Places that will upgrade PCs

[Z064life]

Hi,

I plan on upgrading my PC, but because of the nature of the upgrades I need a shop to do the physical work for me.

I live in NW London, are there any places that could fit the parts I buy? Also, does Techguys fit parts not brought from them/PC world?


Thanks

[andycambo]

What are you planning to upgrade? The internals of a PC is more or less like a big jigsaw puzzle, you cant really go wrong.

Even if you are not a techinal person there is plenty of help available on the net.

[Blue160]

I upgraded my processor, video card and case fans recently. It's all fairly easy as long as you go slowly and read up on what you need to do first. Everything is designed to only fit one way, so it's quite difficult to cock it up. If you find you have to force something, then you know it's not in the right place.

[fivesixseven8]

Blue160 said:

I upgraded my processor, video card and case fans recently. It's all fairly easy as long as you go slowly and read up on what you need to do first. Everything is designed to only fit one way, so it's quite difficult to cock it up. If you find you have to force something, then you know it's not in the right place.

+1, it's the perfect opportunity to learn and save yourself some money. There is nothing you can do that hasn't been done by someone else before so the answers to almost any problem is there to be found via google.

What do you want to upgrade with your current machine?

[Digby]

First things first, make sure you buy the right parts.It depends how much you are upgrading, but not all cpu's fit every motherboard, not all ram is the same, power supplies may not be up to the job, etc etc etc.

Building or upgrading a pc is a doddle, though (as long as you have the correct parts)
I taught myself before the joys of google and the internet.But after a few days, you could simply buy every single pc component (case, fans, mobo, hard drives, GPU, CPU, ram, cables etc) and have it all together in 10 minutes flat.Nothing to it at all.

Don't be fooled into thinking it's a highly skilled art.I am always amazed how people are charged significant amounts to install a new CD rom, graphics card or USB scanner! If the correct parts are purchased, most are 2 minute jobs and something my friends 7 year old used to do with ease.It takes longer to install the operating system and any drivers you may prefer, than it does to open a case and swap parts around.

Edited by Digby on Sunday 28th February 10:37

[Gnits]

I do agree with the posts so far in that I would do the upgrades myself however I do sympathise if you feel you don't want to do that.
If you are wanting to upgrade several components e.g. sound, graphics and RAM it may be worth looking at a new machine with that spec - saves you buying new bits and bobs and paying someone to put it together.
Having said that desktop upgrades are normally fairly easy!

[annodomini2]

Lets help you out, what do you currently have and ideally what would you want?

[rhinochopig]

I think you're all making it sound too easy. Fitting the kit is the easy bit, getting all if it to work together and sort out drivers can be very very tricky. Things like sound cards and wireless kit can be a bloody ball ache to get functioning correctly.

[Z064life]

I have a Dell, I am upgrading cpu, memory, mobo and also a new NIC. I need this for Hyper-V virtualisation. As I need a lot more memory (12gb fast RAM) I need to change the mobo (and found a suitable one). As I need to make the most of the memory, I need a new CPU (which would also need a new mobo). I need a second nic for technical reasons.

Due to changing the case, I need to move everything but the new parts into the new case.

Quite a big job.

[Gnits]

You said the 'D' word - I am out of here!

Personally don't get on with Dell stuff.

[annodomini2]

Z064life said:

I have a Dell, I am upgrading cpu, memory, mobo and also a new NIC. I need this for Hyper-V virtualisation. As I need a lot more memory (12gb fast RAM) I need to change the mobo (and found a suitable one). As I need to make the most of the memory, I need a new CPU (which would also need a new mobo). I need a second nic for technical reasons.

Due to changing the case, I need to move everything but the new parts into the new case.

Quite a big job.

The problem you will have is the Case, Dell motherboards are custom and the cases do not always conform to the ATX or mATX standards.

Secondly, the power supply may not be upto the job with the upgraded components, again they can be unique to the Case.

When you're changing the case you're effectively building a new computer with the parts listed above.

Hyper-v, you building a server or a workstation?

[mcflurry]

Z064life said:

I am upgrading cpu, memory, mobo and also a new NIC.
Due to changing the case, I need to move everything but the new parts into the new case.

That's a Trigger's Broom

[Mr_S]

what will you be moving to the new PC? just the hard disks probably.

[dudleybloke]

would be easyer and cheaper to buy a new pc.

[hairykrishna]

I don't know if things have changed since I worked with PC hardware but you'll struggle to fit new, non Dell, stuff in a Dell case. The filthy bds make them deliberately non standard. You'll also most likely need a new, more powerful, PSU. With that in mind you're basically buying a whole new PC anyway - why not spend an extra 30 quid on a cheap case and keep your Dell as a spare?

[Marf]

annodomini2 said:

Z064life said:

I have a Dell, I am upgrading cpu, memory, mobo and also a new NIC. I need this for Hyper-V virtualisation. As I need a lot more memory (12gb fast RAM) I need to change the mobo (and found a suitable one). As I need to make the most of the memory, I need a new CPU (which would also need a new mobo). I need a second nic for technical reasons.

Due to changing the case, I need to move everything but the new parts into the new case.

Quite a big job.

The problem you will have is the Case, Dell motherboards are custom and the cases do not always conform to the ATX or mATX standards.

Secondly, the power supply may not be upto the job with the upgraded components, again they can be unique to the Case.

When you're changing the case you're effectively building a new computer with the parts listed above.

Hyper-v, you building a server or a workstation?

+1

Dell make so much stuff custom that when you get to the point of changing platforms rather than just changing stuff like RAM, GFX and sound cards, the case will stop you as off the shelf parts simply won't fit.

Get yourself a new case to put all your nice new bits in

[horton]

first thought - it is easier to remove the components you want to keep from your current PC, and get a new motherboard/CPU/videocard/case

second thought - just get a new PC, unless you are very lucky the only components worth carrying over to a new PC are the DVD and the HDD.

I built a Phenom II x3/4gb DDR3/GTX260 machine about six months ago, I built it in an old case, but got a new 650w PSU - cost about 450 quid for everything, and plays games beautifully.

Keep the old PC, use it as a download box, media player, kid's PC, etc.

[Z064life]

All I would take from the Dell is the HDDs (not factory ones, I got new ones) and the CD/DVD drive. This will make the Dell pretty much useless.

So as the majority of the PC will be made up of the custom parts, yes I guess it makes sense to buy a new PC. If I buy all of these parts and get someone to fit them, it's pretty much the same thing.

I am using Hyper-V as I need a proper virtualisation platform. I've tried everything else (Virtualbox, Workstation, and run into limitations with those because of what I am trying to do).

I am well aware from experience about Dells and problems with hardware sizing etc.


Remember guys (hairykrishna), I am fitting everything in the new case. I am not putting anything new in the Dell case.

[horton]

you have multiple HDDs, so leave one in the Dell and leave it as a working PC - as for the DVD, they cost next to nothing, so you might as well buy a new one, or upgrade to blue ray.

Surely you have a tech-savvy friend who can slap a PC together for you, if you don't want to do it yourself?

[Holst]

Z064life said:

All I would take from the Dell is the HDDs (not factory ones, I got new ones) and the CD/DVD drive. This will make the Dell pretty much useless.

So as the majority of the PC will be made up of the custom parts, yes I guess it makes sense to buy a new PC. If I buy all of these parts and get someone to fit them, it's pretty much the same thing.

I am using Hyper-V as I need a proper virtualisation platform. I've tried everything else (Virtualbox, Workstation, and run into limitations with those because of what I am trying to do).

I am well aware from experience about Dells and problems with hardware sizing etc.


Remember guys (hairykrishna), I am fitting everything in the new case. I am not putting anything new in the Dell case.

A new DVD drive is £15 so you might as well leave the Dell box alone and just swap the drives over into a new PC.
Give the Dell away with an old HDD in it, or you might even be able to sell it.
Or you could take the chance to upgrade to shiny new hard drives as well

You can EASILY build the PC yourself. If you know enough about hardware to choose the components you know enough to screw it all together and turn it on.
In many ways you will do a better job than a shop if you take your time. You will probably carefully route the wiring and carefully cable tie everything. Most shops will just shove everything in and then close the case up safe in the knowledge that you will never notice.

There are lots of people on here who build there own PCs and can offer advise if you get stuck.