Advice on buying motherboard and CPU

[Mayfriday0529]

I think I really need to update my PC already; it?s a 1.3 T-bird with 396 RAM.

All I can spare is about 150$ what would be a good Mobo/CPU combo.. If you could get in RAM included it would be awesome also.

I don't need the PC for playing top of the line Video Games, mostly surfing and also Digital picture editing; Photoshop slows down on my current system.

I don't even have USB 2 so i need and if SATA is included that?s great also.

Edit: i forgot, on board audio/LAN

 

[imported_llama]

most decent motherboards will have SATA and USB2 onboard.
i would help but i have no idea what the US prices are!

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: llama
most decent motherboards will have SATA and USB2 onboard.
i would help but i have no idea what the US prices are!

Yeah i notice most do already but i don't want to buy like a bad brand or something, like what you see on pricewatch combos.

 

[Blain]

What model MB do you have now?
Are you running PC-133 or DDR RAM?

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: Blain
What model MB do you have now?
Are you running PC-133 or DDR RAM?

Chaintech 7KJD with a 1.33 T-Bird and i'm using DDRAM-2100


P.S to anyone is ASROCK good mobos

 

[imported_llama]

ASRock are a lower band of Asus from what i heard

 

[Blain]

Snag a Palomino core 2000+ and use the rest to get your RAM up to 1GB.


BTW, No... it's not mine.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

So I was just browsing on Newegg and not sure what processor to get or what I can sacrifice to meet my goal of spending 150$

I could get a sempron 2300+ for 59$ OR jump to a XP 2600+ "barton" for 81$, or AMD Athlon XP 2800+ "barton" for 99$ and sacrifice the mobo for a 50 dollar model? There are also some Several Sempron models in between 59-99$.

I saw a MSI mobo for 50 dollars. I mean I don't know I guess maybe something down the middle for both. I guess say 75$ for each part, not including the fan for the CPU and RAM.

Which part would you consider more important?

 

[von10125]

I just got a biostar NF325-A7RT mobo for approx $50

SATA, USB 2.0 4 front + 4 rear, AGP, onboard LAN and audio, 5 PCI slots, socket 754

Just checked Newegg, 3 semprom processors from $78 - $100

Wouldn't be my choice, but there is an option. Just spend some time with research, it will pay off big time. Like not having your brand new 6600GT vid card on RMA

 

[Blain]

Using Photoshop, you will make sure you get your RAM up to 1GB. A Palomino core XP will work in your MB for sure. The other cores may require you to flash the BIOS to use them.
$150 for a CPU/MB/RAM upgrade is very tight.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: von10125
I just got a biostar NF325-A7RT mobo for approx $50

SATA, USB 2.0 4 front + 4 rear, AGP, onboard LAN and audio, 5 PCI slots, socket 754

Just checked Newegg, 3 semprom processors from $78 - $100

Wouldn't be my choice, but there is an option. Just spend some time with research, it will pay off big time. Like not having your brand new 6600GT vid card on RMA

Thanks for the tip

Originally posted by: Blain
Using Photoshop, you will make sure you get your RAM up to 1GB. A Palomino core XP will work in your MB for sure. The other cores may require you to flash the BIOS to use them.
$150 for a CPU/MB/RAM upgrade is very tight.

That Palomino is gone.
So lets forget the RAM, i'm not a very serious Photoshop users but yes i think 512 or more would be great. I find it now that i can't run several windows on my system without slowing down. Example Outlook, AIM, Photoshop and Browser, i dont slow down to a crawl but it does get annoying.

 

[allanon1965]

i currently use 3 different asrock motherboards, they are good solid performers for me, noble pc's had an ASRock K7S41GX All in One for 44.00, 512 Mb PC-2700 Super Talent DDR- Lifetime Warranty 50.00, AMD Sempron 2400+ 1.667GHz, Socket A Processor 73.00... i know thats a little over 150, but i used these exact components in a couple of systems for business clients and while its no high performance unit, it will be very stable and should do what you need.....poviding you can reuse some of your existing ddr, the mb only had 2 ddr slots though...so you may only be able to go to 768mb ram if one of your sticks is 256....the pc2700 will work with the pc2100.....but the cpu is 333fsb i think, so the ram will slow you a bit but not bad until you can buy more the supertalent is what i am using in my machine right now and i have absolutley no complaints at all, its good stuff and able to run tight timings! i am sure a few on here will not agree with me but its damn hard to argue with success

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: allanon1965
i currently use 3 different asrock motherboards, they are good solid performers for me, noble pc's had an ASRock K7S41GX All in One for 44.00, 512 Mb PC-2700 Super Talent DDR- Lifetime Warranty 50.00, AMD Sempron 2400+ 1.667GHz, Socket A Processor 73.00... i know thats a little over 150, but i used these exact components in a couple of systems for business clients and while its no high performance unit, it will be very stable and should do what you need.....poviding you can reuse some of your existing ddr, the mb only had 2 ddr slots though...so you may only be able to go to 768mb ram if one of your sticks is 256....the pc2700 will work with the pc2100.....but the cpu is 333fsb i think, so the ram will slow you a bit but not bad until you can buy more the supertalent is what i am using in my machine right now and i have absolutley no complaints at all, its good stuff and able to run tight timings! i am sure a few on here will not agree with me but its damn hard to argue with success

Cool beans...

How can i tell if my DDRAM 2100 will work on a Mobo? I currently have a 256 stick and a 128 stick.

 

[allanon1965]

it should work fine, what brand is it?

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: allanon1965
it should work fine, what brand is it?

The RAM, i have no idea, I think i got it at a computer show, its been so long ago. I would have to take a look at them but both just have a sticker that say PC 2100

 

[allanon1965]

well, i am pretty sure it should work....download a program like aida32 or belarc to identify the ram, but it should be fine.......have you checked out nobles yet?

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: allanon1965
well, i am pretty sure it should work....download a program like aida32 or belarc to identify the ram, but it should be fine.......have you checked out nobles yet?

i'll check out later... yes i checked the nobles i was browsing around a little

 

[allanon1965]

if you cant find aida32, i have it in file and can send it to you....

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: allanon1965
if you cant find aida32, i have it in file and can send it to you....

I was unable to determine the type of memory in my system with both Aida32 or Belarc, it just says memory...

 

[allanon1965]

well just have to one of those "try it and see " things

 

[Mayfriday0529]

So i still havent got anything, going to start doing more research today and i up the amount of money to 200$ RAM will be a major factor now. I just installed Adobe Photoshop CS 2 and damn i was using 300mb of ram just for opening it.

 

[Gadzookie]

i say save up and get a better combo your just upgrading outdated with slightly less outdated

 

[Chosonman]

Search pricewatch.com and look for the AMD 64 3000 + Chaintech K8T800 Motherboard combo for $154.88 shipped

 

[Mayfriday0529]

So do you guys thing i should forget a Athlon XP CPU or Sempron and just get a Athlon 64 processor?

 

[Chosonman]

For $155 the combo I recommend you is pretty much the best deal out there. I bought one for my mom, and I just have to say I was pleaseantly surprised the quality of motherboard I got. The chaintech Has everything I got in my own system (which is a Soltek Mobo and AMD 64 3000) whichi I paid over $230.00 only in December plus I had to pay shipping.