Will This Build Work? (and a Few Other Questions)

[nachosam98]

Okay so Christmas is right around the corner so I asked my parents for Christmas if i could get a computer upgrade. (so obviously i'm upgrading my old computer.) My parents said to me try to aim around $400. So I've picked my parts. (based them off of customac mini) but i changed a few things. here are the things im using:

CPU: Intel Core i3-540 3.06GHz (thats a definite one im getting)
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-H55N-USB3 OR GIGABYTE GA-H55M-UD2H I dont know which one to choose nor do i know the difference.
Graphics Card: ZOTAC NVIDIA GeForce GT240 1GB DDR3 OR ASUS EN8400GS Silent/P/512M GeForce 8400 GS 512MB definitely going to get the 1st one only if compatible
Hard Drive:I just wanted to know if you can use any hard drive because i want to save some money buy not purchasing a new hard drive.
Optical Drive: im probably going to get the Sony Optiarc 8X SATA DVD+/-RW Slim but i also wanted to know if hackintosh is compatible with any optical drive.
Ram: I'm almsot definite any ram will work but just to make sure i have 4 GB's or ram in this computer already. so just tell me out of these parts which would be the best build. THANKS YOU IN ADVANCE

 

[jindusingh]

Hi

Your CPU choice looks good.

Mobo: Do you want a microATx or mini thats a big difference between the two
H55N-USB3: mini, USB 3,
H55M-UD2H: micro , Firewire, more RAM slots (if need more than 8GB)
Personally, id go for the UD2H more space to work with esp if want good video card(s)

Graphics Card: If you do gaming go with GT240 otherwise 8400GS is fine

Hard Drive: any SATA HD

Optical Drive: Any SATA but SOny/Pioneer best for compatibility

Good Luck & Enjoy.

 

[marosell]

Don't know what your current setup is, but if it's DDR2, you won't be able to use the same RAM. You're going to need DDR3, preferably one that runs at a voltage max of 1.5v.

Nice picks on the motherboards. In my opinion, the best of both of those worlds is the H55M-USB3, which I just made a build with. It's micro (not mini) and it'll have usb3.

The i3-550 can usually be found for the same price as the 540, but theres not a big difference b/w the two.

Keep in mind if you reuse the same HDD, you're going to have issues backing up whatever you want to save; if you have files and documents you want to keep, you'll have to burn them to discs or backup to an external hdd. Besides, HDDs are super cheap nowadays. Just go ahead and get a second one ($50 or less), install OSX, and you can keep your old windows installation and files if you ever need it. Chameleon should find the installation no prob, and when you boot up, windows will install whatever new drivers it needs to interface with your new mobo. I think.

If you keep an eye out for deals, you might find a gt240 for $50 or less after rebate. Thats what I got and it works great.

Are you planning on recycling the power supply as well? Make sure it's got adequate watts and connectors.

EDIT: Honestly, unless your old computer doesn't run anymore or has serious problems (and depending on how many parts you can reuse), you're probably better off building from scratch and selling your old computer on craigslist than piecing it out into a new build. Even if it costs you $450-$500 for a bottom-up build, you might sell your old computer for $200-$300 depending on how old it is. Something to think about.

 

[nachosam98]

Thanks so much guys it really is a lot of help to me

But one thing i forgot to mention was if those motherboards came with a wireless adapter (so that i can connect to my wireless router) I already have my Xbox ethernet cable going around the walls i dont really want another one. I think instead of getting the best graphics card I'll get the other one for now because my computer has DDR2 Ram and eventually I'll get the betters graphics card. so i think this is what my build is going to be :

CPU: Intel Core i3-550 3.2GHz
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6819115065
Motherboard: GIGABYTE GA-H55M-UD2H
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6813128421
Graphics Card: ASUS GeForce 8400 GS 512MB (this one says DDR2 but it will still work with DDR3 right?)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814121360
Hard Drive: Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6822148433
Optical Drive: Sony Optiarc 8X SATA DVD+/-RW Slim
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6827118034
RAM: Mushkin Enhanced Essentials 4GB (2 x 2GB) with a voltage of 1.5v exact.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820146748
With Grand total of $390.94! ($425.93 if the motherboard doesnt come with a wireless adapter. HAWKING HAWNU1 USB 2.0 Wireless-150N Network Adapter)