New motherboard, case, .....

[bicster]

Alright, I want to get a new motherboard and a new case for my computer. I want to start doing some overclocking. I will be using all my old stuff from my computer, and the new motherboard and be putting it into a new ATX case. So I will have a PSU and stuff.

My computer right now is as follows:
Micro-Star MS-6719 (Un-Overclockable) (not in BIOS or software) (crapper?)
Intel Pentium 4 2.66 GHz (No Hyper-Threading)
2 x 256 Samsung DDR Ram Sticks

The motheboard I'm thinking about getting is the Abit IC7 - I heard it was hands down one of the best boards for overclocking for intels. LINK:http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-127-153&depa=1

How am I able to find out how I to take apart my computer.. then put it in a new case with the new motherboard? There seems to be a lot of wires and junk and ya... confused... Any books? Any good internet articles with step by step stuff?

My computer right now is a Medion, but I'm giving her a new motherboard so I can overclock her. And I figured if I'm gonna be taking out all this stuff I might as well put it in a new case. Plus I don't know if the Abit would fit my tower.

What do you guys think?

By the way, I will be buying some tornadoes once I start overclocking.
And will I lose all my info on my hardrives when I switch Motherboards? Or will the computer just boot up after I'm done hooking up eveything (if I did it right) and be ready to go.

Would you be able to pay guys at a computer place to put your stuff into a new case with a new motherboard? Expensive? Cheap? Free with purchase?

 

[matttheniceguy]

Wow there..... those wires and bits are kind important... looks like you need a little more knowledge before you go pulling any of them out.

You need to start with the basics. What are all the parts, what do they do, how do they connect to eachother, that kind of thing. This forum probably isn't the greatest place for learning all this. I learn't a lot of what I know from reading reviews at www.tomshardware.com . They don't go so much into how to assemble a computer, but you do somehow learn about it if you read enough of their stuff. I'm sure you could find some article on the net about how to assemble a computer as well.

you need to get a really good grasp of how all your hardware works before you can even think about overclocking it. It's like learning to stand before you learn to run. If you don't your going to run straight into problems.

Go on the net and read all you can about computers, from non-overclocking sites to start with, and as you begin to understand that beast by your desk, you can start to learn how to make it run faster. You have a lot of learning to do, but it won't take that long if you are interested.

Good luck to you, and don't hesitate to ask us if you have any questions about anything.

 

[Stupid Boy]

Assembling the system is not very difficult; the directions are in the motherboard manual. The hard part is deciding on the parts, which you've done.

About the hard drive, it's best to do a reinstall so you don't have driver problems.

 

[donny_paycheck]

The Abit board would fit your tower but you'll do better with a new case. I recommend the Antec SX1000 SOHO case. It comes without a power supply, has room for five 80mm fans (comes with two) and even has a preinstalled window so you can show off your gear.

Everything else should migrate fairly easily. And no, you don't have to worry about reformatting your hard drive when you swap motherboards that are strikingly similar. You may run into a few conflicts afterward but they should work themselves out alright.