Ok. So I'm trying to build a cheap PC to install Vista on since I don't want to reinstall or dual-boot my main XP machine. I have an Athlon XP 2100+ and a PCI-E geForce 6600GT laying around, so I was hoping to use those, but all indications are pointing to the fact that there's no such thing as a Socket A motherboard with PCI-E. (If someone knows of one, please tell me...)

So the question is this. I'm thinking that, in terms of spending not much coin on this project, I'd do better to keep the 6600GT and buy a low-end Athlon64. (This is assuming I buy new parts to keep other factors out of it). Does this seem to be the right track? Or should I keep the 2100+, buy a Socket A/AGP mobo cheap, and replace the video card? Trying to minimize cost here, this will never be my primary machine (as the current one is an Athlon64 3700+ and another 6600GT, whatever I build will likely be lower-spec).

2/18/2007 4:58:53 PM

What's your budget? For about a hundred bucks you can get a Socket 939 board with a 64-bit 3500+. It'll be enough for Vista. You can upgrade the video card later on down the road, but i'm sure the 6600 will be able to handle it up front.

2/18/2007 5:16:01 PM

Trying to keep everything under $200 but that's not a hard limit. I'll be able to recycle case, hdd(s) and CD-RW from an older machine, but along with the board/proc I'll also be needing RAM and a PSU.

2/18/2007 5:20:02 PM

But...why? vista!?

2/18/2007 5:40:06 PM

I can get it for free via msdnaa. Sooner or later I'm going to find myself needing to support it at work. The computer I'm upgrading is a PII-450 running Win2k.

[Edited on February 18, 2007 at 5:48 PM. Reason : s]

2/18/2007 5:45:39 PM