Graphics card setting help.

[Importz2k1]

Just looking to help, yes, you should be good now. The video card, RAM, hard drives will all be fine. Wait until RW3 and see what it brings to the table.

You're awesome, thanks for looking out. I have a couple more simple questions then I'm done:
When replacing the mother board, will I have to install windows 7 and video drivers again? Or is that only when replacing the hard drive?
And the last question, I'm going to save my old mother board, graphics card, and power supply for a later build for one of my kids. How do you find out what parts are compatible? Like in my situation where I bought a cpu that my motherboard could not handle?

Again, thanks for all the help. I only wish I would not have been intimidated to build my own pc instead of buying one already built. I could have had a better system for the same price . Live and learn I guess. I found this video last night and I'll post it for people just like me. Don't be affraid anymore!!!! lol
It's 2 hours long, but it's step by step video on how to build a gaming pc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUY0tP5jYIo&feature=related

[arizonachris]

When you install the new board and CPU, then hook up the drive with Win 7 on it, because you made a major change, you will have to re-authenticate Win 7. Means a call to Microsoft. Make sure you have the existing key code, should be on a sticker on the side of the case, maybe on top.

As for what's compatable with the old board, what will it be used for? Gaming? Just surfing the Net and maybe watching movies?

There is another great resource for how to build a PC, that's Maximum PC's website.

[Importz2k1]

I don't think building it for gaming would be feesible, I was able to play The Sims 3 without any problems but my son is heavy into shooters on the xbox. I can't justify spending another 300.00 to 500.00 to ugrade it when there are 2 Xbox 360's and a PS3 in the house. So I'm basically thinking just a regular pc for the kids or to replace my wife's office (dinosaur) where she keeps her Quickbooks and other programs.
I would already have:
ECS MCP61_M3 NVIDIA GeForce 6150SE AM3 mATX Motherboard.
450W Power supply
4gb DDR3 1066 MHZ memory
MSI Radeon HD5450 1GB DDR3 graphics card

I would only need a cpu compatible to my mother board that is better than the AMD Athlon X2 5200+ AD5200OCK22GM Processor - Dual-Core, 1MB L2 Cache, 2.30GHz, Socket AM3 it came with
Her existing hard drive plus the addition of a second one
A CD/DVD drive and possibly a DVD burner
And a case, done deal.

[arizonachris]

Your old board, with the Athlon CPU and graphics card, should be fine for non-gaming. I suspect you will need RAM, a PSU and a DVD burner. Maybe a case. Head over to New Egg's website. They have the best prices and service. Probably get a case with free shipping like I did.

[Importz2k1]

So I'm starting to learn how all this works, I went up on Gigabyte's website to look up compatible cpu's for the Gigabyte Motherboard GA-880GM-D2H AMD AM3 880G/SB710 PCI Express DDR3 that I purchased hoping to find my Phenom II X4 980 3.70 GHz Processor - Socket AM3 PGA-938 that is on the way, and it's not on the list. The
970/975/1035/1045/1055/1065/1075/1090/1100 are all there. So I shoot them an email asking them if I can still use it and this is what I get:

Dear Customer,

The 980 processor is currently under validation. Once all testing has been completed, it will be listed on our website CPU support list.

Thank you for choosing Gigabyte products

So, Do I use it or do I wait? What would you do?


Jay

[arizonachris]

OK, here's the rub. If that CPU is not recognized by the board's BIOS (the CPUID) then the board may not set the correct timings or voltage. There is a chance the chip could fry, but it's not likely.That board is Hexa core ready, so I don't see why it won't support that quad core.

What I would do? Throw it in. Start and go into BIOS. Have all the numbers for the CPU (voltage, speed, multiplier) on hand. See if the BIOS recognizes the CPU. If it says "unknown CPU" shut it off. If it recognizes the CPU, you are good to go!

In the past, I have had a bleeding edge CPU that a board's BIOS didn't recognize. I set the voltage and timings manually, went to the manufacturer's website, downloaded a BIOS update, installed it and Weeeeeeeeeee!

[Importz2k1]

At the risk of sounding really ignorant, will the manual for the motherboard tell me step by step on how to do the bios update? I tried to look at some videos on youtube and the ones that I found require added progrmas to install them. I am confident I can install everything, but as far as making everything work I am now starting to get worried that maybe i'm in over my head.

[arizonachris]

Most motherboard manufacturers include a BIOS update that you can run once Windows is installed. But, if BIOS doesn't recognize the CPU, it could be damaged. Not trying to scare you out of doing this, I have been doing all this stuff for ten years now so for me it's a walk in the park.

I guess now your best bet is just to install all the components and fire it up. Gawd, I hope this advice doesn't screw things up. If you can boot into Windows, load the BIOS update software from the CD that came with the motherboard. Run the update and install it. Reboot and see if the BIOS ID's the CPU correctly.

Now, as I said before, on first boot, go into BIOS. If the BIOS already ID's the CPU correctly, you are good to go!

More often than not, the manual that comes with the motherboard is crap. If you get lucky, and you can translate from what was translated from Chinese to English, it may help.

[Importz2k1]

Thank you Chris, that's alot easier for me to understand. I'm a fast learner, it only takes for me to do something one time and I've got it. It's the initial one time that has me a little worried. I know a little about everything and alot about nothing but have the desire to learn. Tired of calling the computer repair guy for stupid stuff. The motherboard and ram have not shipped yet so I have some time to do some more reading.
You have been a great help my friend, and it is surely appreciated.


Jay

[arizonachris]

Anytime I can be of help, Jay, I'm more than happy to try. (yes, I did say try, there is always that unknown) You can also sign up and post at me tech support website in my Signature! Several of us there that can help with questions and problems and advice!