olefarte
Posts: 1,314 +13
I'm contemplating doing what I think of as a major upgrade to my computer. I want to replace my motherboard, cpu, (and cooling fan), and ram. The reason I got on this track is that I wanted to upgrade my ram from 512 mb, to 1024. I"ve got PC 1066 RDram, and 512 mb will cost around $250 or so. To me it doesn't make much sense to go with old technology, when I can get the latest for not to much more than that. But, as this will be the most major upgrade I've attempted, I've got a lot of questions. I've looked at a lot of threads in the forums, and still don't have all the answers that I need to get started on this. If any of you guys can help me out on this I sure would appreciate it.
1. As I already have a computer that runs well, no problems, is all I have to do is take out the old motherboard/cpu/ram and install the new one using all the other original components, and then boot up? I doubt it. If I need to replace somthing else, what, and what else do I need to do? I'm going from and Intel motherboard, P4, 3.06 to AMD 64 3200+ or 3400+, and different ram. I've got a Gateway 700XL, full tower, 200 gig Maxtor hard drive, CD burner, DVD burner, floppy, Intel NIC, Intel IDE Contoller, Audigy sound card, with plenty of room inside. The IDE Contoller has kind of got me worried. I've done a search to find info on this, but I haven't found everything I need.
2. As I have only this one computer, I won't be able to access any help from here at TS, so are there any probems that I might have when I get this done, if by some chance I do all this correctly. So, any advice in advance will be greatly appreciated.
3. Are all ATX motherboards the same size. My present Intel board, D850EMV2, is supposed to be 12.xx by 9.xx. The one I'm looking at is something like 12.xx by 7.xx. I thought all ATX were the same size. I'm not 100% sure of these sizes, but could not find out much info on this. So my real question is, is the new board going to fit exactly in place of the old one? And also, does the new board come with the standoffs included or do I have to buy this seperately. Do I really need non magnetic tools?
4. I have the full install Windows XP Home Edition cd, that came with my Gateway computer. Am I going to be able to use this without buying a new version, as it's stll in the same computer? I don't know if it will work, but I want to be legal. I have had conflicting word on this, some say it will work, others say it won't. If I can use it, would it be better to use the existing install, or better to completely reformat, I'm not against that at all, probably will anyway.
This is what I'm looking to get. For some reason I can't link directly to it at TigerDirect, (it's about the fifth one down the page), so here's what it is. MSI’s K8TNE02-F Neo2 Socket 939 motherboard and AMD Athlon 64, 3200+ processor. If anybody has got any better suggestions, I am open as long as it's in the same price range. Has to be AGP compatable, as I just bought a new AGP card.
That's all I can think of for now. I'm sure I'll have more questions as I go along. I know it's a lot questions, but if you guys could help me out, I sure would appreciate it. Thanks.
Present specs are:
Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180 (IE 6.0 SP2)
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name *******
User Name *******
Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4HT, 3048 MHz (23 x 133)
Motherboard Name Intel Maryville 2 D850EMV2 (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 RIMM, Audio)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Tehama i850E
System Memory 512 MB (RDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (09/19/02)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
Display:
Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT (256 MB)
3D Accelerator nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT
Monitor Gateway FPD1930 [19" LCD] (124116843009)
Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Creative SB0090 Audigy Player Sound Card
Storage:
IDE Controller Intel(r) 82801BA Bus Master IDE Controller
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive Maxtor 6Y200P0 (200 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Optical Drive HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GMA-4020B (DVD-RW:2x/1x, DVD-RAM:2x, DVD-ROM:10x,
CD:12x/8x/32x DVD-RW/DVD-RAM)
Optical Drive LITE-ON LTR-48246S (48x/24x/48x CD-RW)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK
Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 194466 MB (164498 MB free)
Input:
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse Logitech HID Cordless Mouse+
Mouse Microsoft PS/2 Mouse
Network:
Network Adapter Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Desktop Adapter (192.168.1.47)
Modem BCM V.90 56K Modem
Peripherals:
USB1 Controller Intel 82801BA(M) ICH2 - USB Controller 1 [B-4]
USB1 Controller NEC PCI-USB Open Host Controller
USB1 Controller NEC PCI-USB Open Host Controller
USB2 Controller NEC USB Enhanced Host Controller [B-1]
USB Device Logitech USB Cordless Keyboard
USB Device Logitech USB Cordless Mouse & iTouch Keys
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device
1. As I already have a computer that runs well, no problems, is all I have to do is take out the old motherboard/cpu/ram and install the new one using all the other original components, and then boot up? I doubt it. If I need to replace somthing else, what, and what else do I need to do? I'm going from and Intel motherboard, P4, 3.06 to AMD 64 3200+ or 3400+, and different ram. I've got a Gateway 700XL, full tower, 200 gig Maxtor hard drive, CD burner, DVD burner, floppy, Intel NIC, Intel IDE Contoller, Audigy sound card, with plenty of room inside. The IDE Contoller has kind of got me worried. I've done a search to find info on this, but I haven't found everything I need.
2. As I have only this one computer, I won't be able to access any help from here at TS, so are there any probems that I might have when I get this done, if by some chance I do all this correctly. So, any advice in advance will be greatly appreciated.
3. Are all ATX motherboards the same size. My present Intel board, D850EMV2, is supposed to be 12.xx by 9.xx. The one I'm looking at is something like 12.xx by 7.xx. I thought all ATX were the same size. I'm not 100% sure of these sizes, but could not find out much info on this. So my real question is, is the new board going to fit exactly in place of the old one? And also, does the new board come with the standoffs included or do I have to buy this seperately. Do I really need non magnetic tools?
4. I have the full install Windows XP Home Edition cd, that came with my Gateway computer. Am I going to be able to use this without buying a new version, as it's stll in the same computer? I don't know if it will work, but I want to be legal. I have had conflicting word on this, some say it will work, others say it won't. If I can use it, would it be better to use the existing install, or better to completely reformat, I'm not against that at all, probably will anyway.
This is what I'm looking to get. For some reason I can't link directly to it at TigerDirect, (it's about the fifth one down the page), so here's what it is. MSI’s K8TNE02-F Neo2 Socket 939 motherboard and AMD Athlon 64, 3200+ processor. If anybody has got any better suggestions, I am open as long as it's in the same price range. Has to be AGP compatable, as I just bought a new AGP card.
That's all I can think of for now. I'm sure I'll have more questions as I go along. I know it's a lot questions, but if you guys could help me out, I sure would appreciate it. Thanks.
Present specs are:
Computer:
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 2
Internet Explorer 6.0.2900.2180 (IE 6.0 SP2)
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name *******
User Name *******
Motherboard:
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4HT, 3048 MHz (23 x 133)
Motherboard Name Intel Maryville 2 D850EMV2 (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 4 RIMM, Audio)
Motherboard Chipset Intel Tehama i850E
System Memory 512 MB (RDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (09/19/02)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
Display:
Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT (256 MB)
3D Accelerator nVIDIA GeForce 6800 GT
Monitor Gateway FPD1930 [19" LCD] (124116843009)
Multimedia:
Audio Adapter Creative SB0090 Audigy Player Sound Card
Storage:
IDE Controller Intel(r) 82801BA Bus Master IDE Controller
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive Maxtor 6Y200P0 (200 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/133)
Optical Drive HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GMA-4020B (DVD-RW:2x/1x, DVD-RAM:2x, DVD-ROM:10x,
CD:12x/8x/32x DVD-RW/DVD-RAM)
Optical Drive LITE-ON LTR-48246S (48x/24x/48x CD-RW)
SMART Hard Disks Status OK
Partitions:
C: (NTFS) 194466 MB (164498 MB free)
Input:
Keyboard HID Keyboard Device
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse HID-compliant mouse
Mouse Logitech HID Cordless Mouse+
Mouse Microsoft PS/2 Mouse
Network:
Network Adapter Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Desktop Adapter (192.168.1.47)
Modem BCM V.90 56K Modem
Peripherals:
USB1 Controller Intel 82801BA(M) ICH2 - USB Controller 1 [B-4]
USB1 Controller NEC PCI-USB Open Host Controller
USB1 Controller NEC PCI-USB Open Host Controller
USB2 Controller NEC USB Enhanced Host Controller [B-1]
USB Device Logitech USB Cordless Keyboard
USB Device Logitech USB Cordless Mouse & iTouch Keys
USB Device USB Composite Device
USB Device USB Human Interface Device