A few questions

[LNERlover5]

Currently 2GB of RAM is not proving enough for the majority of tasks (FPS in Trainz drops to about 10). To upgrade to 4Gb DDR2 would cost a minimum of £30 but 8GB DDR3 would cost the same, future proof my system slightly and of course run at higher speeds. So my questions are.

.Will a Pentium D Extreme Edition 840 take to a new socket 775 Motherboard with DDR3 support?

.Will changing the motherboard mean i will have to reactivate Windows 7 (Its currently running in 32 Bit but i intend to re install as 64 bit)

The only reason I will stay with socket 775 is because my processor is still up to the task with specs similar to much more modern dual cores.

 

[fran1]

As long as the psu+mobo are socket 775 you should have no problems.
Re-activate windows, I don't see why, your using the same hard drives.

 

[shaneturner12]

Replacing the motherboard will require Windows to be re-activated.

No way around that.

Be aware that if it is an OEM version, it may reject the code, as it treats it as a new system.

Shane

 

[RRSignal]

1. There were plenty of motherboards that can do what you ask, though finding them today might be tricky and expensive; you may find it's more feasible to go with, say, a new Phenom system. At any rate, I know Gigabyte makes P45-based boards that support the 840 and DDR3, so look at their EP45 lineup. Most support DD2, but a lot support DDR3. I'm sure other brands based on that chipset have some as well. FYI, a few people lately have proposed to do what you're considering, though AFAIK they upgraded entirely with a new CPU and chipset.

2. Almost certainly. Also, if you have an OEM copy of Win7, that's tied to the motherboard; this does not just apply to OEM in the sense of copies that come from big manufacturers, but also if you buy a copy marked "OEM" from retailers like Tigerdirect.

 

[LNERlover5]

The PC is not OEM and the Windows copy is a full retail copy so that should help.

I found this, 840 support, DDR3, PCI ports in the right places for my expansion cards. Seems to be a good choice!

Gigabyte GA-G41MT-S2P G41 Socket 775 DDR3 Onboard VGA 7.1 Channel Audio mATX Motherboard

http://www.ebuyer.com/267114-gigaby...board-vga-7-1-channel-audio-matx-ga-g41mt-s2p

 

[RRSignal]

Ok board, though not the best if you want to overclock, but that's a very good price. Also, you realize Trainz can't use more than 4Gb, right? And, in my experience, you won't get it to use much more than 2. I assume you want the extra memory for other stuff or as a hedge against future versions.

 

[LNERlover5]

3.2 GHz default is enough although on my current board (Gigabyte GA-73PVM-S2H) I've hit 3.6 GHz (17 x 213, 1.2V) and could probably go further with a better cooler. I don't know how a G41 compares to a nForce 630i however.

As far as the RAM is concerned i'm aware of Trainz's limitations but as I use this machine for other intensive games such as Crysis I think 8GB will go down a treat and leave me with enough for several years.