Planning on upgrading/fixing

Raiden395 · 09-17-2008, 04:47 PM

Long story short, I built this computer 6 years ago, cost me $1,500 off of Tiger Direct, needless to say, it was very good back in the day, but currently, it is a little less than what I would ask for, on top of that it's suffering from what I believe to be a water-damaged Motherboard (only assuming this from the constant and irritating lack of direction given to the different components), nevertheless I would like to upgrade. My biggest problem is that I'm very rusty on the whole compatibility deal, as well as I do not have a lot of cash to be spending on upgrading it to a super computer. I just want something that will run everything very smoothly (everything: Adobe Photoshop CS3, DVDs, Vuze, Firefox, and some newer games at low graphic settings, as well as some classic games (meaning more than 5 years ago)).

Right now this is the setup: (I am unsure of the exact model numbers)

Seagate 250 gb HD
Intel Penitum 3 Processor
ASUS Motherboard
JPC Power core
GeForce 5600 video card
Soundblaster Live! audio card
Plextor CD-+R Burner/reader
Pioneer DVD-+R/CD-+R Burner/reader
1 GB Ram ULTRA DDR2 (I believe) (3/4 slots filled)

I'm just looking to replace the motherboard, cpu, and video card.

I'm looking to spend somewhere around 200 between the motherboard/cpu and 100 on a vid card, as well as 50 on some ram upgrades.

**linderman** · 09-17-2008, 04:51 PM

I would reccomend you go to ebay and buy a used dell optiplex system with a pentium D processor ........ you can easily find them for around $300.00

dont spend any money on the system you have .........it wayyyyyyyy out dated

**wrench97** · 09-17-2008, 04:58 PM

Well things have changed a lot since you built your PC is your case a full ATX or Micro ATX?
You will also need to spend some money on a Power Supply.
Motherboards now only have 1 IDE controller that will run 2 drives and up to 8 Sata Ports for drives.
Ram is now DDR2> P3's used PC100/133 or Rdram so you won't be able to use yours.
Is you SB card PCI?

**linderman** · 09-17-2008, 05:01 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-OptiPlex-74...QQcmdZViewItem

**wrench97** · 09-17-2008, 05:08 PM

Your good Linderman

Raiden395 · 09-17-2008, 05:20 PM

As far as the video/sound/hard drive, I could swap out the ones from my old pc into this one?

Raiden395 · 09-17-2008, 05:24 PM

to wrench97 the SB card is not PCI, I have a full tower (I guess full ATX)
my motherboard has 4 card slots and one video slot, as well as 4 ram slots.

**linderman** · 09-17-2008, 05:32 PM

hard drive 100% YES

video card = yes provided you have a PCI express video card ( P3's didnt have those ???)

sound = yes if its a pci slot sound card you have

**wrench97** · 09-17-2008, 05:43 PM

If it's not PCI is it VESA?
Is the video card AGP I believe, if so it will not fit
Do you know the model of your Asus board?

09-17-2008, 04:47 PM	#1 (permalink)
Raiden395 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: glen cove Posts: 4 OS: XP SP2	Planning on upgrading/fixing Long story short, I built this computer 6 years ago, cost me $1,500 off of Tiger Direct, needless to say, it was very good back in the day, but currently, it is a little less than what I would ask for, on top of that it's suffering from what I believe to be a water-damaged Motherboard (only assuming this from the constant and irritating lack of direction given to the different components), nevertheless I would like to upgrade. My biggest problem is that I'm very rusty on the whole compatibility deal, as well as I do not have a lot of cash to be spending on upgrading it to a super computer. I just want something that will run everything very smoothly (everything: Adobe Photoshop CS3, DVDs, Vuze, Firefox, and some newer games at low graphic settings, as well as some classic games (meaning more than 5 years ago)). Right now this is the setup: (I am unsure of the exact model numbers) Seagate 250 gb HD Intel Penitum 3 Processor ASUS Motherboard JPC Power core GeForce 5600 video card Soundblaster Live! audio card Plextor CD-+R Burner/reader Pioneer DVD-+R/CD-+R Burner/reader 1 GB Ram ULTRA DDR2 (I believe) (3/4 slots filled) I'm just looking to replace the motherboard, cpu, and video card. I'm looking to spend somewhere around 200 between the motherboard/cpu and 100 on a vid card, as well as 50 on some ram upgrades.

09-17-2008, 04:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 16,150 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Planning on upgrading/fixing I would reccomend you go to ebay and buy a used dell optiplex system with a pentium D processor ........ you can easily find them for around $300.00 dont spend any money on the system you have .........it wayyyyyyyy out dated __________________ Never Flash your bios from within Windows !! Power Supply Selection DONT RUN CHKDSK ON A FAILING HARD DRIVE OR YOU WILL KILL YOUR CHANCES OF DATA RECOVERY !!

09-17-2008, 04:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
wrench97 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 7,340 OS: XPSP2	Re: Planning on upgrading/fixing Well things have changed a lot since you built your PC is your case a full ATX or Micro ATX? You will also need to spend some money on a Power Supply. Motherboards now only have 1 IDE controller that will run 2 drives and up to 8 Sata Ports for drives. Ram is now DDR2> P3's used PC100/133 or Rdram so you won't be able to use yours. Is you SB card PCI? __________________ Power Supply and Selection

09-17-2008, 05:01 PM	#4 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 16,150 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Planning on upgrading/fixing http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-OptiPlex-74...QQcmdZViewItem __________________ Never Flash your bios from within Windows !! Power Supply Selection DONT RUN CHKDSK ON A FAILING HARD DRIVE OR YOU WILL KILL YOUR CHANCES OF DATA RECOVERY !!

09-17-2008, 05:08 PM	#5 (permalink)
wrench97 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 7,340 OS: XPSP2	Re: Planning on upgrading/fixing Your good Linderman __________________ Power Supply and Selection

09-17-2008, 05:20 PM	#6 (permalink)
Raiden395 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: glen cove Posts: 4 OS: XP SP2	Re: Planning on upgrading/fixing As far as the video/sound/hard drive, I could swap out the ones from my old pc into this one?

09-17-2008, 05:24 PM	#7 (permalink)
Raiden395 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: glen cove Posts: 4 OS: XP SP2	Re: Planning on upgrading/fixing to wrench97 the SB card is not PCI, I have a full tower (I guess full ATX) my motherboard has 4 card slots and one video slot, as well as 4 ram slots.

09-17-2008, 05:32 PM	#8 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 16,150 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Planning on upgrading/fixing hard drive 100% YES video card = yes provided you have a PCI express video card ( P3's didnt have those ???) sound = yes if its a pci slot sound card you have __________________ Never Flash your bios from within Windows !! Power Supply Selection DONT RUN CHKDSK ON A FAILING HARD DRIVE OR YOU WILL KILL YOUR CHANCES OF DATA RECOVERY !!

09-17-2008, 05:43 PM	#9 (permalink)
wrench97 Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 7,340 OS: XPSP2	Re: Planning on upgrading/fixing If it's not PCI is it VESA? Is the video card AGP I believe, if so it will not fit Do you know the model of your Asus board? __________________ Power Supply and Selection