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Bebi
10-18-2003, 02:15 PM
My processor is a "AMD-K6™ 3D Processor" and is 500mhz(which is why I need to upgrade) and Im not sure what my motherboard is (how do I find out without opening the back up?) What processor/motherboard would be good in my pc (atleast 1.5ghz)

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/darthkiller/specs.JPG
clocker
10-18-2003, 02:21 PM
What kind of machine do you have?

What form mobo will your case accept?
Bebi
10-18-2003, 02:23 PM
All the shit you should need is in the screenshot
Virtualbody1234
10-18-2003, 02:25 PM
If you're on a tight budget get an ECS K7S5A-PRO motherboard and an Athlon XP 2000+.

I'm quite sure you can still use the same RAM that you have right now with that board.

Total less that $150.00 US.

Edit: Good point, clocker. Just make sure your case and power supply can support the new board.
Bebi
10-18-2003, 02:28 PM
Originally posted by Virtualbody1234@18 October 2003 - 15:25
If you're on a tight budget get an ECS K7S5A-PRO motherboard and an Athlon XP 2000+.

Total less that $150.00 US.

Edit: Good point, clocker. Just make sure your case and power supply can support the new board.
nah my budget is pretty wide, and how do I know if it can support it?
clocker
10-18-2003, 02:41 PM
I am not an expert in this field, probably Virtualbody knows more, but.....

My old eMachines had a weird, apparently custom, motherboard and the case simply would not accept a standard ATX(?) form motherboard. ATX is just a standard and describes the mounting hole location and general size (I think).

The power supply is really no problem...they are easily upgradable, it is the size & design of the motherboard that could get you.

If your cables are stock ( as I assume that they are) then you may have to replace them also, as the slots in motherboards are not always in the same place...
exeus
10-18-2003, 02:53 PM
in all my dealing with name brand comp eg compaq hp ibm you cant put another motherboard in them and sometimes they have their own ram that isnt compatible with other comps....

EDIT:the cases are desinged so even if you did manage to get a Mobo in there you will norm find usb keyborad connections are at the wrong end with not way or where to put and vid cards etc and the power supplys are made for that particular machine and not useable with another Mobo...
Virtualbody1234
10-18-2003, 02:59 PM
You can easily get a new case with power supply and that would solve the problem if your case is not a standard format.
clocker
10-18-2003, 03:06 PM
Originally posted by Virtualbody1234@18 October 2003 - 07:59
You can easily get a new case with power supply and that would solve the problem if your case is not a standard format.
Very true.

But now you are approaching the point of "building a system" rather than just upgrading.
lynx
10-18-2003, 03:08 PM
At other prople have said, Compaq machines do not usually have a standard board layout, nor do they have a removable cover plate, so you will probably need a new case too. You can get a reasonable case for about £25, so that should not be too much of a problem.

I disagree with virtual's assessment of your ram, it will certainly only be sdram, I suspect it will be PC100 at best, and possibly only PC66. You will need to upgrade to ddr ram, at least DDR266.

I'm guessing from the amount of memory shown in the system information that your existing motherboard has a built in graphics adapter sharing your main memory. Your replacement motherboard will also need a built in adapter, or you will have to get a graphics card.
Bebi
10-18-2003, 03:14 PM
Maybe I should just sell this piece of shit and get a whole new setup :unsure:
clocker
10-18-2003, 03:24 PM
Originally posted by Bebi@18 October 2003 - 08:14
Maybe I should just sell this piece of shit and get a whole new setup :unsure:
Yup.

Or keep the mouse/keyboard/monitor and just assemble a new tower.
bigdawgfoxx
10-18-2003, 03:29 PM
Sell the pos and get something new.
Bebi
10-18-2003, 03:34 PM
Ok now, now that I have decided to sell the 5 year old thing, what setup should I get? my budget is around 1.5k to 2k
Virtualbody1234
10-18-2003, 03:38 PM
I disagree with virtual's assessment of your ram, it will certainly only be sdram, I suspect it will be PC100 at best, and possibly only PC66. You will need to upgrade to ddr ram, at least DDR266.
The board I referred to above can run SDRAM and DDR. :P

So "need" is the wrong word. :P
clocker
10-18-2003, 03:43 PM
Originally posted by Bebi@18 October 2003 - 08:34
Ok now, now that I have decided to sell the 5 year old thing, what setup should I get? my budget is around 1.5k to 2k
Ah, now you've jumped into a quagmire...
bigdawgfoxx
10-18-2003, 04:19 PM
Aight heres a good setup. But I really don't know what you want to do with it!

64 Bit technology is out now. But I think it will be a looooooong time before EVERYTHING will run with it, or to where stuff wont run on 32, so I wouldn't worry about it. You have a good enough budget to go with Intel, so do.

Intel Pentium 4 at 2.8Ghz Retail w/ fan $300
Asus P4P800 Deluxe $150
Corsair TWINX 1GB daul channel PC3200 (2X 512MB) $ 250
Nvidia Geforce 5900 Ultra $500 or ATI RADEON 9600 $150
^Depending if you are a big gamer or not
Seagate 120GB 8MB buffer $100
Soundblaster Live! 5.1 $40
Sony DRU510A DVD-RW CD-RW $200
Thermaltake Xasvier III $150
Total- 5900 Ultra= $1700 Ati 9600= $1350

That is all you need really! And under budget too! I figured the whole thing out and forgot to put the ram in...my mouth droped, but then I saw that I forgot the ram! lol but theres the finished product! If you need a monitor I wouldnt get anything else but a Sony Trinitron, around $250.


**********UPDATED UPDATED***********
clocker
10-18-2003, 04:29 PM
Ah...no optical drives?
Lamsey
10-18-2003, 05:21 PM
:huh: It never ceases to amaze me how much money people would be willing to waste on hardware
adamp2p
10-18-2003, 05:29 PM
Originally posted by Lamsey@18 October 2003 - 18:21
:huh: It never ceases to amaze me how much money people would be willing to waste on hardware
I find that my (computer) hardware purchases are directly proportional to the amount of time I spend sitting in front of it. I should have the best computer available on todays market as I spend 6-8 hours in front of it on a daily basis.

Good hardware does cost money, you realize, and if you settle for anything less than the best that will be reflected in your feelings toward your machine. My computer and I get along just great. I spend a lot of money on computing, because having an excellent computer makes me the productive person that I *edit "can be". I would not have the jobs I get without the hardware I have.

I never waste money when I buy something for my machine--for with the better hardware that I have the more I play with it, tweak it, make it better, and that makes me happy :) .

However, I have noticed how several people make what I call "blind purchases," when they buy a computing device that does not suit their needs, and waste their financial resources foolishly. But even worse than that are those total idiots who are running Windows 98 and have a Pentium 486 and 64kb ram trying to do their homework at school wondering why it takes them so long to complete an assignment or why they hate Windows so much...when they just blew their whole bank account taking some semi decent looking lady out shopping taking her to buy some sexy underwear...
bigdawgfoxx
10-18-2003, 11:56 PM
Sorry bout the Optical Drives! I have updated it so please look again. Yes Lamsey I do realise that that is a lot but I feel that if he has that much money it is more then worth it! The retail has a 3 year warranty I believe and a fan and heatsink, thats why I got retail. I like the setup.