has any real meaning.

- Collapse -
In short, XP's SP2 uses the 64bit extensions.
Nov 6, 2004 2:19AM PST

Well discussed so I'm leaving this a very short reply.

Bob

- Collapse -
(NT) (NT) Thanx Robert, been wondering about that rumor.
Nov 6, 2004 2:20AM PST