GazTheHat

My old PC died and i got me a Dell Optiplex 755 DT. It's Dual Core Duo 2.66 with 2GB RAM. I want to upgrade a few parts but i'm not totally sure what i need, so some advice is very welcome.

There's only cables for 1x HDD, but it says there's 3x SATA ports (looks like the plugs are on the MB). Ideally i'd like to put in an SSD for the OS & programs and use my 2x 2TB HDDs one for data and one for backing up. Is there any way i can do this?

My old monitor is DVI, but there's only VGA built in with this. So i'm presuming i need a graphics card. Any recommendations?

Does it support 64-bit? The results i've seen i'm not entirely sure. I don't want to upgrade the memory to 8GB if it wont.

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Hi there

Depends on the MB,if you could allocate more RAM(16GB),but W7 or W8 32bit can only recognize/allocate 4GB above that will be wasted,if you are thinking to run 64bit in future would suggest and recommend run more RAM

Is your DVD/CD drive SATA or is older type IDE ?

Here is picture how it looks IDE and how it looks SATA




If is yours DVD/CD is SATA you can run only 2 HDD,if you are thinking run extra DC/DVD which is SATA you can have only one HDD.

If its your DVD/CD IDE you should run 3 HDD as per your request,yes you can use 1X SSD and 2x 2TB HDD,just you will need plug SSD on first SATA port and remaining HDD plug/set on remaining SATA ports

About the Graphic card,depends on your needs,do you playing games etc.If yes depends on your budget,if not have look for nVidia 9400GT which are low profile GPU and should work for your needs

But still I would suggest upgrade the PSU to the bigger and modular HDD,pricewise from £40 are available 550W modular PSU

Many Graphic cards supports the 64bit and many programs running better in 64bit environment,I'm running only 64bit and really in my view is worth it


Jura

GazTheHat

Thanks Jura for the response.

I know i can go crazy upgrade-wise, but i want to keep it sensible, it's budget machine. I don't play games on it and i just do MS Office stuff, Browsing, watching HD boxing and light Photoshop/Graphics. So don't need a crazy card.

I couldn't find that card on Ebuyer. Wouldn't the cheapest ones here do fine?
http://www.ebuyer.com/search?page=1&...nding&limit=10

It only supports up to 8GB of RAM, so would get that if it's 64-bit, just can't find if it is.

Yes, the DVD is SATA So can i only run 2x HDD and No DVD, or was that the DVD AND 2x HDD? Because i don't see any spare cables.

You lost me on the PSU bit, but why would i need to upgrade the PSU?

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Hi there

Cheapest card should do job,but for similar price you can get HD5450 which will outperform GT210

If support 8GB RAM,RAM doesn't cost these times crazy money and worth to upgrade if you are planning to run 64bit in future,I'm using Photoshop 64bit and there more RAM you are really feel,if you will be using 32bit,would suggest 4GB RAM should do job

If you are running SATA DVD,you can run only 2 HDD(1 SSD and 1 normal HDD) or if don't need DVD(you can use external DVD, which cost around £20-£40) you can have 3 HDD(1X SSD and 2X normal HDD)

For extra HDD assume you will need extra SATA cables,which cost around £5 and you will need extra SATA power cable for your HDD(you can buy extension, which cost around £5-£10

With PSU upgrade depends on what you have there and what Graphic card you want to use and with those modular PSU you will get more connection and you don't need buy those extension cables for powering SATA(internal SATA power cable) or Molex 4 pin cable etc


Jura

GazTheHat

OK, makes sense, thanks.

I hadn't even thought that i'd need to replace the software with 64-bit versions. LOL.

There's 2x SATA plugs on the MOBO, could i not use both those for the HDDs? One says eSATA though. Fk knows what that is...

GazTheHat

....

jura11

iTrader: (7)

You don't need replace programs for 64bit,your 32bit programs will work with 64bit OS

eSATA is mainly used for external storages,but you can buy eSATA to SATA converter which cost under £10


But I've looked on the Manual,you should have there 4 SATA ports, which will allow you have 1 SATA DVD and 3x HDD of yours choice plus still you will have eSATA

Here is Manual and on page 5 is Motherboard layout

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global..._techspecs.pdf



Jura

GazTheHat

Ah, that's the mini-tower, mine's the desktop version on Page 6. So i've 1x SATA and 1x eSATA. See here:



So if i can only run the DVD, SSD and 1x HDD, could i not just get a case or something to put the other HDD in and use it as a USB HDD to do the backups?

I'm not sure about the 'extender' & SATA cables just yet, i'll have a look tomorrow and see. I don't want to go down the upgraded PSU route as i know the Dell ones can be a nightmare. (As i just found out on my Inspiron that failed, hence this new box)

I'm gonna build up a shopping list tomorrow and i'll post them up, see what you think...

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Aha,sorry there,I was been in this you have Mini Tower

But if you have Desktop you should have 3x SATA as per page 6, which still can allow you run 1X SSD,1X HDD and DVD,but still I'm not sure if you can fit in your case more HDD

Using external HDD for backup should work


Jura

GazTheHat

I've just checked the DVD and it's just a DVD reader. I kept the DVD-R/RW out my old machine and that seems to be IDE. I'd like to use that instead, but don't see any IDE cables etc inside.

So do i buy another DVD-RW that is SATA? Or shall i use the old IDE one, get a cable and gain the extra SATA cable. I'm a bit lost, as i don't know how or what cables i can use.

GazTheHat

OK, just building my shopping list.

Hard Drive Enclosure:
USB2 3.5" 2TB £9
http://www.ebuyer.com/259489-extra-v...red-cs674-red-

SSD:
Crucial 128gb V4. £58
http://www.ebuyer.com/386369-crucial...sd-ct128v4ssd2

Think that will do. No real saving on a 256gb and i don't see the point in an extra £20 for a Samsung 830 that everyone is talking about.

Graphics Card
Saphire HD5450 1GB £28
http://www.ebuyer.com/199420-sapphir...e-11166-02-20r

Memory:
Not sure which one of these to get? I read the lower CL score the better. One is 5 (which is cheaper) and the other is CL6.

http://www.ebuyer.com/164758-corsair...-vs4gbkit800d2
http://www.ebuyer.com/142403-crucial...2kit25664aa800

Has to be DDR2 and 800hz according to the machine requirements. Can't believe how expensive it is compared to other DDR3 memory etc.

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Hi there

I've looked again on your manual and seems you don't have IDE ports,which means you must use the SATA DVD or you can go route of the IDE PCI card,they're cost around £10-£15


Your shopping list looking good,agreed DDR2 RAM are now expensive,DDR3 are mostly used and those DDR2 are not very popular in view of the makers of the RAM

You can use 667mhz too,you will not loose performance,higher MHz you will need if you are looking to overclock the CPU which helps in stability



Jura

GazTheHat

Cool. I'm almost there!! (with your help!)

Seems like too much hassle to get the IDE off the PCI card. I could just get a new SATA DVD-RW for about £20. Don't really use discs nowadays anyway, so i don't think i'll bother.

OK, the only thing setting me back is what cables i need. To be honest, i don't have a clue about what SATA power cable thing you mentioned.

So i get a SATA cable like this:
http://www.ebuyer.com/151963-xenta-s...m-sp-sc-rs-r46

and it's just the power cable/splitter i don't know about. Is this the thing?
http://www.ebuyer.com/265991-startec...0-15m-pyo2sata

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Hi there

here is this SATA Power cable,

http://www.ebuyer.com/261502-xenta-l...ts-4pm15pfsata

and how it looks



Just please check if you spare 4 pin Molex on your PSU,if yes this should do job nicely

Jura

GazTheHat

I've not got a single spare cable in there?!

That's why i was thinking i would need to split it, with maybe one of these. That right?

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Yes this should work too,but please have look on this splitter


http://www.ebuyer.com/268128-startec...cable-pyo3sata

And you can connect 3 drives easy without the problem




Jura

GazTheHat

Ah yes! I thought because it had 3 plugs, that was 3 connectors, but it's only powering 2. Cool. I'll order the one you mentioned.

Looks like i've got my shopping list complete. Will have to get that off tomorrow.

GazTheHat

Had to jiggle some funds around and shifted some stuff on ebay. So never bought the components the other week.

Came to buy today and several of the items are "No longer available" Namely the GFX Card & SSD.

Do you think this card is a good alternative:
http://www.ebuyer.com/279583-xfx-hd-...e-hd-545x-zch2

or this:
http://www.ebuyer.com/389761-asus-gt...s-gt610-1gd3-l

Or is there another Low Profile card would you recommend?

Thinking about just pumping out for the Samsung 830 128GB @ £79.

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Hi there


830 SSD should be OK,if you could get Samsung 840 for that price will be just perfect

GFX both looking good for your needs,low profile GFX card should be good for your PC case/chassis,yes you can use standard size card too looking on the yours spec



Jura

GazTheHat

What a game. Order wouldn't go through and postcode, although mainland Scotland, would not be recognised as deliverable.

So forward a few days and more items were OOS. Changed those, called up and order placed. Should be here Thursday

GazTheHat

What a f**king game i'm having. I installed all the hardware no problems.

Then i tried to make a bootable USB with the ISO i downloaded from MS. Couldn't get it to work. So i went to the local computer shop and they burnt it to DVD.

It loads windows files, then just says...."Starting Windows" it hangs there.

So now i'm stuck!! I don't know whether i can install 64-bit Win7 or whether the ISO i have is corrupt. Really banging my head off the table!!!!

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Hi there

There can be like BIOS issue,are you set all HW in BIOS ?(HDD Boot
priority,DVD/CD etc.)

Second thing what sparked to my mind is PSU,what PSU you have right now?
I can check tomorrow if I've still spare PSU,which has been usually 400W from my older PC's

Jura

GazTheHat

I loaded to boot menu and tried booting from USB and DVD. Both load "windows files", get to "Starting Windows" and stop.

I've tried with 2 different Win7 64 Bit Ultimate SP1 - ISO files, same results. My bro is in Portugal for New Year (lucky git!) just trying to get his MSDN account info so i can get an official 32 bit version, to see if that's the problem, will also try 64 bit Professional.

This is the error i get when i "mount" the ISO, which makes sense. Does this mean i can't install 64 bit? I'm still in the dark, can't find online, whether my setup can run 64 bit.




The PSU is the standard Dell one that comes with it. Says 280W max.

GazTheHat

I've tried 3 different Windows ISO files

- Ultimate 64 bit
- Premium 64 bit
- Professional 32 bit

(1 official from MSDN, 2 from Digital River).

Have tried booting from bootable USB (used Rufus tool) and also the official one from DVD-R. None work.

Every time it first comes up with "window files loading"


Then says "Starting Windows" and just hangs. USB stops flashing, DVD stopped spinning and i've also left it for an hour, nothing!


As far as i'm aware, the Core2Duo supports 64 bit, so that's fine.

I've tried everything i can think of and i'm just about ready to throw the bloody thing in the bin!!

Can anyone help please?

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Hi there

280W PSU is not enough for all those upgrades what you have installed

Try unplug and run only SSD,DVD and you will see if will boot properly,remove yours Graphic card if you have installed

Agreed about the yours CPU,which is supported by Windows 7

Jura

GazTheHat

Would the PSU stop this installing?

I've got the GFX, SSD and everything all plugged in and it boots on the old XP HDD.

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Try this install migration tool

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/w...-easy-transfer

If its XP booting without the problem,something else is this can cause,you are trying install W7 on the SSD,if yes there is problem

Have look on this there

http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/forum/...nstall-windows

Jura

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Just be sure you have set AHCI mode ON in yours BIOS


Jura

GazTheHat

I've finally got Windows 7 installed!!!!!!

I unplugged the HDD and the DVD, installed from USB and it worked. Maybe it was something to do with the boot record?!

Anyway, i've got Win7 Ultimate on the SSD. Windows startup has gone from 4 mins on XP to 6 seconds on Win7


I'm just getting all the information off the data HDD, syncing with my other 2TB HDD, then format to remove XP and sync data back on. So days of setting up and organising no doubt. Then i'll install all the programs i've needed and hopefully it should all boot up. Got a few missing drivers to sort too, but it's starting to fall into place.


Thanks Jura for all your help and advice. You've been a star, really appreciate it!!

jura11

iTrader: (7)

Nice one there

I would think can be the just usual thing as MBR, which can cause this

Second thing what I would have look is this link on few quick steps how to make yours SSD working in performance in should be

http://www.overclock.net/t/1156654/s...-for-ssds-hdds


Jura