[Compiler]

I've installed Windows7-RC on my old desktop... 32bit version, since it only has 2GB of RAM. Here is my experience / problems:

1 - It installs the Ultimate version. (cool, full featured) - and you're stuck with the RC-REV number on the desktop (not a big deal).
2 - It installed in 16 minutes! From 1st boot up to desktop loaded and ready to use! (WOW!!) That is faster than XP... and I did a custom install (not much custom).

Hardware: AMD X2 3800 (2.0Ghz), 2GB DDR1 (400mhz), 250GB HD PATA. An ATI 9200 (PCI) video card because an old 7600gs finally died...

3 - The 9200 is NOT supported under Windows7 or Vista... but I still have a high-res 32bit desktop that is horrible. But will be using an 8600GT in another desktop that this Win7 test system will be replacing. So visually, I am in "basic" mode.

4 - Audio driver not available from Mobo maker (ECS) for Vista or Win7 (grrr - oh well, it was a FREE motherboard 4 years ago) - but the maker of the sound chip had a generic driver which seems to be working.

The computer boots up in 29seconds!!! (Timed at Bios to Desktop operations) ie: you can start using a computer. And the AMD X2 2800 is very SLOW by todays standards. Out of 2GB of RAM, about 700mb is being used. No AV or firewall software has been installed, yet.

2 hours with Win7... I like it so far. Enough that I'm thinking of actually putting it on my ThinkPad (been thinking of doing a clean install anyways) - but no official Windows7 drivers yet, from Lenovo.

[tsheeley]

Wow! Very nice! I've been hearing that it runs well even on older hardware... makes me want to give it a shot on the clunker here. Maybe I'll backup all my stuff to my fiances computer and put 7 on it after I'm done with the last part of a side project I'm working on.

I was thinking that the RC was only an upgrade to an existing install - good to know I was wrong. I'll be using it for sure on the new build while I wait for the final release. I ordered the new optical drive the other day. Probably order a part a week or so.

[Compiler]

Dunno... older Dell, it could be problematic... If you XP box is working fine AS-IS... keep it. You'll have your new PC to play with.

[tsheeley]

It is working for now... more or less. Maybe I'll just leave well enough alone.

Funny thing tho... I've stopped having the resolution issues that originally started all this. The only thing I've done recently is disconnect the cd drive that died and I changed the color profile for the monitor. The default profile was giving some off colors in Photoshop CS4 - white was showing up as a pale yellow. I read somewhere that it was a problem with the profile... after that, no more resolution issues. I don't get it... but I'm sure not gonna question it.

[peck1234]

great... also make sure to do a full scan with malwarebytes, as there is a trojan called "hack.displayproperties" that could be causing your resolution issues...

[tsheeley]

Hmmm... thanks for the tip, I'll give it a check.

I've got a couple tools set to do auto-scans, but I don't think MWB has that feature. I usually run it manually about once a month or so.

[tsheeley]

Well... I think we've pretty much wrapped up my resolution issue - and more then covered the hardware for the new machine. It's just a matter of me keeping the duct tape wrapped tight and the bubblegum semi-fresh to keep the old one running for now.

I'll send you a message once I've finally collected all the new hardware and got it up and running. Thank you for all your help.

[Compiler]

Okay... a bit old. The site was on a maintenance mode and didn't save the message. Operas nice enough to allow me to save my text.

I am still testing a system that is similar to that Mobo you selected and the AMD X2 7850 (2.6Ghz) - might as well pay the $5 difference for the extra 100mhz.

With stock cooling fan and no change in voltage (which shortens CPU life) - I pushed the 7850 to 3.3Ghz. Cores remain under 40c idle, under 45 on load. But I've back down to 3.19Ghz to make it easier on the system.
My friend with the 7750(2.7Ghz) has his running at 3.0ghz.

Hard Drive Read with 1TB Seagate is about 120MB/s - MAX. Its onboard graphics is on par with the GF6600GT... not bad.

For PC building, I also recommend this power screw-driver: http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...#ProductDetail Mine included a set which had a magnetic attachment... important to have for screwing into places. I avoid touching the mobo at all costs. It has a flash-light which does help!

This set includes it (photoed in the far right) http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...00003+10401001
But I've seen/bought the B&D version with less parts for $10.

I need to locate a good site for hosting photos... I'm taking pics of PC building to help explain things.

[tsheeley]

Try Photobucket for photo hosting... it's free of course, and easily linked to. You can even text pics to your account from your phone.

I checked out the 7850... it's actually a few bucks cheaper then the 7750 I originally priced.

I've always wondered about how to OC stuff... but I've never been brave enough to try out of fear of killing stuff. How did you do it?

[Compiler]

Okay on Photobucket. AMD usually only makes one BLACK edition CPU per class (x2 , x3 , x4) so the 7750 are most likely drying up.

Overclocking is easy. But name brand PCs don't have such options as that is controlled by the BIOS/software through the motherboard. Its all in the timing. Such as the AMD 7850 CPU default is a 200mhz clock with a X 14 Multiplier - 2800Mhz.

In the OLD days of 486~P1 CPUs, they were open. It wasn't so much a problem with end-users OCing the CPU, but under-handed PC shops doing it. Thus, they could sell a P75 (P1 75Mhz) CPU in a computer and sell it as a P100 system, making an extra $25~200 for a single sale. I've seen vendors sell unmarked CPUs in bins of 75/90/100... most likely, they were all P75s - their prices were below my costs for OEMs.

So AMD & Intel locked the CPUs multiplier and starting building in ID code. Because the OC P75 would come up as a P100 during the BIOS boot screen. While today, my $180 Q6600 (2.4Ghz) will always come up as a "Q6600" even thou its 3.0Ghz and performed liked its Q6850 CPU at $1000. Of course there are no Q6xxx CPUs anymore. Todays C2Q 3.0 is the Q9650 at $320~350. Its only a bit faster than my CPU and requires less power.

So... AMD sells BLACK edition CPUs were are unlocked CPUs, but retain their ID.
To OC my Q6600, I raised the clock rate from 266mhz > 333mhz. I am locked at X 9. With such CPUs, you want a HIGHER multiplier to get the most per clock.

So with the AMD 7850, I went from 14x to 14.5x, raised the CPU clock from 200mhz to 220mhz to get about 3.2Ghz (400mhz OC) I did hit 3.3Ghz... but I like to tone it down. You also need to watch the CPU TEMP... before and after (idle and load) to make sure the cooling system can handle the changes. Going up a few Cs is fine, but having a jump of 10+ is bad. I couldn't hit 3.4~3.6 without raising the voltage to the CPU - which I am not willing to do for long. The heat from the CPU will spike and your chances of killing the CPU goes up. Also, the CPU will simply die faster... 1-2 years, rather than 6~15 years.

When you build your own PC, you'll see these options in the manual and in the BIOS.

You don't need to make some high-tech water cooling system to OC. Why spend $100~300 to gain an extra 100~400mhz? For some, its for fun. But water cooling does FAIL. Then theres liquid nitrogen... You can get the CPUs up to 5~6Ghz... but of course its useless for a desktop computer system

PS: If you OC too high - the PC will either fail to boot or you'll get errors. Turn off the PC, BIOS will reset to defaults... and use lower settings. 3.2Ghz on the 7850 takes a few seconds.

[tsheeley]

So, with a simple change of the CPU clock I could safely get it up to 3.2Ghz... very nice!

I'll have to dive into that part of the manual and BIOS and see what I can safely squeeze out of it when I'm at that point.

[Compiler]

Theres about nothing in the manuals about what you can or cannot do. Join an OC site (ignore the Water cooling folks) if you want more techie info.

The only thing the manual says is: "This adjusts your CPUs clock". You raise or lower it. Sometimes, I wish they'd EXPLAIN in details what some of these things do.

[tsheeley]

Ahhh... I see. Any that you'd suggest?

I found this Ultimate BIOS Guide a while ago and saved it to my delicious, maybe it'll help us both - if you don't already know of it.

[Compiler]

Perhaps Maximum PC is fine... Overclockers.net (I think)... AMD chat rooms.

That BIOS guide looks pretty good, especially for novices. How useful it is to me, dunno yet. That is a general (well done), while a mobo maker may add a function that is not the same as another... thats the problem.