Update motherboard & cpu or just cpu...

[imported_oakleaf]

It's been so long (years) since I posted here that I forgot my username and password so I had to create a new one!

I'm looking to do a "best value" upgrade, hopefully not spending more than $400. I have a Dell Dimension 4300 with an Intel 1.2 GHz P4, 400 MHz 478 CPU. The Mboard limits me to 400 MHz P4's and 512 MB 168 pin SDRAM. My options are:

1. Purchase an Intel 2.8 GHz P4, 400 MHz 478 CPU; or,

2. Purchase a new MBoard and CPU.

What do you all recommend? Since I've been out of the hardware loop for awhile, if you think option 2, what would be a good mother board and processor?

Thanks! Once again I'm looking forward to your great responses!

-------------------------
There are 10 kinds of people:
Those who understand binary, and those who don't.

 

[MrK6]

What's your other hard ware like? I'd recommend an A64 3000+ and EPoX 8KDA3J mobo, that would come to about $275 or so, and then spend $90 or so and get 512MB of value PC3200 RAM.

 

[Mik3y]

you wont be able to upgrade the motherboard in your dell. dell uses their own custom psu, so unless you want to buy a new psu along with the motherboard and cpu, you'll have to buy a case. if you o with option 2, you'll have to buy a new case, psu, cpu, motherboard, and ram. as for the first choice, its still not very fast or worth the money. like mrk6 recommended, get the athlon 64. they're cheaper and faster cpu's then their compared intel.

 

[imported_oakleaf]

I purchased the Dell Dimension 4300 in Sep01 and haven't used it much in the past (recalled due to 9/11) so I want to get some use out of it. I do a little gaming and quite a bit of photo editing. In the future I'll have to build a gaming rig and just update this one as best I can. Some thoughts on upgrading:

(1) I currently have stock 128MB memory. The 4300 can only be upgraded to 512MB which I'm going to do. Do you know if it can take any PC133 SDRAM 168 Pin memory? I'm wondering if "high density" PC133 SDRAM works? I'm assuming I'll see a significant performance improvement going to 512MB, correct? Are all PC133 SDRAM created equal? For my system should I be looking for a specific brand/type?

(2) I have a 1.5GHz P4, 400 MHz FSB 478 CPU. I cannot do 533 or 800 MHz FSB. I don't want to get a $300 3.0GHz P4 if there is no significant difference between that and a $120 2.4GHz P4. I would imagine performance is limited by SDRAM so a 3.0 GHz P4 may be overkill. Right now I'm thinking a 2.6 for $140.

(3) I have a 32MB NVidia MX400 GeForce2 card. Is this a keeper or should I upgrade? I want to make a sub-$100 purchase so I'm thinking an ATI 9200. Any thoughts on this?

 

[o1die]

I would go with single sided sdram, unless your dell already has dual side sdram installed. Check out the chipset name if possible, and see how close you can match it. Micron (crucial) is the most common brand. For video, you may be fine with what you have. I use a 9600se (about $60) and it works great for what I do. It may or may not work on your dell mobo. It's possible you could find a ddram dell mobo on ebay that's affordable and would fit your case. You'll just have to check it out. Those boards will probably take a "b" series 533 p4.