I'm looking for any re-build advice you may have to offer. I'm planning on replacing my motherboard and CPU chip, due to the problems as detailed here:
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/312485-31-p5nsli-post
I was planning on sticking with a socket 775 build (rather than going for a core i7-type) chip to keep costs constrained as well as my semi-recently purchased DDR2 RAM. My computer is running WindowsXP (dual boot with Debian), which I intend to "repair" to accommodate the new board/chip (and I think there will be fewer conflicts and less chance of having to reformat and do a complete re-install of both OSes).
I'm planning on replacing my current motherboard (P5NSLI) with a P5N-D, both from Asus. I'll be keeping my GSkill 800MHz DDR2 RAM, tower case, and my NXZT 500W PS (unless you know that model of PS to be completely hemorrhaging watts).
I'm currently conflicted on chips to use...
So, a few potentially unrelated questions
1) if doing a "repair install" of WindowsXP will it a) try to repartition my drive, thus wiping out my Grub bootloader and/or Debian install b) Demolish any program installs I've performed, necessitating re-install of Microsoft, Adobe and other products? I hate reinstalling stuff. On this note: would I be able to use a safe-mode boot to go into windowsXP to check on what I have installed and/or do a backup via USB before doing the repair install (given a different processor/motherboard).
2) As I had problems with overheating in the past and intend to keep the same case, preventing heat generation is important to me. To that end, I'm considering the following chips: E8500 (dual core), Q8400S or Q8200S, Q8300. I think the 8300 is out due to power drain, and thus heat generation, but I cannot confirm this as the the E6600 (my current chip) is not listed on the 2010 benchmarks where I can find the 8500 and 8x00 so I don't know if the systems used for Prime95 comparisons are similar. The Q8x00S chips seem to be about $70 more than the E8500 by current pricing. However, if my load is only 4W higher at full load for the 8400S than the E8500 and 2W lower at idle, the increase in performance may be worth it, especially if the 65nm E6600 drained more power than either of these two options (and the Q8300 would be back in play if it drains less energy than the E6600). But I'd appreciate any further input on this matter.
3) Can I install an air filter on just about any case? Will this inhibit airflow and thus increase heating, or do you feel that keeping the dust out will actually keep my temps lower? Could I do this by just cutting a piece of foam and attaching it to the outside of the case where the fan intakes are? Or would I need a structure (provided by a screen, etc) to prevent the foam from degrading or getting caught in the blade and making my overheating problem worse.
http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/312485-31-p5nsli-post
I was planning on sticking with a socket 775 build (rather than going for a core i7-type) chip to keep costs constrained as well as my semi-recently purchased DDR2 RAM. My computer is running WindowsXP (dual boot with Debian), which I intend to "repair" to accommodate the new board/chip (and I think there will be fewer conflicts and less chance of having to reformat and do a complete re-install of both OSes).
I'm planning on replacing my current motherboard (P5NSLI) with a P5N-D, both from Asus. I'll be keeping my GSkill 800MHz DDR2 RAM, tower case, and my NXZT 500W PS (unless you know that model of PS to be completely hemorrhaging watts).
I'm currently conflicted on chips to use...
So, a few potentially unrelated questions
1) if doing a "repair install" of WindowsXP will it a) try to repartition my drive, thus wiping out my Grub bootloader and/or Debian install b) Demolish any program installs I've performed, necessitating re-install of Microsoft, Adobe and other products? I hate reinstalling stuff. On this note: would I be able to use a safe-mode boot to go into windowsXP to check on what I have installed and/or do a backup via USB before doing the repair install (given a different processor/motherboard).
2) As I had problems with overheating in the past and intend to keep the same case, preventing heat generation is important to me. To that end, I'm considering the following chips: E8500 (dual core), Q8400S or Q8200S, Q8300. I think the 8300 is out due to power drain, and thus heat generation, but I cannot confirm this as the the E6600 (my current chip) is not listed on the 2010 benchmarks where I can find the 8500 and 8x00 so I don't know if the systems used for Prime95 comparisons are similar. The Q8x00S chips seem to be about $70 more than the E8500 by current pricing. However, if my load is only 4W higher at full load for the 8400S than the E8500 and 2W lower at idle, the increase in performance may be worth it, especially if the 65nm E6600 drained more power than either of these two options (and the Q8300 would be back in play if it drains less energy than the E6600). But I'd appreciate any further input on this matter.
3) Can I install an air filter on just about any case? Will this inhibit airflow and thus increase heating, or do you feel that keeping the dust out will actually keep my temps lower? Could I do this by just cutting a piece of foam and attaching it to the outside of the case where the fan intakes are? Or would I need a structure (provided by a screen, etc) to prevent the foam from degrading or getting caught in the blade and making my overheating problem worse.
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