Quick question for those who've built PCs

[skeletor]

Assuming I've an old-ish PC (circa 1999) that's running a K6-2 500 mhz CPU. Can I buy a cheap new mobo and CPU and upgrade with just those two parts? I'll keep the CD drive, floppy etc....just upgrade the mobo and CPU. Sound do-able?

Also, obviously I'd use the heatsink and fan that comes with the new CPU!


I suppose my big question is, how can I tell if a new mobo will fit the current case?

 

[Evadman]

you can keep everything else yes. But you will need at minimum a new power supply.

 

[Snuffaluffaguss]

do able yes, but make sure you get a mobo that can support your ram. You are going to take a serious preformance hit with sdram and today's fast CPU's.

 

[Nohr]

Yeah sure, so long as your new motherboard supports SDRAM and your PSU is up to the task. You'll most likely have to reinstall Windows as well.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

You may have to upgrade the case and PSU if you're jumping up significantly - and possibly the RAM too if you're going to DDR/RDRAM.

Your best bet is a "barebones" unit that comes with board/chip/case and uses the same type of RAM. I'm assuming you're running PC100 SDRAM in there now, so go for a low-end Duron if your cashflow is tight.

Oh - and this might do better in General Hardware, too.

Edit- Replace "most likely" with "you will HAVE to reinstall Windows or face horrible BSODs and poor performance". It's possible to survive a mobo overhaul, but it's a bad, bad, bad idea.

Bad. You hear me?

- M4H

 

[skeletor]

Originally posted by: Nohr
Yeah sure, so long as your new motherboard supports SDRAM and your PSU is up to the task. You'll most likely have to reinstall Windows as well.

Ack! Windows as well....I should have guessed that but.....OUCH! Oh well....

 

[BatmanNate]

You might have better response listing your components, your upgrade path, and posting in the GH forum. One other thing to watch out for, is that if you have any ISA peripherals, most modern motherboards do not come with ISA slots. Also, if your current setup is AT form factor, you will have to upgrade your case and PSU to ATX. You may also need to upgrade your ram. Good luck!

Nate

 

[Tominator]

Originally posted by: skeletor
Assuming I've an old-ish PC (circa 1999) that's running a K6-2 500 mhz CPU. Can I buy a cheap new mobo and CPU and upgrade with just those two parts? I'll keep the CD drive, floppy etc....just upgrade the mobo and CPU. Sound do-able?

Also, obviously I'd use the heatsink and fan that comes with the new CPU!


I suppose my big question is, how can I tell if a new mobo will fit the current case?

Depends on the motherboard. If it is AT form factor, leave it and build from scratch. If it is ATX, I'd go a BX MB and an OCd processor. A Celery 600 running at 900 would let you use all your old components and nearly double your performance for about $75.

 

[notfred]

If it's AT you'll need an ATX case and PSU. You'll also need new ram.

 

[Tripleshot]

I'm running an athlon duron 1100 with Sdram omnn an Asus A7v (still available at many places) and it is plenty fast. Mine works on a 250 watt PS with DVD and CD-RW. I have it running win98 now, but I know it will handle any OS i put on it. It is a ATX mobo andshould fit in any standard tower.

Go that route,swap mobo and get a duron(cheap) and you will be quite happy.

Edit:...... Yes,you need to have an ATX case. If not, an ATX case can be had for under $50 anywhere.

 

[Evadman]

Originally posted by: notfred
If it's AT you'll need an ATX case and PSU. You'll also need new ram.

nah, a duron runs at 100 FSB. so does the K6/2 500 ( 100 x 5 ) A new PWS though, yes. It is most likely a ATX board. AT's were pretty much being phased out at this point. It is most likely a full size ATX board / case.

 

[notfred]

Originally posted by: Evadman

Originally posted by: notfred
If it's AT you'll need an ATX case and PSU. You'll also need new ram.

nah, a duron runs at 100 FSB. so does the K6/2 500 ( 100 x 5 ) A new PWS though, yes.

Why would you buy a brand new mobo that uses years old memory technology?

Just spend th extra $35 for 128mb of DDR. I doubt there's more than 128 in the K6-2 anyway.

 

[Ornery]

Doesn't hardly seem worth the trouble. Leave it intact and start from scratch. That's what I'm going to do next time around. Heh, that or buy a damn Dell!