[ldp04180]

Hi everyone recently my laptop broke and it costs too much to repair. I am thinking of building my own desktop system. I am able to salvage the following components from the laptop (Acer Aspire 1714MSi):

DVD+/-RW + DVD-RAM
P4 3.4GHz HTT (Socket 478)
1GB SDRAM
120GB HDD

As this will be the first time I am going to build system I am unsure if I am ordering the correct and compatible parts. I mainly used my laptop for CAD using ANSYS CFD, Solidworks, Pro/E and a lot of gaming. I want to be able to play the latest games and keep the system for at least 3 years.

I am unsure if I am choosing the right graphics card for my needs, would like to buy the one which gives more bang for your buck.

I would appreciate you comments and suggestions.

1.Gainward BLISS GeForce 7800 GT "Goes Like [bleep]" 512MB GDDR3 VIVO TV-Out/Dual DVI (PCI-Express)
www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/7800__Series.html
£252.27

2. Zalman FS-C77 Fatal1ty CPU Cooler
www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Zalman_121.html
£37.54

3. Akasa Ultra Quiet 460W Paxpower Active PFC ATX2.0 PSU
www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Akasa_PSU.html
£51.64

4. CoolerMaster Stacker 830 RC-830
www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Coolermaster_Cases_126.html
£175.66

5. Akasa AK-183-L2B Ultra Quiet 120mm Fan
www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Akasa_Fans_97.html
£10.52

6. Asus - ASUS SKT-478 P4RD1-MX S/V/L M-ATX PCI-E 800FSB
www.ekmpowershop.com/ekmps/shops/pcglobal/index.asp?function=DISPLAYPRODUCT&productid=1291
£43.31

OR

Asrock P4Dual-880-Pro MBA-P4D880P
www.eclipsecomputers.com/product.aspx?code=MBA-P4D880P&af=50
£31.67

Thanks
ldp04180

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I think you will find it is hard to adapt laptop parts into a desktop computer. The laptop cdrom and dvd drives are usually the slim kind and take special pin setups that are different than standard desktop IDE cable connectors. I think you will find your memory is called sodimm memory which is also different than standard desktop 184 pin or 240 pin DDR2 type memory. Your laptop HD can be adapted with a special adapter that converts from the laptop 44 pin design to standard desktop 40 pin cables.

http://www.cablestog...d=906&sku=17705

Heres a good memory type identifier.

http://www.crucial.c...memorymodid.asp

Here you can see the adapter needed for a desktop computer and also what slimline drives look like.

http://www.mini-itx....tore/?c=5#p2114

Heres a desktop NEC DVD-RW drive.

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827152058

Click on the pictures for a closer look.
You may be spending more money on adapters than buying regular desktop drives outright. I would look up the prices for desktop item from newegg and compare them to the price of the adapters. I might be that you can sell the laptop hardware on Ebay and end up having more mony left over after buying desktop items. The one good thing is the processor should be the same.

SRX660

[SRX660]

I think you will find it is hard to adapt laptop parts into a desktop computer. The laptop cdrom and dvd drives are usually the slim kind and take special pin setups that are different than standard desktop IDE cable connectors. I think you will find your memory is called sodimm memory which is also different than standard desktop 184 pin or 240 pin DDR2 type memory. Your laptop HD can be adapted with a special adapter that converts from the laptop 44 pin design to standard desktop 40 pin cables.

http://www.cablestog...d=906&sku=17705

Heres a good memory type identifier.

http://www.crucial.c...memorymodid.asp

Here you can see the adapter needed for a desktop computer and also what slimline drives look like.

http://www.mini-itx....tore/?c=5#p2114

Heres a desktop NEC DVD-RW drive.

http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827152058

Click on the pictures for a closer look.
You may be spending more money on adapters than buying regular desktop drives outright. I would look up the prices for desktop item from newegg and compare them to the price of the adapters. I might be that you can sell the laptop hardware on Ebay and end up having more mony left over after buying desktop items. The one good thing is the processor should be the same.

SRX660

[warriorscot]

You are way overspending on the case for sure, you can easily save a hundred quid on that case i would go with either the coolermasters ammo, the akasa eclipse or one of the antec cases like the sonata or the p160, that would save you a hundred quid or more which you can either then put into a better gfx card if you want like one of the x1900s or you can keep the gfx card there which is a decent card for the price(an other option for gfx is an x1800xl which is a better performer than the 7800GTs and roughly equals the GTXs) or go cheaper on the gfx and get a new cpu as well, youre going to have an awful lot of trouble getting the parts out of a laptop they just arent designed to be easy to remove and there are the obvious compatibilty issues as mentioned above.

[Hammm]

ah, i think especially for the RAM. i think the CPU should come off, just tear the case apart as you no longer need it(lol). you don't want to get the 7800GT. get something like the X1800XL or X1900XT for big guns or the X800GTO for mid end users. You may as well get a new CPU. an AMD 3200+ is really nice for buget and can still handle gfx well. then get a nice MSI mobo for it

[ldp04180]

Thanks for the relpys everyone, I have decided to buy a new desktop system.

[warriorscot]

Well make sure not to get a pre built unless its an incrediblly good pc in a sale, otherwise get a custom or build yourself.