Help with upgrade for novice

[pkulk]

I am planning to upgrade our home system because it is currently slow. this is just for internet / email / music / family pics etc No games or heavy video stuff. I need advice on what mobo / cpu combination is good and low priced. about 600 MHz shd be OK. I have 128MB of RAM in our current system will stick to it (dont know if its 100 or 133 but assume it to be 100) I also have 1 HDD, 1 36X CDRom and 1 Floppy now on the system. i think i will add a CDRW because of the music.

my questions are :
1. what would be an inexpensive mobo / cpu combination to buy.

2. since i need to add 1 (and possibly more in the future like a bigger hdd) device, shd I change my power supply - currently 250w. to what rating ?

3. this relates to question 2 indirectly. is it ok to replace the cdrom with a cdrw (in which case i dont add any devices). some ppl told me its better to keep cdrom for frequent reading and use the cdrw only for writing? does frequent reading affect cd rw life?

4. lastly, where would be a good place to buy all the things you have suggested?

I realise I am asking lot of questions. But I would appreciate all the help I can get because this is the first time I am taking up such an upgrade. Thank you all.

 

[MC]

for your question (not always true but IMHO)
1)Tyan Trinity 400 (Old but Cheap and Rock Stable, Simple kickass! Since you need only about 600Mhz and no overclocking) and Pentium III 600E!

2)No, 250W will be more than enough for you!

3)Keep the CDROM, because in most cases CDROM have faster reading speed than CDRW, which might not apply to you since you have only 36x if you get a fast CDRW. But it's still better to keep you CDROM as it might be convinient if you want to copy some data directly from a CD. After all, how much can you get from selling your 36X??

4)Price Watch to check out prices and Reseller Ratings to check before you buy from them.

Again, above all are IMHO.

 

[pkulk]

thank you ming.
what is IMHO??

 

[MC]

In My Humble Opinion !

 

[Castellan]

In My Honest Opinion

 

[soulm4tter]

My Suggestions

Duron 800 $75

I suggest this CPU for this price since its only $20 more than a 700 and about $25 more than a 600. It will last you that much longer before you feel its too slow for the current software you wish to run.

Some good motherboards:

Gigabyte GA-7ZX $105
ABIT KT7 $120
Microstar K7T Pro $105
Microstar K7T Pro2 or Pro2A

Enermax 350W ATX 2.03 Power Supply $60
that meets Intels new 2.03 spec

And keep your CD-ROM if you have the drive bays. I've also heard that excessive reading by a CD-RW shortens the life. I just heard a person claim this, but haven't seen any proven cases.

 

[MC]

soulm4tter, may i know where can you get the Enermax 330W(351) for $60? Including shipping?

 

[soulm4tter]

UCD has it for $55 plus $8 shipping. They are a great retailer.

 

[RossGr]

What are you upgrading? Is is currently a ATX case/mobo? It is easy to tell, if the system powers itself off when you do a shut down you have an ATX mobo, if it stops at the "ok to turn off the power" message and waits for you to hit the power button then you have a AT case. IF you have a AT case then you will also need a new case/power supply before you can upgrade to a modern mobo.

 

[ToXiCRaGE]

i would go with a Duron...anything up to 800mhz is cheap as butter. The mobo will vary.im not a mobo expert but i would recommend an ASUS or Abit mobos. And be careful with ur ram, assumption is the mother to all....f-ups, right? I had ram from my old computer (AT box) and quess what....the ram was 72 pin....not 168pin (or something to that) so dont assume, triple check ram cuz with all the new mobos u need the new ram.