New here- Ordered a Q6600 from Newegg for my CPU changeover. Ran into some problems being a NOOB!

I have an older DELL 9100 dimension sys. I want to upgrade the Mobo so that a Q6600 will work. Apparently, even though the system has a 775 socket the BIOS may not work with the DELL Bios config ( or it limits to the orig Pent D 820.

I have a few questions:

1. What's a decent Mobo ( assuming Dell orig X8582 is an ATX) to use the Q6600 ( which I had already ordered).

2. The HDD's I have, and all my programs... do I need to reinstall all those with having a new mobo? Licensing reasons?
I have a gamut of Adobe CS3, Premiere, Audio programs ( all retail versions btw) I do not want to lose.

3. Will the mother board swap not affect these programs? or is it just the added hardware I have I'll have to reinstall drivers etc.

Additional hardware: 8500GT Vid card, Firewire ext ports PCI, EMu 1212m PCi audio cards.

I'm told the Q6600 will do wonders for working on Video and Audio programs and that is what I am going for. Not a gamer.
The orig Pent D in the Dell has got me by, but maybe I can upgrade this since I already bought the Q6600.

Thanks

1. Latest Intel chipsets that support the Q6600 are P45, X48, X38 and P35.

2. Your new MB will have different system drivers and utilities and chipset driver than your old MB of which the old system drivers, etc. are installed on the hard drive. You will need to install the new MB drivers on the old hard drive. You can do a fresh install of your Windows OS and load your software fresh, of course do a back up of your important files to transfer to the new setup. Or. You can try a 'repair install' with an XP installation disk. I would not recommend a repair install.

3. The MB will require the installation of the MB and system drivers from a CD that comes with the new MB. See answer to your question #2.

Maybe someone else has a better explanation/description of what is involved swapping out or installing a new MB.

For example these x38, x48 and P35 MBs support the Q6600.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] P35&Page=1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] +X38%2fX48

Refering back to your question 3., You will not be able to just plug your old hard drive in to the new MB and start up your system and run like nothing happened. I think that is what you are asking? You should back up all your important files to disk or USB eternal hard drive. If you use your current hard drive (you could buy a new hard drive and save your old one for the old MB) you will have to format and install your Windows OS, load the MB CD system drivers and utilities and update the OS. Then, install all your software, Adobe etc., and also all your important files you have backed up to disk or external HD.

Check the dell motherboard backplate, and see if it's fixed to the board or separate. Most atx motherboards have the ports on the right half of the board; the newer btx boards have them offset slightly in the middle. You may also have to splice the dell case connector to get some of the functions to work, specifically the power switch and led for power on.

Time to spec new system components for that q6600

An OEM version of WinXP cannot be 'legally' transfered. Without the original CD any chance you have with a new chipset using that hard drive are very slim to none. The only chance you may have in doing this is if the replacement mobo is the same chipset as the Dell mobo (and it probably won't support the quad either).

You are correct in thinking that your other software is most likely 'keyed' to the current hardware, too. Most folks are pretty decent about it (most folks 'not including' Adobe!)

They suck.
(Did I type that out loud?)

sounds like the sys components Ram DDR2 4Gb, 2 hdd's, PCI Audio card, PCI FW ports, and PCIe Vid card need a new Mobo and possibly a new tower to reside in!

I can't find the form factor on the orig X8582 mobo to see if the chipset or Bios would even work.
I do have XP Pro on disc ( retail ) only installed on one other machine. If I take that off can MS give me a new license?

As it stands: New Mobo, CPU, and Case

Here is what I have:

Quad 6600

This MOBO: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813121314

or: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813128082

or: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813131275


New case? I don't need the fancy lights, just the room and adequate PSU 500W maybe?

Get p45 board instead of p35. It's the replacement for p35, which is going out of production soon. It performs better, overclocks better, and use PCIE2.0.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] rder=PRICE

It looks like the Dell Dimension 9100 uses the BTX form factor case and Intel P945 chipset:
http://reviews.cnet.com/desktops/d [...] 03779.html

Going with an ATX motherboard does mean you'll be needing an ATX case and power supply.
No problem using the retail copy of WinXP on your PC after you've made the changes.

A popular choice of case/PSU is the Antec Sonata III with 500W PSU. At $130 its a bit more than you need to spend.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6811129024

There is a good deal going on now for the Antec Earthwatts 430W PSU $30 (after $30 rebate)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6817371006
Check these CoolerMaster cases and see if you can find one you like:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] rder=PRICE

Can you check and see what type of DDR2 your motherboard has? It might be DDR 2 533 PC2 4200. I'll just double check the compatabilty with the P45 (and P35) motherboards.

It looks like the P35 and P45 motherboards require DDR2 667 PC2 5300 or better RAM.
Crucial Ballistix DDR2 800 2GB kit $35 (after $20 rebate) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820146565
Corsair XMS DDR2 800 4GB kit $66 (after $20 rebate) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6820145184

You could get a P965 motherboard which will accept the Q6600 and use DDR2 533 RAM. Apart from being 3 generations of MB older it should work OK.
DFI Infinity P965-S $80 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod [...] 6813136034

Ok, so what I have ordered for a build:

Q6600
P45 Intel board ATX
Rosewill ATX Tower Case and 500wPSU
3GB PC Ram 800 ( Corsair )
WD 500GB HDD Sata
Plextor DVD Rw drive
XPPRO retail

I had a NV8500 Gt

I've upgraded parts, but never a full build.

Few more Questions and again, many thanks to contributors!

What is generally first after assy? I know not to connect the PCI or PCI cards until XP is installed.
I also heard RAM should be installed 1 G in slots 1 and 3 first, before adding the others in 2 and 4.

The BIOS will be from the Intel Board from what I've read. That's the first initial Sware install.
Then XP Pro disc should be installed. Add other components in PCI slots and reset bios to match performance.

I hope that's it!!

thanks

Read your MB manual carefully. Maybe a step by step guide to assembling a computer like this one can provide some pointers for you.

http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/

thx again-

another dumb Question: will this work with USB or Wireless KB's or do I have to break out a PS2 version initially?

Until you get your operating system installed, do not use a wireless keyboard and mouse. USB mouse and keyboard should work, but if you run in to trouble a PS2 duo will work. After you have the operating system installed and updated with MB drivers it will be all right to install a wireless set up.

Software installation goes in this order when you build the system:

First install the Windows OS. In BIOS you may have to set first boot device to CD/DVD ROM.

Next the MB drivers from the CD including chipset, ethernet, sound, etc. (or lastest drivers from product website burned to CD).

Then the latest graphics card driver (Your 8500Gt driver is at Nvidia.com driver downloads).

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

Then install all the Windows updates online from M$ for your XP Pro.

Then install some kind of system security anti-virus and spyware solution (Microsoft One Care 90 day Free trial http://onecare.live.com/standard/e [...] nstall.htm

http://onecare.live.com/standard/e [...] nstall.htm

Last, load all your personal software you will be using like Adobe, Office, etc.

Note: After you have the system hardware built and upon starting up for the first time you reach BIOS, set the 'first boot device' to CD/DVD. Insert the Windows XP CD in the tray, close the tray and 'save and exit' BIOS. When prompted to 'Press any key to boot from CD' press any key at that time. This is the only time you will press any key. Load the OS and all the system drivers. After the system drivers are installed, you may want to add any additional RAM and go into BIOS and set up the RAMs speed, voltage and timings according to the RAM makers specifications. You are all set guitar dad. Let's hear a little ACDC! LOL!

Read your motherboard manual !!!

Sit back and admire your work, of course!

I like to take some small zip-ties and organize the cables and wires, hide them where I can, get things lookin' good and make sure I get good air flow throughout the case.

And before I attach the cpu fan plug to the motherboard I gently wrap the wire around a screwdriver to give it that 'pigtail' effect - lol - I'm sure all others here have 'little' things they like to do ...

Your motherboard manual will describe the installation procedure and provide a chart for proper DIMM bank population. It varies. I would guess you may use either '1 & 2' or '3 & 4'.

You don't have to do anything. BIOS stands for Basic Input-Output System. It pretty much does what it says: Sets the parameters of operation for input and output across the components of your motherboard.

BIOS information is stored on a small chip on your motherboard in nonvolatile memory (means it doesn't go away when the system is powered down). To enter the computer BIOS gently tap the <delete> or <F10> key several times at the first 'boot' or configuration screen (your motherboard manual will explain!) .

Don't be messin' around too much in there until you find the section in your motherboard manual on resetting the 'CMOS' or BIOS Initially as noted the only thing you have to set in the BIOS is the 'first boot device' to CD/DVD - exit and save your changes.

There is no reason for you to reset the BIOS. After the initial XP load upon restart you should enter the BIOS and change the 'first boot device' back to your hard drive - exit and save your changes. This may well be the last time you see the BIOS (until you get the itch to tweak that performance!)


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great info folks! Got some parts in and have been reading up and taking in all the info on the Intel Mobo manual. It doesn't say much about defaults but once I get this together I suppose I'll figure it out. I don't think for CS3 I have to worry much about anything but backrunning services in XP. I know how to turn those off.

I've also been reading about dual boot configurations ( something to do while I await my UPS shipments ) Not sure I'm jump that one yet or not.

Is it better to have a CDrom and DVD rom on SATA type connections or IDE?

Other thing I am reading about is RAID. I don't think I'll need that since I can have all my Video and Audio on a DATA HDD and the OS and Program Files on the newer 500GB drive.

I suppose most using these really beefed up sys's are gamers. I just want to capture vid and edits in Adobe CS3 along with audio work in Sonar 7.

parts came in, I installed the CPU (Q6600) and now the INtel fan that came with it, won't secure right to the INTEL DP mother board. When I try to fasten the clips into the board to mount the fan, it seems the fan is too short since the pressure required to hold the fan would be enough to twist the MOBO. This is the stock CPU cooler fan that came with the Q6600 from Intel ( newegg).

any ideas?

At 3:42 of this video the stock HSF is installed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6NbPMQgwPM