Need advice on a rebuild on an old PC

[HardwareAddicted]

So my Ex just crashed her PC ... I think it's the HDD.

But in all fairness, she's overdue for a rebuild.

But I've been out of the "let's build one" just for the heck of it for a while now.

So my question is this:
I want to use someones old hardware, and use that for her new PC guts.
(All she has now is a slot 1 Intel 500 with 512 PC-133)

So without going cutting edge, what would I look for in an AMD setup ?
Socket 939 ?
What chipset is best ? North & South ?
SATA is fine now that prices are lower ... so that's ok.

After I get all the responces, I'll be looking here in the FS/FT section for a setup that a guy has retired for a cutting edge rebuild.

So thank for your help ... ;o)

 

[cmdrdredd]

SOcket939 is dead but is still respectable performance wise. I'd go with a lower end A64 X2 (dual core) and 2GB of memory on a socket 939. You could go to socket AM2 which is the new one, but maybe someone has some good socket 939 stuff laying around. God knows I have some really good hardware that has become useless for me since I got a C2D hehe.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
SOcket939 is dead

WTF man, the woman would still be happily using her 500MHz Pentium III with 512MB RAM if it had not died. It's like saying, "oh your 20 year old Ford Escort finally died, so you should get a BMW 5 series."

For the OP, any AMD platform beyond socket A would be great. That means socket 754, 939 or AM2. Socket 754 and AM2 have easily available and cheap Semprons, so perhaps look towards those. As for motherboard chipset, I'd say go with a Geforce 6100 chipset board and use the onboard video. You can get the motherboard and a Sempron (either socket) for as low as around $100 new. Another option is to keep an eye out for combo deals. Newegg has some combo deals that are pretty decent. $95 for a socket 939 3400+ with an Asus motherboard using the ATI Radeon Xpress 200 motherboard (ATI's competitor to the Geforce 6100 and also a decent choice). Another $60 will add a 250GB SATA hard drive to the deal.

Realistically just about anything will be an upgrade from a 500MHz computer, even socket A or socket 370. All depends on what the budget is and if she plans on doing more stuff with a computer once she has a more capable one.

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
SOcket939 is dead

WTF man, the woman would still be happily using her 500MHz Pentium III with 512MB RAM if it had not died. It's like saying, "oh your 20 year old Ford Escort finally died, so you should get a BMW 5 series."

For the OP, any AMD platform beyond socket A would be great. That means socket 754, 939 or AM2. Socket 754 and AM2 have easily available and cheap Semprons, so perhaps look towards those. As for motherboard chipset, I'd say go with a Geforce 6100 chipset board and use the onboard video. You can get the motherboard and a Sempron (either socket) for as low as around $100 new. Another option is to keep an eye out for combo deals. Newegg has some combo deals that are pretty decent. $95 for a socket 939 3400+ with an Asus motherboard using the ATI Radeon Xpress 200 motherboard (ATI's competitor to the Geforce 6100 and also a decent choice). Another $60 will add a 250GB SATA hard drive to the deal.

Realistically just about anything will be an upgrade from a 500MHz computer, even socket A or socket 370. All depends on what the budget is and if she plans on doing more stuff with a computer once she has a more capable one.

I'm saying...look at the market and you will see that the supply of ANYTHING in the way of socket 939 mobo and CPU is drying in a hurry, Plus I always recommend based on futureproofing yourself as much as possible within your budget. Always planning to get more than you think you need or will use, because you never know.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
Plus I always recommend based on futureproofing yourself as much as possible within your budget.

I guess you really do measure based on YOUR budget. How about trying based on someone else's budget? Actually, we don't even KNOW the budget so we could both be wrong.

Anyways, "futureproofing" only works for those who have the money and intention to upgrade in 1/2 year cycles.

Check out this guy's "futureproofing."

I bought my eVGA 7800 GT about less than a year ago, and now, wanting to upgrade to SLI I cant seem to find 7800 GT's on the market.

I know someone else who bought a Pentium D 940 with an Intel 975X chipset board a couple months before Core 2 Duos were released, because he wanted to be "futureproof" for a Core 2 Duo upgrade in his future. Well, guess what? His board is too old a revision - doesn't support C2D.

"Futureproof" is a mantra people chant to justify buying more expensive computer gear. Stop fooling yourselves. Be a man and buy it because you want it. No need for excuses.

 

[virtualrain]

Zap (above) is onto something there. However, if you want to build something slightly higher-end with a low budget... Socket 939 stuff is cheap and is still readily available and performs very well... I'm sure you can find used stuff no problem. One advantage to 939 vs. AM2 for budget systems is that you can run cheaper DDR RAM instead of DDR2.

I would look for something like what I have in my sig... ASUS A8N Premium, an X2 Dual Core, but some value DDR RAM. The cheap dual-core should last her awhile... even with Vista.

BTW, don't you normally hand-down your old system to your spouse/partner so you can build a new kick-ass system!

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: virtualrain
BTW, don't you normally hand-down your old system to your spouse/partner so you can build a new kick-ass system!

:thumbsup:

 

[cmdrdredd]

Originally posted by: Zap

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
Plus I always recommend based on futureproofing yourself as much as possible within your budget.

I guess you really do measure based on YOUR budget. How about trying based on someone else's budget? Actually, we don't even KNOW the budget so we could both be wrong.

Anyways, "futureproofing" only works for those who have the money and intention to upgrade in 1/2 year cycles.

Check out this guy's "futureproofing."

I bought my eVGA 7800 GT about less than a year ago, and now, wanting to upgrade to SLI I cant seem to find 7800 GT's on the market.

I know someone else who bought a Pentium D 940 with an Intel 975X chipset board a couple months before Core 2 Duos were released, because he wanted to be "futureproof" for a Core 2 Duo upgrade in his future. Well, guess what? His board is too old a revision - doesn't support C2D.

"Futureproof" is a mantra people chant to justify buying more expensive computer gear. Stop fooling yourselves. Be a man and buy it because you want it. No need for excuses.

When did I EVER say something about my budget? You just look stupid when you put words into people's mouths.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: cmdrdredd
When did I EVER say something about my budget? You just look stupid when you put words into people's mouths.

You didn't. Did I make assumptions about you? Was that any worse than you making assumptions about the OP? He's needing to replace a dying 500MHz Pentium 3 (or possibly Celeron) with 512MB PC133, and you start off by saying to go dual core with 2GB RAM.

*shrug*