Combining two PCs

At my house I have two PCs. The one I am using: a e-machines T2893 and a T6414.

The 6414's HD is off limits to me because my dad still wants a lot of pictures that are on it. To the best of my knowledge everything else works fine.

Now, from Wikipedia, I found out that the ATI Radeon Xpress 200 in the 6414 is apparently compatible with Celeron processors. My belief is that the Intel Celeron processor is better than the AMD 1) it is an intel and 2) it has about .66 higher GHz. However, the onboard graphics are much better on the 6414, and I want that. Additionally, the motherboard on the 6414 has slots for 4 sticks of RAM, and hopefully I can combine the RAM from the two. If not, I also have another T2893 lying around because recently the motherboard gave out and now it won't turn on. Hopefully, that RAM is intact still and with any luck I could place the total of 4 sticks of RAM from the T2893s in the 6414s motherboard. Additionally, the 6414 has a DVD writer, more USB slots, and a few other extra perks.

So, would it be possible to merge these PCs? If so, how would I do it safely?

P.S. if this all REALLY stupid, my bad. I just want to upgrade my PC, but I got no money. Just spare parts.

Sorry, I might sound like an ass for saying this, but here goes anyways and you can skip this entire chunk if you felt like it:

 Spoiler

How are you going to merge two totally different PCs based on two totally different platforms together? Trying to shove a Celeron (whether it be a socket 478 or a LGA775) into a socket 939 board is like trying to take Mega Blocs and putting it together with LEGO. It won't work, it won't even fit. If you want to switch the ATI Radeon Xpress 200 over, good luck with soldering off a BGA chip and hoping that it will (and trust me it won't) fit onto an entirely different board.

And what gave you the notion that the Celeron is better than the 3200+? In the Prescott days, AMD processors were known to be 2x as fast as Pentium 4's of the same speed, effectively, faster than a Pentium D at the same clock speed. Though, they are not exactly 2x as fast as Pentium 4's, but the performance difference between it and the Celeron D should be negligible.

Well... I guess I'll end my rant off with 1 last point, why do you have E-Machines PCs? ._.

At any rate, I congratulate your effort; at least you are going about it economically.

Ok, now to answer the question.

The ATI Radeon Xpress 200 is built into the Northbridge, it is compatible with the Celeron D 330 in the sense that if it can be used to communicate with it if the motherboard was designed to use it (in case case, obviously not).

You CANNOT take either processor and just shove it into the other board, they are two completely different platforms (it won't go well at all, if you want to try though, be my guest).

The best you CAN possibly do is to take RAM out of one computer and stick it into the other, if they are the same speed; however, since they are not, the effort would be rather futile because for the extra 512MB of RAM you gain, you lose quite a bit of bandwidth (might be worth it if you are constantly running out of RAM, but otherwise, no). Taking the HDD out of one computer and sticking it into another would be one of the only other options. I'm afraid that no matter how much you try to upgrade (even if you could buy parts for it), it'll be at the end of its useful life very soon; that is, if its parts don't give up on you first.

Parts that can easily be swapped between computers:
- Hard drives
- DVD drives
- Power supplies
- Cases
- PCI cards
- External devices (monitors, printers, mice, keyboards)

Parts that can be swapped, but have limitations:
- CPU & Heatsink/fan
- RAM
- Video cards
- Operating Systems
- Whole motherboards


Parts that cannot be swapped:
- Anything that's soldered onto the motherboard (chipsets, slots)

Parts that can easily be swapped between computers:
- Hard drives
- DVD drives
- Power supplies
- Cases
- PCI cards
- External devices (monitors, printers, mice, keyboards)

Parts that can be swapped, but have limitations:
- CPU & Heatsink/fan
- RAM
- Video cards
- Operating Systems
- Whole motherboards


Parts that cannot be swapped:
- Anything that's soldered onto the motherboard (chipsets, slots)

This, this.
However, I'm sure that if you REALLY REALLY REALLY wanted to, you can swap some things that are soldered on if you have basic soldering skills (at your own risk, very high risk too), extremely unrecommended and impractical. Though things like chipsets tend to use the BGA package and those are not solder-able by hand (if they were, I'd solder my Cypress chip in the display case to a PCB, and then I'll have a 5870 D=).

Hmmm, so what I guess I could probably do is put my HDD in the 6414. The 2893 only has 2 spots for RAM sticks, and they're both full (2 x 256 sticks). The 6414 has 4 slots and 2 are in use. Would it be more advantageous to put in the 2893's RAM in combination with the 6414's since, most likely, the 6414's is a little better, or would it be better to put in 4 sticks coming from 2893's for consistency?

Hmmm, so what I guess I could probably do is put my HDD in the 6414. The 2893 only has 2 spots for RAM sticks, and they're both full (2 x 256 sticks). The 6414 has 4 slots and 2 are in use. Would it be more advantageous to put in the 2893's RAM in combination with the 6414's since, most likely, the 6414's is a little better, or would it be better to put in 4 sticks coming from 2893's for consistency?

It actually doesn't matter.
All the modules will only run as fast as the slowest module, which means that faster modules will be trottled to match the speed/timings of the slowest performing module in the DIMMs.
Personally, I'd prefer bandwidth over quantity, but if you really need it, then I guess there's no harm in putting in more (slower) RAM in it.

It actually doesn't matter.
All the modules will only run as fast as the slowest module, which means that faster modules will be trottled to match the speed/timings of the slowest performing module in the DIMMs.
Personally, I'd prefer bandwidth over quantity, but if you really need it, then I guess there's no harm in putting in more (slower) RAM in it.

Oh ok. Also, how would I go about safely handling the RAM so I don't fry it with static electricity?

Oh ok. Also, how would I go about safely handling the RAM so I don't fry it with static electricity?

Ground yourself. Grab onto some non-painted metal connected to the ground.

I mean, I've put together a computer without grounding myself. It may have been pretty stupid, but hey, it works :I

Oh ok. Also, how would I go about safely handling the RAM so I don't fry it with static electricity?

I'm going to assume that it doesn't have heatspreaders.

If you are really paranoid, go out and buy an ESD braclet for like $15, otherwise just follow these steps (I've put together and taken apart my computer many times, and it's still going strong after more than 1 and a half years):

1. If you are wearing a long sleeved shirt, take it off, it will get in the way.
2. Lay it down on a flat surface (obviously, remove all peripheral devices and cables first), with the removable side cover on top (if both covers are removable, the side with the thumbscrew). CAUTION: NO CARPET
3. Touch the side cover if it's metal (you don't have to if it's plastic). Unscrew the thumscrew, if it's too stiff (shouldn't be), use a screwdriver.
4. Remove cover. Put it somewhere out of the way and make sure that it won't fall.
5. Touch a metal part of the case, very important, A METAL PART OF THE CASE. This should sischarge all the static electricity that you have. Don't touch the PSU (big metal box in the corner in dummy terms).

Now it depends, if you are paranoid about ESD, then repeat the steps 1 ~ 5 for the other computer(s), and place them in near proximity, otherwise just repeat step 6 as required and leave the RAM modules on something not prone to ESD.

6. Press down on the 2 latches on either side of the RAM slots, the RAM module should pop up and out.
7. Press down on the 2 latches on either side of the RAM slots (vacant ones), and line it and the RAM module properly, push down, it should lock into place.

Repeat steps 6 to 7 as necessary.

8. Close case cover.
9. Tighten thumbscrew.
10. Set it up.

That should cover just about everything.

Alright, I added two sticks of T2893 RAM to the 6414 and placed a HDD from a old T3406 in there as well as also trying the other T2893's HDD. The computer turns on, but nothing at all displays on the monitor. I've tried two monitors and both receive no signal. Also, for further testing purposes, I also tried the T3406 and nothing will display with those either. Neither of these computers were disserviced for any display problems. Is this more likely a HDD problem or a motherboard problem since the VGA connects to the motherboard.

Alright, I added two sticks of T2893 RAM to the 6414 and placed a HDD from a old T3406 in there as well as also trying the other T2893's HDD. The computer turns on, but nothing at all displays on the monitor. I've tried two monitors and both receive no signal. Also, for further testing purposes, I also tried the T3406 and nothing will display with those either. Neither of these computers were disserviced for any display problems. Is this more likely a HDD problem or a motherboard problem since the VGA connects to the motherboard.

It could be that the northbridge doesn't like different speed RAM.
OK to verify, you have a molex/SATA power connector connected to the HDD right?

First off, try unplugging the HDD (though it probably isn't the problem, it is less cubersome to physically disable).
If there is still nothing on the display, then take out the 2 modules of RAM that you added in. At this point, if everything is fine, then take out the two modules of RAM left in it, and replace them with the two modules that you took out earlier. If it turns on, then try putting the other 2 RAM modules (the other T2893 you have) into it.

To me it sounds like either a RAM incompatibility (since the Radeon Xpress 200 does use shared memory), or, hopefully not, something got fried.

Oh, does your PC beep a lot when it turns on? If it does, then it's RAM failure (it is just called RAM failure, don't panic).

It could be that the northbridge doesn't like different speed RAM.
OK to verify, you have a molex/SATA power connector connected to the HDD right?

First off, try unplugging the HDD (though it probably isn't the problem, it is less cubersome to physically disable).
If there is still nothing on the display, then take out the 2 modules of RAM that you added in. At this point, if everything is fine, then take out the two modules of RAM left in it, and replace them with the two modules that you took out earlier. If it turns on, then try putting the other 2 RAM modules (the other T2893 you have) into it.

To me it sounds like either a RAM incompatibility (since the Radeon Xpress 200 does use shared memory), or, hopefully not, something got fried.

Oh, does your PC beep a lot when it turns on? If it does, then it's RAM failure (it is just called RAM failure, don't panic).

Well, the first time I attempted to turn it on, I didn't have a HDD in just cause I wanted to see if the BIOS would still come up ands ee if the RAM was recognized.

The PC doesn't beep at all when it turns on. It is weid that this happened with two seperate PCs, too. :/
I didn't touch the RAM on the 3406, either.

Well, the first time I attempted to turn it on, I didn't have a HDD in just cause I wanted to see if the BIOS would still come up ands ee if the RAM was recognized.

The PC doesn't beep at all when it turns on. It is weid that this happened with two seperate PCs, too. :/
I didn't touch the RAM on the 3406, either.

you may install one stick of ram in each test boot. If all pass, then try different combination of those RAMs
back to ~5 years ago, even exact same brand and model of ram but with different manufacture date may have compatibility issue.

Do what thinbear suggests, it is the most fail safe approach.

I've personally never had a RAM compatibility issue myself (my old Compaq Presario upgraded from 2x 512MB to 2x 512MB + 2x 1024MB perfectly fine, and this computer is using 2x 2048MB modules from Corsair), the only time that my computer beeped with the RAM failure error code was when I tried to overclock the RAM from 800MHz effective to 1066MHz effective.

What type of ram does the old and new computer use? I would just upgrade the older comp from 2x 512 to 2x 1gig sticks which are cheaper than hell if it's older ddr or newer ram is rather inexpensive.

Emachines aren't all terrible, they simply aren't made to upgrade, it's mostly as it comes in box is how it's going to be till the curb. I had gotten a cheap emachine for my kid, it's the 2g ram/vista one and I know
once I have problems with it someday, that most likely it'll be going to the curb before I go trying to fix it much.

edit: I know you are in a bind with money, that's why I throw this in here so you don't make your eyes bleed trying to figure out your current situation. You could always
put an advertisement in the local classifieds for WTB: Desktop $50 obo, and be surprised at how many people are willing to sell a way better machine to you than what you
are working with currently. It happens all the time here in Iowa, we also have free classified listing for shopperspree/bonnie buyer. Don't forget to check the listings section
for electronics before you bother placing an adv, alot of the time people will already be selling what is to them a curbside comp, but to you an upgrade from your current comp.

What type of ram does the old and new computer use? I would just upgrade the older comp from 2x 512 to 2x 1gig sticks which are cheaper than hell if it's older ddr or newer ram is rather inexpensive.

Emachines aren't all terrible, they simply aren't made to upgrade, it's mostly as it comes in box is how it's going to be till the curb. I had gotten a cheap emachine for my kid, it's the 2g ram/vista one and I know
once I have problems with it someday, that most likely it'll be going to the curb before I go trying to fix it much.

edit: I know you are in a bind with money, that's why I throw this in here so you don't make your eyes bleed trying to figure out your current situation. You could always
put an advertisement in the local classifieds for WTB: Desktop $50 obo, and be surprised at how many people are willing to sell a way better machine to you than what you
are working with currently. It happens all the time here in Iowa, we also have free classified listing for shopperspree/bonnie buyer. Don't forget to check the listings section
for electronics before you bother placing an adv, alot of the time people will already be selling what is to them a curbside comp, but to you an upgrade from your current comp.

My old computer uses DDR RAM, and my newer computer uses DDR2 RAM.
I don't know about the states, but here in Canada, 1 module of DDR 400 1GB goes for like $45 (+ 13% tax and some recycling fees), I'd rather spend that $90 on something like a new GPU for my newer computer (or maybe a 1.5TB HDD) rather than on 1GB more RAM on a computer that I don't even use. To be honest, I've never even seen more than 2GB being used at any time on any of my computers, it just lingers around 1.3GB ~ 1.8GB usually.

I will never buy another prebuilt computer, building a computer is much more fun and offers much better value (I built the computer that I'm using at the moment). =P
Though I am thinking about dropping some more cash on it for a GTX 485 or a new CPU + Motherboard (that AMD Phenom II x6 looks hot), but probably won't since I don't need that much processing power and I'm getting a laptop next year. =3

Yeah AMD rocks, my first built computer used their processor for like 6 years solid with no issues, their products are good.

Here the 1gig sticks are around 25-30 dollars and that's off the shelf at a store like staples. I doubt those sticks from one comp to the other will work.
Hope things work out for ya though, new/refurbished computers are pretty great.