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How many of you just upgrade motherboards?

G

gflores

Senior member
I'm wondering if you guys just upgrade the motherboard, or just build/buy a whole new computer and strip the parts of the old cpu? Are there any complications with video cards or memory from doing so or any problems with the case?
Secondly, I currently own a Dell 8300 and would like to do this. Is upgrading the Dell motherboard possible?
 
I did it. Then again, I bought this POS from my mom, and have had to slowly upgrade the whole thing. Right now, the only only "original" parts in it are the CPU and the case.
 
I think you will find that most members here just upgrade a couple components at a time. A motherboard combo here, a video card there, etc. You have a couple problems with your Dell. First, a new motherboard probably wont fit in the case. If it does, the power supply will be imcompatible. It looks compatible, but it'll blow up your motherboard if you try to use it. And then when you buy a new power supply, it probably won't fit in the Dell case either.
 
Originally posted by: ScottSwingleComputers
I think you will find that most members here just upgrade a couple components at a time. A motherboard combo here, a video card there, etc. You have a couple problems with your Dell. First, a new motherboard probably wont fit in the case. If it does, the power supply will be imcompatible. It looks compatible, but it'll blow up your motherboard if you try to use it. And then when you buy a new power supply, it probably won't fit in the Dell case either.
Click to expand...

Do you usually end up with incompatible components when you upgrade components?
 
Compatibility was an issue for me when I first upgraded my old computer, about 10 years ago. A lot of things have changed. A good way to find out if a component is compatible with another is to go ask in forums such as these, or while shopping in places such as Newegg, read the reviews. Most people tend to write what they used with their motherboard, what Ram and video card worked the best etc. Like many people here, I built my own system, and have not had a single hardware or software issue. Also I have not had a single blue screen on Windows XP. This is a great improvement for someone who used to re-install Win 95 every other week.

Also, since manufacturers such as dell, Compaq etc, tend to use propriety parts, you might want to try to salvage whatever you can out of the system, and put it into a case of your own, though a little more costly, it is likely that you will have less compatibility issues with size and PSU.
 
Beware of motherboard swaps - some Dells use power supplies with proprietary hookups. The connector may look like a standard ATX, but the wiring might be different.

And Scott mentioned that the case might be a proprietary design; maybe the manual will say something about this. Or you might have to call Dell and try to extract the information from someone there, to see if their cases use a standard ATX layout.

Also, since manufacturers such as dell, Compaq etc, tend to use propriety parts, you might want to try to salvage whatever you can out of the system, and put it into a case of your own, though a little more costly, it is likely that you will have less compatibility issues with size and PSU.
Click to expand...

Probably the best idea. I personally don't like those fancy cases with the "easy-to-open" side panels. It took me about 5 minutes to figure out how to open a Dell system I worked on recently. The entire case splits open, with a little latch on the bottom. And even then it doesn't open more than maybe 35 degrees. Plastic clips, plastic drive rails, plastic retainers....it's a wonder the entire thing doesn't just fall apart.


Somewhat relevant thread.
 
Since it is a name-brand, you might get some money selling the case/power/mobo/CPU/RAM as a barebones on eBay, search there to see what Dell 8300s like yours are selling for (check completed auctions too, since the final price is often set in the last minute).

I'm lazy so I tend to buy a medium-high CPU/mobo and use it for at least 2 years, just upgrading the video card after a year or so.

In your shoes I'd get a nice Antec Sonata case, and look in the System thread (thread #1 in this forum) for an AMD A64 CPU and motherboard combo.
 
a mobo + cpu + ram (+misc stuff like cpu cooler) would be about the max i ever upgrade all at once. i just do whats most needed, when needed (or more usually, when wanted 😉).
 
I'm sort of pissed about pci-e. I'll likely need to get a new video card, cpu and motherboard at the same time when I finally go A64. A64 motherboards (939) don't exist with AGP do they?
 
Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
In your shoes I'd get a nice Antec Sonata case, and look in the System thread (thread #1 in this forum) for an AMD A64 CPU and motherboard combo.
Click to expand...

Yes, that is what my brother did. I would like to do the same, although with different pin configuration (someone told me that, I don't remember why). I'll probably just do that. When I do that though, I want to be able to just upgrade the motherboard in about 3 years or so.
 
Originally posted by: PingSpike
I'm sort of pissed about pci-e. I'll likely need to get a new video card, cpu and motherboard at the same time when I finally go A64. A64 motherboards (939) don't exist with AGP do they?
Click to expand...

There are quite a few out there actually.
 
Originally posted by: PingSpike
I'm sort of pissed about pci-e. I'll likely need to get a new video card, cpu and motherboard at the same time when I finally go A64. A64 motherboards (939) don't exist with AGP do they?
Click to expand...

uh... there are currently NO motherboards for amd64 with pci express. they will come in the next few weeks, though. at the moment, EVERY board is agp.

dunno where you got that strange notion from :\
 
Originally posted by: fishmonger12
Originally posted by: PingSpike
I'm sort of pissed about pci-e. I'll likely need to get a new video card, cpu and motherboard at the same time when I finally go A64. A64 motherboards (939) don't exist with AGP do they?
Click to expand...

uh... there are currently NO motherboards for amd64 with pci express. they will come in the next few weeks, though. at the moment, EVERY board is agp.

dunno where you got that strange notion from :\
Click to expand...

I dunno...I never really bothered to check...I guess I just figured with all the pci-x cards out that there would have actually been motherboards to install them in. WTF did they put pci-x cards out first for then? 😕
 
I have swapped about four mobos into my machine the last year or so. But maybe the last one doesn't count as they were almost twins. As others have said, I would tend to move stuff from the Dell into a new case to avoid the incompatible PSU problem. But many Dell PSUs have the standard pinout you just have to check carefully. Then there is the I/O shield area. The Dell case might not allow for interchangeable back plates to allow for a different jack layout.
.bh.
 
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