Dimension 3000 Motherboard

[astraldata]

I purchased a Dell Dimension 3000 a while back. It ran wonderful and I very much enjoyed using it. I play lots of 2D games on it, but once I made the jump into 3D, it showed it's true colors. Most basic 3D ran just fine, but once I purchased The Sims 2, it simply just couldn't get much slower.

I thought, "Hey, all I need is a new graphics card, right?". Wrong. Very wrong. I purchased a Sapphire X300 256 MB Hyper Thread Technology PCI-E graphics card only to realize that there was a difference between PCI and PCI-Express.

Well, Dell has no AGP port OR needless to say, a PCI-e slot.

I need to find a motherboard that will fit in its case, has a PCI-Express slot and at least 2 more PCI slots.

I have a Intel Celeron D Processor 2.3 GHz, (i think) with 512 MB of RAM (two sticks) Is there any place to buy a motherboard like this that will work correctly in my system?

All I wanted to do was upgrade the graphics. I paid like $600 bucks for the thing thinking that I could just upgrade it later when I had more money. I'd even sell the bastard if I had to to just build one from scratch, but I wouldn't know how to go about it.

When I bought the thing, I didn't know much on the hardware aspects of repairing computers. Obviously now I know at least a little better.

I'd really like to upgrade my graphics no matter what, but I'm not about to fork out money for another computer when I still have this peice of junk. Any ideas? D:

 

[Eric Legge]

Dell PCs have custom cases and motherboards, not standard ATX components, so if you want a motherboard that fits that case that doesn't have the graphics chip built into it, Dell should be able to provide you with one.

But that graphics card might not solve your gaming problem on its own, because the Celeron is an economy processor mainly used for office uses and Internet access.

The Celeron D has a dual-core, which means two processors housed in a single unit, but there aren't any games that can use both cores out yet.

Ask Dell which Intel Pentium 4 processors the new board can run and buy one as well. Ask Dell if you can buy it from a third-party supplier, because Dell charges more for components than most third-party vendors.

 

[vnf4ultra]

The Celeron D has a dual-core, which means two processors housed in a single unit, but there aren't any games that can use both cores out yet.

No, the pentium D is the intel cpu with dual core technology. Celeron D is basically an improved celeron cpu, with the d just standing for "desktop"(as opposed to a celeron M, which is for mobile use).

The dell 3000 is very similar to other low end dells, like the 2300, 2350, 2400, of which I have a 2300. They all use standard micro atx motherboard form factor boards. They use intel socket 478 cpus. Some modifcation is required to use a standard matx motherboard, but that involves the front panel connectors, like power button, leds, and usb. Also, you can get another case as well as replace the motherboard and add a graphics card, it could make it easier, and also, you could then get an atx board instead of matx. Atx generally have more features than matx. Another option is to get a pci video card for your current setup, but even the best pci, the 6200, isn't a "powerhouse."
http://www.chumbo.com/Info.aspx?id=304966

All I wanted to do was upgrade the graphics. I paid like $600 bucks for the thing thinking that I could just upgrade it later when I had more money. I'd even sell the bastard if I had to to just build one from scratch, but I wouldn't know how to go about it.

That's the exact situation(so I feel your pain) I was in when I got my dell, I thought I could just upgrade it, the dell salesperson even told me the system could handle gaming, which is just wrong. That helped me learn a lot about computers trying to find if I could upgrade my dell to play games. I ended up replacing my motherboard, and installing an agp card. If you do want to build from scratch it wouldn't be a bad idea, many people here(myself included) could help you pick parts and give you advise on how to do it.

 

[Eric Legge]

Thanks for clearing up my erroneous assumption that because a Pentium D processor is dual-core, a Celeron D is also dual-core.

Intel really knows how to confuse things. I have the correct info on my site about it, but forgot about it.

Celeron D - http://www.intel.com/products/processor/celeron_D/index.htm

Pentium D - http://www.intel.com/products/processor/pentium_D/index.htm

I don't think that a Celeron D is suitable for playing the latest games, so you might also have to upgrade the processor.

 

[astraldata]

Thanks for clearing that up for me. What happened at first was that I ordered a PCI-e card (the Sapphire x300 256 Hyperthreading thingy) knowing that I had PCI ports, and since my comp was pretty new I figured they were just "technically" called PCIx16 or PCI Express. Though, just before my card came in, I realized it wasn't the same thing when I started looking up pictures of motherboards with a PCI express port.

But I decided to keep the graphics card since I felt it was a pretty solid investment, all I needed to do was get a new motherboard now. However, I'm still pretty new on the technical side of things as to what motherboards would fit inside my Dell. (I don't want to go out and buy one and attempt to install it and get to the point where I realize it just doesn't fit and have to send it back!)

So, could anyone make some suggestions on maybe what motherboards would at least fit inside it? I searched newegg.com and couldn't find many motherboards with PCI-E ports which my gfx card needs, much less even knowing what I'm looking at as far as trying to figure out which one I should even think about buying.

I really don't want to have to buy another case if there's a motherboard out there that might actually fit inside my Dell with a PCI-E port. I need at least 1 regular PCI port for my modem card, and I think my sound is integrated on this motherboard. I do have an older dell with a larger case but it's not the prettiest and I don't know if it would even work. Cases from what I've seen are pretty expensive, not to mention I don't even know what motherboard to buy as it is to even think of getting a new case. D:

What types of motherboards/specs should I be looking at when shopping for one and what other stores could I get them from? No matter what, I need the cheapest one I can get with a PCI-e port and a single PCI port for the modem.

If there's no motherboard out there like this, how could I go about selling this computer online? (if that's possible) I'd like to get something back for it so I can go about building another computer from scratch if there's no way to replace the motherboard with one with a PCI-E slot...

Also, my order slip from Dell said Intel Celeron D processer, but in My Computer it just says "Celeron(R) CPU 2.40GHz". Is there any way to tell what type of processer I've actually got?

btw, would this work?:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813121309

 

[vnf4ultra]

Honestly, an x300 hm, isn't that great, but of course it's better than integrated.

I don't think there are any boards that will work with the specs you desire.
There are several other choices to consider though. One choice is you could return the x300 and get an agp card, and motherboard, like this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813123254
Or this(for more $)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813128222
An agp card like a 6600gt would be nice with either board, usually about $130-140 now.

Second option, since you (apparantly) want to keep your x300, you could get a board that will fit your pc and use pci-e, but it will require you to use a new cpu, either an intel socket T(775), or an amd socket 939(socket 478 matx boards are very hard(impossible?) to find with pci-e). A celeron d isn't very good for games, so an upgrade might be nice. Amd cpus are very good for gaming in my experience.


If you want an Amd cpu:

Here's an amd board you could use.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813138264

And a amd cpu for it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819103537


If you want an Intel cpu:

Here's an intel board you could use.
(your link)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813121309

And an intel cpu for it.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819116198

If you get a board and cpu, you'll end up at about $250.

 

[astraldata]

These would all work with the Case I've already got? I'm really not looking to spend a lot of money unfortunately. I'd really like an AMD processor but altogether it will cost a ****eload. I wonder if I sold my current motherboard and processor if I could get close to enough money to pay for an AMD and a motherboard.

Too bad I'd not know where and how much to sell it for. Maybe I could trade it in for something?

As far as AGP goes, I want to stay away from that as PCI-e is supposed to be faster than AGP. Of course AGP is easier to find a card for. Either way though I'd have to replace my motherboard, so I might as well just keep the one I've got and get a board that supports it.

A new processor is something I dread having to buy simply because they cost a ****load. I'm on a budget (which is why I bought this POS dell in the first place) so I cant go out and buy a new board, case, gfx card, AND a processor.

This card and case will have to do for a while. I guess buying a processor to go with the new motherboard would be the only way out of this, so my only option is to sell the ones I've got in order to pay for it. I just wouldn't know how to go about it or even how much to sell em for.

If I could pull of getting about $150 for my CPU and motherboard, I might be able to fork out the other 50-60 for the AMD motherboard and pay for the CPU with the money I make. Would this be possible to do?

 

[vnf4ultra]

If you're really on a tight budget you could get something like this.
Amd socket 754 motherboard with pci-express, matx.
http://www.newegg.com/product/Product.asp?item=N82E16813138268
Amd socket 754 sempron 3100+ cpu
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819104220

Total would be <$160 for both.
(you could use your current case and the x300 with this setup)
754 isn't as "future ready" as 939, but it still gives decent performance.
The palermo semprons supposedly can overclock very well, if you're into that.

 

[MetalX]

Honestly, an x300 hm, isn't that great, but of course it's better than integrated.

Lol, I know this is off-topic but I have seen a video card thats worse than integrated... Radeon 8500