FirefighterJon

I have a question, I'm not at all an expert on building computers, however, I want to upgrade to a different case only, however, I realize since I ordered my computer through Dell, some extras will be required, I need to know what else I need to make this work, and how much it will cost.

This is the case I want
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811156078

However, I noticed it says "Motherboard Compatibility: ATX"

Here are the things I currently have in my computer, yes I know its rather crappy, but I want to upgrade the case first, and then only things that are required to be upgraded, to where it can still run as normally as it does.

I used Belarc Advisor to find everything out about my computer, and here is what it says:

Operating System:
Windows XP Home Edition (build 2600)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)

Processor:
1.60 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4
8 kilobyte primary memory cache
256 kilobyte secondary memory cache
Not hyper-threaded

Drives: (I plan to buy a new hard drive if the rest isn't too expensive)
39.99 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
32.22 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

_NEC NR-7900A [CD-ROM drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

WDC WD400BB-75CAA0 [Hard drive] (40.00 GB) -- drive 0, s/n WD-WMA8H2970122, rev 16.06V16, SMART Status: Healthy

System Model:
Dell Computer Corporation DIM4400
System Service Tag: XXXXXXXXXXX
Chassis Serial Number: XXXXXXXXXX
Enclosure Type: Mini-Tower

Main Circuit Board:
Board: Intel Corporation D845PT AAA67834-304
Serial Number: XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Bus Clock: 100 megahertz
BIOS: Intel Corp. A04 02/12/2002

Memory Modules: (If I have to upgrade motherboards, please tell me if I can cheaply upgrade to 1 GB RAM with the motherboard)

256 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'J5G3' is Empty
Slot 'J5G1' has 256 MB

Controllers:
Standard floppy disk controller
Intel(r) 82801BA Ultra ATA Controller
Primary IDE Channel [Controller]
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]

Bus Adapters:
Intel(r) 82801BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller - 2442
Intel(r) 82801BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller - 2444

Display:
NVIDIA GeForce 6200 [Display adapter]
DELL M782 [Monitor] (15.7"vis, s/n 8G157231BNB5, February 2002)

Multimedia:
SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio

Other Devices:
HID-compliant consumer control device (2x)
USB Human Interface Device (3x)
HID Keyboard Device
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
HID-compliant mouse
Microsoft PS/2 Mouse
Generic USB Hub
USB Composite Device
USB Root Hub (2x)

I am looking to make an order tonight, to get these as soon as possible, preferably all from newegg.

Thanks ahead of time for all of the support.

linderman

dell uses a proprietary motherboard and case; sometimes you can transplant a dell board into a standard case and sometimes you cant. its really a hit and miss adventure

you have nothing to lose if you cant mount the dell board into the new case; when its time to build yourself a new computer you will need a case regardless >>>>>> and you are getting VERY due a new system



because your dell is using an Intel motherboard .........your chances for success are better than the average dell user ......especially the newer dells

FirefighterJon

What is a cheap motherboard that would support everything I already have, aswell as 1-2 GB of RAM? And would I need a better power supply for that?

linderman

IMHO (in my humbel opinion) it would be a poor choice to invest any more money on parts that are going "backward" the case is a diff story ......that can be brought forward

there are boards you can get on ebay used but they wont be cheap; they will cost you close to $100.00 .......new modern spec boards are about that ..........see where I am coming from

you would be better off to buy one new part every two or three weeks ...........by the time late fall is here ........you will be ready to build a SUPER FAR better system



as far as getting 2 gigs of ram for your old board would be usless; youre CPU couldnt use 2ggis of ram with a pistol held to its pins

a 1.6ghz "might be able to use one gig with the pedal to the metal running apps

FirefighterJon

I just want to know what motherboard would be compatible with my other stuff, that is also an upgrade, but isn't too terribly expensive, I'm wanting upgrades, but I only want to upgrade the case, the motherboard, and upgrade to 1-2 GB of RAM, at cheapest rate possible.

linderman

http://cgi.ebay.com/ASUS-P4P800-E-DE...3A1%7C294%3A50



http://cgi.ebay.com/Crucial-2GB-2x1G...3A1%7C294%3A50

FirefighterJon

Would buying this one new be a better deal seeing as it will come with warranty?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131381

linderman

thats not compatible ............your cpu is an Intel the board you linked uses an AMD cpu


you wont find a board on newegg or any other vendor house that will match your system specs............they have been out of active production for over 6-8 years now probably .............

FirefighterJon

Well with the links you gave, would I have to upgrade anything else to make those work? Better power supply or anything?

linderman

power supply .......yes ...........the board I linked will support your cpu (400mhz FSB) and it will support all the way up to 800MHZ FSB

you would "want" to get Corsair-450-VX

you might snag a good deal for less money on ebay ...........like $50.00 for an antec earthwatts 500

linderman

http://cgi.ebay.com/Brand-New-Antec-...3A1%7C294%3A50

FirefighterJon

Alright, I bought of all of that, hopefully you're as smart as you appear to me and all of that works togehter. Haha. One more question, for a processor, would I have to get Intel or AMD.

My current processor is
Intel Pentium 4 CPU 1.60 GHz

I found two, one is Intel, one is AMD, which would work with the few parts I'm still using from my old pc, and the new parts i've bought that you listed.

1)
Intel Pentium E5200 Wolfdale 2.5 GHz 2 MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116072

or

2)
AMD Athlon 64 X2 6000+ 3.0 GHz 2 x 1 MB L2 Cache Socket AM2 125W Dual-Core Processor
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103772

Would it be best to spend 70ish on one of these, or just to run what I have, and wait a while to upgrade to a quad core?

wrench97

If you want to also upgrade the CPU a different motherboard would be called for linderman listed components to go with your present CPU, to move to either cpu will require a different motherboard, DDR2 ram (you have DDR) and unless your using integrated video a different video card(PCIe from AGP).

linderman

both cpu's you have linked are not compatible with your old cpu and the old motherboard linked from ebay / your linked cpu's are for much newer platforms;


with the motherboard I linked for you from ebay ......can use your existing cpu unless you want a faster one ?

if you do; then my very first suggestion is much wiser ..........

you see right now you are considering buying a motherboard / ram / power supply / and now possibly a cpu >>>>>>>> why buy so many parts that are OLD technology

you already saw you can get a new platform motherboard for $55.00 / ram for the same price as the old stuff ........upgrading only makes sense when a minimal amount of stuff needs to be purchased for say $100.00 to $150.00 ...........once you get over that price ......its time to think new


like this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128342 [$55.00]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103235 [$64.00]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231084 [$30.00]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817341016 [$60.00]

you can re-use your CD-rom drive / hard drives and floppy drive & network card or modem too

you will spend as much if not more on all old stuff and you will be computing at alot sloooooooowerrrrrr speeds


these are all brand new ........have nice long multi year warranty and will be drastically faster than you existing ??????????

FirefighterJon

The thing is, thats a ATX micro motherboard, and my tower is only supportive of ATX. Can you find another motherboard that is supportive of the tower and the rest of the things you gave me, I realize it not being micro will make it more expensive, but I don't want to spend a crazy amount for it.

linderman

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128376

wrench97

I've used 1 of these it's a decent board> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128382

linderman

I've used these as well, better board if you can live with the price tag

linderman

also; smart to look at other cases


Antec 300


or


Coolermaster centurion

FirefighterJon

Well, ill get the things u guys picked out, but the thing is, the tower is staying, so are you sure everything will work in the tower, because I like the tower I picked. and its here to stay.