Upgrading Motherboard & Processor

  • Thread starter Thread starter Fredster
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Fredster

Hi,

I'm looking to upgrade my motherboard and processor. Currently, I have an
AMD Duron 800mhz and a micro ATX motherboard. I also have 3 PC133 SRAM
chips, at least 2 of which I would like to carry across to the new
motherboard. I'd like to upgrade to around 1.6Ghz or more. Can anyone
suggest a good processor/motherboard combination that would allow me to keep
the PC133 memory?

Cheers,

Pete Frederick
 
Fredster said:
Hi,

I'm looking to upgrade my motherboard and processor. Currently, I have an
AMD Duron 800mhz and a micro ATX motherboard. I also have 3 PC133 SRAM
chips, at least 2 of which I would like to carry across to the new
motherboard. I'd like to upgrade to around 1.6Ghz or more. Can anyone
suggest a good processor/motherboard combination that would allow me to keep
the PC133 memory?

Cheers,

Pete Frederick
Click to expand...

Why keep your old slow memory when about £32 will buy you 256Mb of DDR.

If you keep your old memory it will:-
severely restrict your choice of new mobo
reduce the saleability of your old kit.
reduce the potential performance of your new board / processor.
restrict you to 266MHz FSB processors and operation
save you not a lot

Funny.....
I never hear people saying I'm upgrading my 1966 Porsche.
I want to keep the wheels / cross ply tyres, what new model should I choose?

That said if you must stick with PC133 memory and uATX format then the Elite
K7SEM mobo fits the bill.
http://www.ecsusa.com/products/k7sem.html

Ensure you choose a 266MHz FSB cpu, XP2400+ is perhaps tops.
 
Why keep your old slow memory when about £32 will buy you 256Mb of DDR.

If you keep your old memory it will:-
severely restrict your choice of new mobo
reduce the saleability of your old kit.
reduce the potential performance of your new board / processor.
restrict you to 266MHz FSB processors and operation
save you not a lot
Click to expand...

The problem is that I have 768mb of PC133 so at those prices, I'll have to
spend another £100 to upgrade the memory as well - I don't want to spend a
great deal in total as it's not vital for me to have an incredibly quick
machine.
 
Fredster said:
The problem is that I have 768mb of PC133 so at those prices, I'll have to
spend another £100 to upgrade the memory as well - I don't want to spend a
great deal in total as it's not vital for me to have an incredibly quick
machine.
Click to expand...


1) Why do you need 768Mb of memory?
XP runs well with most apps. on 256Mb

2) Consider selling 2 of your 3 PC133 256Mb sticks ( keep one to sell with
the old motherboad / cpu)
On uk.adverts.computer you should get at least £20 / stick.
I'd pay that today if you want to sell.
 
Hi,

I'm looking to upgrade my motherboard and processor. Currently, I have an
AMD Duron 800mhz and a micro ATX motherboard. I also have 3 PC133 SRAM
chips, at least 2 of which I would like to carry across to the new
motherboard. I'd like to upgrade to around 1.6Ghz or more. Can anyone
suggest a good processor/motherboard combination that would allow me to keep
the PC133 memory?

Cheers,

Pete Frederick
Click to expand...

To get the most future upgradability and modern performance you need to
abandon the PC133 memory, opening up any/all possibilities for upgrade
by replacing the memory with (DDR, "PC" speed that's applicable to the
intended CPU's FSB speed). For a medan budget that would mean a
name-brand, value grade of PC3200 memory, or PC2700 if it can be acquired
locally for great discount in price after a rebate.

If you REALLY want to keep the PC133 memory, want cheapest upgrade
reasonably possible, I suggest an Athlon XP2200 and this motherboard:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-128-217&depa=0

Another motherboard option that allows reusing PC133 memory is the
following, ECS K7S5A Pro, but I'm only recommending it based on (some)
other's satisfaction with it... I wouldn't rely on an ECS board personally
if you paid me to, at least not for a primary use or mission critical
system. Nevertheless, the price is right and it can use PC133 memory:

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewProductDesc.asp?description=13-135-126&depa=0
 
Fishman said:
1) Why do you need 768Mb of memory?
XP runs well with most apps. on 256Mb

2) Consider selling 2 of your 3 PC133 256Mb sticks ( keep one to sell with
the old motherboad / cpu)
On uk.adverts.computer you should get at least £20 / stick.
I'd pay that today if you want to sell.
Click to expand...

It depends on your definition of "well" and the apps being used.

I have Windows XP Pro and use 1Gb of RAM for about a year. I decided to try
some Crucial RAM in the machine and installed just one 512Mb stick. It ran
OK but did not enable me to get to 200FSB. I stuck in another 512Mb and it
felt snappier - not hugely, but noticeable. I don't think it was just down
to dual channel activation either.
 
1) Why do you need 768Mb of memory?
XP runs well with most apps. on 256Mb
Click to expand...

Hardly. XP needs a minimum of 384MB to not be constantly swapping out to
the pagefile for routine (internet/email/office/etc) tasks unless you
disable practically every non-essential service... which (disabling
services) is a good idea, but an XP system is MUCH better off with 384+ MB
memory.
2) Consider selling 2 of your 3 PC133 256Mb sticks ( keep one to sell with
the old motherboad / cpu)
On uk.adverts.computer you should get at least £20 / stick.
I'd pay that today if you want to sell.
Click to expand...

That is a good idea, selling the memory while it still has some value.
 
Fredster said:
I'm looking to upgrade my motherboard and processor. Currently, I
have an AMD Duron 800mhz and a micro ATX motherboard. I also have 3
PC133 SRAM chips, at least 2 of which I would like to carry across
to the new motherboard. I'd like to upgrade to around 1.6Ghz or
more.
Click to expand...

I would suggest that you either:

1. Buy new RAM to go with the motherboard and CPU. Sell the current CPU,
motherboard and PC133 RAM (probably best to sell one or two of the DIMMs
seperately), or keep it as (part of) another system.

Or 2. Only upgrade the CPU - buy second hand, as fast as the motherboard
will take - and sell the current one. Later, do option 1.

The first is ideal, the second will give you a bit of a boost now for not
much dosh. Buying a motherboard that will take your PC133 is not
particularly cost-effective: it will cost significantly more than the second
option for (probably) not much more gain.

If you really are determined to buy a motherboard to take your PC133, I
don't know of any better than those that have already been suggested.

Alex
 
kony said:
Hardly. XP needs a minimum of 384MB to not be constantly swapping out to
the pagefile for routine (internet/email/office/etc) tasks unless you
disable practically every non-essential service... which (disabling
services) is a good idea, but an XP system is MUCH better off with 384+ MB
memory.


That is a good idea, selling the memory while it still has some value.
Click to expand...

I would agree that this is not a bad time to bite the bullet re PC133
memory.

I have just done this - my g/f's machine uses 512Mb PC133 SDRAM with a
Pentium III mobo & cpu. I have just bought a DFI LanParty mobo + XP2500 and
1 GB of PC3200 RAM.
 
Fredster said:
Hi,

I'm looking to upgrade my motherboard and processor. Currently, I
have an AMD Duron 800mhz and a micro ATX motherboard. I also have 3
PC133 SRAM chips, at least 2 of which I would like to carry across to
the new motherboard. I'd like to upgrade to around 1.6Ghz or more.
Can anyone suggest a good processor/motherboard combination that
would allow me to keep the PC133 memory?
Click to expand...

If you really desire to keep your existing RAM, here's a board:
http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/components/motherboardsandaccessories/productView.htm?quicklinx=2HZR

It will support the AthlonXP2600+ (133MHz version)according to Gigabyte. The
2400+ retail is easler to find.
http://www.dabs.com/uk/channels/components/processors/productView.htm?quicklinx=2574&familyid=183
 
Plastic Peter said:
Try a Jetway 226 B Motherbaoard It Has 2 ddr and 2 sdram shots I
have been using mine my for over a year now with a AMD 2400 cpu,
you can get one from www.2ucomputers.co.uk then if you want to upgrade to
ddr ram later you will be able too. Peter
Click to expand...

Got a brand new Sealed Soltek SL-75KQ XP board takesd upto 2600XP for £30
inc

andy
 
Sell your old memory and buy new memory:
o PC133 SDRAM is actually quite "valuable" right now
o Crucial charge quite a premium for it over later faster RAM
o Many boards out there are moving from Win98/NT4SP6 to XP

Ebay resale prices for (say) Crucial 128MB are really quite good.
Then buy new memory from Crucial UK - free shipping, good memory.

Since you are using Skt-A you can get some nice economic m/bs,
and the processors will not cost much at all - particularly if you Ebay.
Hard drives & memory I tend to prefer new from major suppliers.
 
Try a Jetway 226 B Motherbaoard It Has 2 ddr and 2 sdram shots I
have been using mine my for over a year now with a AMD 2400 cpu,
you can get one from www.2ucomputers.co.uk then if you want to upgrade to
ddr ram later you will be able too. Peter
 
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