Converting a $400 Compaq into a good second computer

[Short Bus]

When my main died on me last month in desperation I bought a $400 Compaq to get me online until I get my main up and running. I first tried replacing the power supply on my main but it turned out to be the motherboard.

I managed to remove most of the useless crap on the hard drive but I want to replace the recovery partition with my current set up so if I ever have to I don't have to delete all of the free trials and AOL offers again. How can I do this?

I double the ram in it by putting a spare stick of 256mb. I have an old Geforce 3, would it be better than the onboard SiS 301C?

I was going to order me the highly recommended DFI LANParty for my mains motherboard but it does not have an AGP slot. I really don't want to replace my AGP BFG Geforce 6800 OC yet. I know there is adapters that will allow AGP cards run in PCIe but people say mixed things about them. Can someone suggest a good one or should I just get a different motherboard (and if so can I get some suggestions?)

 

[quakefiend420]

the gf3 would defintley be better than that onboard crap

just format the recovery partition and put your own image on there...personally, i would just reformat the whole damn thing and make one drive out of it all and reinstall the os anyway

 

[Rogun]

If you want a new MB you could try out the Asrock M1695 939Dual-SATA2, it has an AGP slot and a PCI-e 16x slot.
Its a pretty good board and not all expensive.

 

[Short Bus]

I replaced it with the Geforce 3.

 

[hurtstotalktoyou]

Be careful. Some of those Compaq cases are either proprietary or mATX. You might not be able to replace the motherboard without replacing the case.

You could do what I did: Put the case/mobo/CPU/hard disk on Ebay, and advertise it as a barebones with Windows. Inclusion of the operating system will drive up the price, and you can use your money to get a cheap-o replacement.

 

[Short Bus]

Hurts, I think you misunderstood me.

I have my main computer with a good $200 case, brand new Seasonic S12 600w PSU, and AMD 64. The motherboard died on it.

The Compaq was something I bought so I wouldn't miss too much work while I got my other one fixed.


Does anyone know anything about the adaptors?

 

[imported_Kiwi]

Originally posted by: Short Bus
When my main died on me last month in desperation I bought a $400 Compaq to get me online until I get my main up and running. I first tried replacing the power supply on my main but it turned out to be the motherboard.

From the next reply you added, I believe you stopped talking about the Main PC System and jumped into the Compaq without saying so.

I managed to remove most of the useless crap on the hard drive but I want to replace the recovery partition with my current set up so if I ever have to I don't have to delete all of the free trials and AOL offers again. How can I do this?

I double the ram in it by putting a spare stick of 256mb. I have an old Geforce 3, would it be better than the onboard SiS 301C?

That was confusing to read, and then you make a next jump and are writing about the "Main" again, but this time it's at least reasonably clear that you changed subjects again. Integrated graphics is almost always such a bare minimum that almost any discrete VGA card is better, even if it must be in a PCI slot. IMO,regarding the Compaq's drive, just repartition and eliminate everything, period.

I was going to order me the highly recommended DFI LANParty for my mains motherboard but it does not have an AGP slot. I really don't want to replace my AGP BFG Geforce 6800 OC yet. I know there is adapters that will allow AGP cards run in PCIe but people say mixed things about them. Can someone suggest a good one or should I just get a different motherboard (and if so can I get some suggestions?)

If there are usable adapters for this purpose, I don't believe that I have ever seen any review of one. Personally, I think that an NF3 makes a good choice, if the time has come (and with a dead MB, and no spare MB on hand, that would seem to be the case). Again personally, I have spares of NF2's and XP's, at costs that make the old platform viable for me for at least another year, although just now I'm doing some tinkering with Pentium gear for the first time in about five years or so, just because I got some really bargain cost parts to play with . .