About 4ish years ago I built a system from a KT7-Raid MB, 1GHz AMD with 1.5GB RAM...I have added several things to it, and have been using the RAAID controller mainly for just being able to add HDs...i have one DVD, one CDRW, One ZIP500, and 5 HDs running on the system....I installed in into a Yeong/Yang Cube case in black...nice package and a good performer
Usually i just left it on all the time (the HD would cycle down after 20 minutes of no use)....anyway the other weekend i left it running with nothing to do and when i got back on Sunday it seemed to be locked up so I hit the button to reboot....now i can't get it to boot up...the fans and lights will come on, but no info on the monitor, and it seems no wurring from the drives....
So i am looking at options, and a guy a local shop says he can set me up with a new MB, processor, and Memory installed for $300....so I think to myself...."self, for $300 you should be able to just do it yourself, do it for less, or even get a better deal"....it has been since i built this system that I have looked at MB/RAM/Procs....
Could I get what you all might consider the "best MB combo that $200-300 can buy"? Pentium or Athlon would be fineI suspect that I will need just the MB, about 1GB-2GB RAM and a decent proc.....I may also buy a new GPU (but decent with dual monitor would be fine)....here is what I need:
MB/RAM/Proc
---------------
- MB must fit my KT7 RAID Cube (probably not a problem)
- If the MB is RAID then I will just reinstall my data HDs OR I can add a PCI IDE extension card (right now I use the RAID for just having extra IDE ports)
Drives I have:
----------------
- All IDE, no SATA no plans to need to get SATA
- 5 HD from 25GB IBM to 80-120 SG HDs all IDE Ultra ATA
- Pioneer DVD player (IDE)
- 52x CDRW (IDE)
- ZIP500 (IDE)
- IDE Removeable HD tray (in front bay) that I use for making a backup for offsite storage
- Floppy
Other
------
- 4x AGP video card....but I would be very interested in in replacing that with a decent card that has dual monitor
- Right now i have several CRTs available no LEDs nor plans for them right now
What I do....
---------------
- web surfer, email, docs
- Mm DW, basic we stuff,
- MP3s, Digital photography
- no real gaming, no need for blistering speed...i am sure the upgrade will be quite a change from my old....
I hope to get 2-3 MB Combo suggestions that will at least narrow my search down, and then I will come back and start searching for reviews, feedback etc....Thanks for any help for suggestions you have...
Usually i just left it on all the time (the HD would cycle down after 20 minutes of no use)....anyway the other weekend i left it running with nothing to do and when i got back on Sunday it seemed to be locked up so I hit the button to reboot....now i can't get it to boot up...the fans and lights will come on, but no info on the monitor, and it seems no wurring from the drives....
So i am looking at options, and a guy a local shop says he can set me up with a new MB, processor, and Memory installed for $300....so I think to myself...."self, for $300 you should be able to just do it yourself, do it for less, or even get a better deal"....it has been since i built this system that I have looked at MB/RAM/Procs....
Could I get what you all might consider the "best MB combo that $200-300 can buy"? Pentium or Athlon would be fineI suspect that I will need just the MB, about 1GB-2GB RAM and a decent proc.....I may also buy a new GPU (but decent with dual monitor would be fine)....here is what I need:
MB/RAM/Proc
---------------
- MB must fit my KT7 RAID Cube (probably not a problem)
- If the MB is RAID then I will just reinstall my data HDs OR I can add a PCI IDE extension card (right now I use the RAID for just having extra IDE ports)
Drives I have:
----------------
- All IDE, no SATA no plans to need to get SATA
- 5 HD from 25GB IBM to 80-120 SG HDs all IDE Ultra ATA
- Pioneer DVD player (IDE)
- 52x CDRW (IDE)
- ZIP500 (IDE)
- IDE Removeable HD tray (in front bay) that I use for making a backup for offsite storage
- Floppy
Other
------
- 4x AGP video card....but I would be very interested in in replacing that with a decent card that has dual monitor
- Right now i have several CRTs available no LEDs nor plans for them right now
What I do....
---------------
- web surfer, email, docs
- Mm DW, basic we stuff,
- MP3s, Digital photography
- no real gaming, no need for blistering speed...i am sure the upgrade will be quite a change from my old....
I hope to get 2-3 MB Combo suggestions that will at least narrow my search down, and then I will come back and start searching for reviews, feedback etc....Thanks for any help for suggestions you have...
