Kony
I may have but I can't remember so here it is. Mother board is an AZ11with a
1GHz cpu, 256mb memory ( go up to 1.5 gb DRAM ), AMD bus data trnnsfer rate
of 100MHz possible 200MGz, Audio on board in/out, 2 USB ports, serial port,
parallel port, one AGP and 5 PCI expansion slots. Does most everything I
want but thought if cost of repair close to cost of new mother board might
as well go for faster. Mainly use is making CD Roms, Internet and Finance.
What do you think?
William
Well the cost of repair, if you are able to solder new capacitors on
youself, is less than $15. The cost of an equivalent motherboard
might be around $40 online... just depends on what can be found, a
lot of surplus/closeout/etc type websites would be clearing out boards
of that age, if they still have any. If I remember correctly that's
a mATX board, so if your case is only mATX it's a consideration for a
replacement board. Any newer board should accept the CPU but another
limitation is one supporting the PC100/133 memory.
A new board supporting significant numbers of new features would be
roughly $60+, and require replacing the memory to DDR, so rounded off
it's closer to $100. Then adding the CPU, possibly another $50-150
depending on speed. There's a possibility you'd need a new heatsink
too, would come with the retail CPU or a better, quiter, aftermarket
'sink might be another $25. If you have a relatively old video card
that's AGP v1, it's not compatible with a new(er) model motherboard's
AGP slot. We or the video card manufacturer should be able to
determien that if you're not able to.
We can't make the call, how much you're wanting to spend. A 1GHz CPU
based system is enough to do the tasks you mention. Since you already
have the memory and CPU, if it were me I'd repair or replace the
motherboard... even if you want a faster system that makes a nice 2nd,
backup system. Then consider that with each performance upgrade,
you're facing the potential that the case and power supply are nearer
their max capacity, for power or heat removal... generally the
ballpark for faster parts is 300W PSU in a name-brand unit, and a case
with reasonable front air intake vents and a mostly unobstructed rear
exhaust fan under the power supply (or in some equivalent location if
your power supply isn't in the very top of the system, considering
it's a mATX board).
So looking at the numbers, the cost of upgrade quickly adds up, but it
may easily be the best long-term value, if you were already thinking
you'd like more performance, it would be a noticable performance
increase to realatively modern parts, though if the hard drive is same
age as rest of system you'd benefit from a new(er) hard drive too.
