Changing Computer Cases

[97thruhiker]

Is their anything I should be aware of in getting a new case for my computer?  I built the computer originally but everything was new and unformatted when setting it up.  I guess I'm just wondering if in the process of breaking everything down to move it into the new case will I need to do anything about windows / hardrive storage.  I'm guessing it will be fine but just to be sure before I take it apart.  Additionally, If I decide to change the processor will anything special need to be done along these same lines (windows / hardrives)?  Thanks.

[loadman]

Assuming you are not changing any of the other hardware then putting it in a new case is no big deal as long as the power supply in the new case has sufficient power for your set-up (how many watts?)

If you have a Arcade Cab then it does not even need to be in a case at all.

Changing your Processor is a different story. You can only use processor that your motherboard supports.  If it is an old PC you are usually better off getting a new Motherboard Processor combo.

[loadman]

.

[97thruhiker]

Okay, thats what I was thinking.  I'm running 450W in my current case and I will most likely just use the same power supply as long as it fits whatever case i pick out (need a smaller case as my current one is a little to big).  My motherboard is only a year old and has a 939 socket so I think I'm good there (though reading the latest issue of Maximum PC it seems that AMD is phasing this socket out).  I currently have an Athlon 64 3200 series and was considering bumping it up to an Athlon 64 4000 series as they are down to $130 now.  Does anyone know what kind of performance upgrade I'd be looking at going between these?  Is it worth doing? 

[Tiger-Heli]

I don't think I would put $130 into a socket that was being phased out.

[97thruhiker]

Yeah its a little frustrating as a little over a year ago the 939 socket on AMD motherboards were all the rage.  Additionally that 4000 series was selling for over $400.  Well I'm not to worried about the phasing out of the 939 socket as it still is pretty widely followed in the Athlon 64FX series processors and I already have it on my current motherboard.  I was just wondering about the performance upgrade going from a 3200 to a 4000.

[Chris]

I've really stopped worrying about sockets.  Maybe I just don't upgrade often enough, but by the time I'm ready to upgrade either the socket, memory, or some other aspect has changed so much that a processor swap won't do.  The last time I was actually able to upgrade a system via processor swap was on a 486.

[Tiger-Heli]

I was just wondering about the performance upgrade going from a 3200 to a 4000.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/21/the_mother_of_all_cpu_charts_2005/page24.html#opengl

if it helps.

[stephenp1983]

Socket 939 is being replaced with AM2, I think however that it will be around for awhile longer as new sockets sometimes take awhile to get up to par.  The newest processors from Intel however are s uppose to surpass the amd ones in performance.  That's one of the reasons you saw the recent price drop.  I would stay with socket 939 and look at one of the dual core processors as they just took a big price drop.  If your building a new system them look into the core 2 duo by intel atm.

[97thruhiker]

Socket 939 is being replaced with AM2, I think however that it will be around for awhile longer as new sockets sometimes take awhile to get up to par.  The newest processors from Intel however are s uppose to surpass the amd ones in performance.  That's one of the reasons you saw the recent price drop.  I would stay with socket 939 and look at one of the dual core processors as they just took a big price drop.  If your building a new system them look into the core 2 duo by intel atm.

Yes I plan on sticking with the motherboard I have as its less then a year old.  I really wanted that 4000 series processor last fall when I built this thing but did not want to drop the money on it (had to buy all the other pieces for computer at the same time).  Now that its less then $140 I'm considering changing / upgrading.

I was just wondering about the performance upgrade going from a 3200 to a 4000.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2005/11/21/the_mother_of_all_cpu_charts_2005/page24.html#opengl

if it helps.

Thanks for the link