What MotherBoard can I get?

[xenlab]

Hi All,

I have a Gateway Permformance 733 PC. This gateway is a PIII 733mhz. It's starting to show it's age, and while all the other components are fine for me (dvd, 8xcd-buner, 80gb of HD, 512 mb ram), i want to go ahead and get a motherboard / cpu upgrade for my machine. I'm not sure what I can get that will fit my case, and be compatable with my system.

I think it's a mid-tower case, but am not entirely sure. I'm looking at jumping to a PIII 1.7mhz ... or an athalon along the same lines. What should I look for? I'm shopping mostly thru pricewatch, and most list ATX style boards... is the the same as a Mid Tower?

Please advise.

Thanks!

 

[lobadobadingdong]

tier3 manufacturers rarely make systems that will let you upgrade with standard components, odds are very high, that what you have is all you can do, without getting another case......and their is no p3 @ 1.7Ghz btw .

 

[Fern]

What he says is true.

Mid tower etc. has to do with how large the case is-how many drive bays etc. atx is the form factor. Two different things. Everything today is atx form factor. So the atx style board would fit in a mid-tower or full tower if they were atx style. I've never had a Gateway, so I can't say if their boards are propriatary, but you could buy a new board and if it won't fit just get a shiny new case and power supply

 

[xenlab]

thanks for the insight. i will look at case/mb combos... thanks!

 

[amdskip]

Does the back of your tower look just like this?
Or like this?
If either one, you have a good chance of upgrading using your current tower but you may have to upgrade to a larger power supply depending on what is in there now.

 

[jackschmittusa]

Everything is not ATX! Micro-ATX and extended - ATX are examples. It may be an NLX board in the case now. It may be a mini-tower (he's not sure) that will not take a standard ATX board. Though he has a Gateway, Dell is an example of non-standard power connectors on mbs and psus.
Xenlab, you need to supply more info to get accurate advice.

 

[xenlab]

yeah, i'm a bit lost when it comes to hardware, i know some of the basics, but not enough to really describe it.

i went ahead and ordered new: case / mb / cpu / vid card ... it's going to give me a much needed upgrade.

thanks!

 

[alm4rr]

don't forget new pws and cooling options!

 

[alm4rr]

oh, and new ram if the new board requires DDR ram!