Dear all, my PC is a Mesh from 2007 and has been fine (apart from very noisy fan which I should have changed ages ago)and has run Cubase through SL2 SL3 Studio 4 and now 6.5. I've now reached the point where I should take the plunge and leap from XP to W7 and all the reinstalling fun that entails so I though I'd treat myself and by a decent PC dedicated to the job. Next thought was that why don't I just build a new one around the one I have already? New motherboard, quiet power supply, W7 and reinstall software.
Is this a difficult thing to do? Am I barking up the wrong tree entirely? Anyone done this recently?
All wisdom gratefully received

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All the gear and no idea...that's me

I work in I.T building pcs often, I've found it's the best and cheapest way to get a decent spec pc. It's not too difficult to build. Motherboard manuals are normally pretty useful and give diagrams as to where things should go, the wiring is a bit more confusing but essentially everything is labelled. If you've already got a pc though you can use that as a reference to where things should go, it won't be too different at all.

It's fairly easy to do as everything you need to know is on the internet.

http://www.buildyourown.org.uk/pc-building/

You just need to check to make sure everything you are going to buy will work together.

Things like will the Motherboard fit the case, the processor + memory fit the motherboard, will the Power Supply run everything you plan to have, and no devices needing exclusive use of the same resources.

It's not a hard job, if you're that way inclined.

But I'd question whether it's worth retaining much, if anything, of the old computer. There are some very nice, affordable "quiet" cases available. Hard drives are cheap. You might as well start over and leave the old one as a functioning computer - a quick wipe and re-install of XP will leave it quite capable of useful work.

Don't bother trying to reuse any of the old one. It will be much easier to start fresh - the hardest part would be making sure you have all the legacy interconnects you need for the old components. Besides, you really want the old one available until you are sure you have transferred all your files.

Main thing is to be careful about static electricity, to remember that things should not need to be forced, and if you have to put thermal paste anywhere, remember that it is not sunscreen - a thick swath is not better.

Check out scan.co.uk,I have always had good advice from them,and their website is very good.

If you want to choose your own parts,they will tell you if they go with everything.

Alan

Quote damoore:

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if you have to put thermal paste anywhere, remember that it is not sunscreen - a thick swath is not better.

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This!
Generally you want the thinnest possible smear that will cover the whole area, then press firmly with just a little wiggle to squeeze out any remaining excess - in fact the better you've got it the harder it will be to do the wiggle.

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It wasn't me!
(Well, actually, it probably was)

Howdy neighbour!

As one who is a computer numpty but electronically fairly savvy I will give you my view.
Yes,leave the old pc V intacta. You WILL need the internet and the guys here.

Unless you want to build a cutting edge, super fast PC to score the next "Pirates" I would not bother to build since you will not save very much money these days. I have a HP 2x2.7G 2G ram (yes, an upgrade is ALWAYS being considered!) and that does my son very well running Cubase E6 and Samplitude SE8. You can as I have done, fit a second hard drive for music only. It also has a 2496 card in it and latency using an Evolution dumb keyboard is minimal (regardless of what tastey outboard, usb or fussywire AI you get I would always have a passing decent, 2 channel soundcard in a PC).

A bit over a year ago I bought an Asus MOBO and 2Gmem from Dabs (with whom I shall never deal again!) and it was 6 months of hassle on and off getting it stable. It is now pretty good, in my living room for iPlayer duties but still is not "quite right" I don't think. But then as I say "PC numpty!"

Dave.

Thanks guys, a mine of wisdom as ever. Major conclusion is keep the current one intact as I will undoubtably need the internet through the process. Am now off to do some research and costing.. I feel a project coming on!

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All the gear and no idea...that's me

How advanced are your needs? If an "off the shelf" machine from one of the major players will do the job - and they're pretty powerful these days, you can easily add a suitable audio interface - you probably won't save anything by a self-build. If nothing else, they seem able to buy Windows for tuppence, you'll have to pay full price.

If you're considering a more specialised computer, look at the specs of what e.g. Scan are offering, price up the parts and see if it's worth putting them together yourself.

I'm on my 2nd Carillon, never had any problems.

www.carillonac1.com

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'You know it's a bad role when Nic Cage passes on it.'

That was always plan B...

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All the gear and no idea...that's me