I'm upgrading my computer right now and after ordering a video card a couple people suggested for my budget along with a new PSU I discovered I had to upgrade my motherboard.
The video card is a PCI Express card, my mobo has no PCI Express cards. You see my problem. And I figured that since PCI Express cards are gonna be like the next big video card thing I figured that upgrading would be a good idea. So asking on the same forums about upgrading my motherboard one of the people there said this.
"Your system is a S754 AMD, meaning your motherboard choices are limited (although there are still a few good ones). At $64 the Asus K8N-VM would be my pick. The main power connector is a 24-pin, and while you can still use your old 20-pin, I really wouldn't recommend it.
While the Building Computers 101 guide doesn't refer specifically to replacing a motherboard, the process is very similar. You will need to remove any expansion cards, power and data cables, as well as the front panel connections such as the power switch before removing the old motherboard. Remove the RAM and CPU from the old board and insert them into the new one. It would be a good idea to reapply thermal paste to the processor before putting the HSF back over it (be sure to clean both before applying the new paste).
Screw the new motherboard into the case, reattach the cables (the board manual will tell you what goes where), and reinsert the expansion cards, including the new video card.
Before using the computer, you would be best off to run a repair reinstall from the Windows CD."
The link for the mobo he posted is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131588
Is this the right motherboard? Or is there better? I am willing to pay more but the cheaper the better is my philosophy.
Vid Card + PSU I ordered:
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817170010
Vid Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130011
Mobo: Board: ASUSTek Computer INC. Salmon 1.04
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.07 01/10/2005
Specifications:
Processor
* AMD Athlon™ 64 3400+ processor
Processor Speed
* 2.4GHz
Processor Cache
* L2 Cache = 512KB
Bus Speed
* 1600MHz System Bus
Memory
* 512MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to 2GB)
(currently has another 512 MB Kingston for a total of 1Gig, installed
11-05)
Hard Drive
* 200GB 7200RPM Serial ATA hard drive
Optical Drive(s)
* CD-ROM drive 48x max. speed
* LightScribe Double Layer 16X DVD±R/RW drive with CD writer
capabilities: 16x DVD+R, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD±RW, 2.4 DVD+R DL, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x
CD-R, 24x CD-RW, 40x CD-ROM
Video Graphics
* Integrated SIS Mirage 2 Graphics with 128MB
(currently upgraded to a Radeon 9200 SE AGP 128mb)
Network Interface
* Integrated 10/100Base-T networking interface
Sound
* Integrated audio, 6 speaker configurable
Fax/Modem
* 56k modem
Memory Slots
* Two DIMM 184-pin (both in use since upgrade to 1 G)
Expansion Slots
* Three PCI (two available)
* One AGP (available)
Expansion Bays
* Two external 5.25" bays (occupied)
* One external 3.5" bay (one available)
* One internal 3.5" (occupied)
Total External Ports
* Front panel 9-in-1 memory card reader - [supports Smart Media, xD,
MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Compact Flash I, Compact Flash II,
Micro Drive, Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro
* 7 USB 2.0 ports (3 FRONT, 4 back)
* 2 FireWire (IEEE 1394) port(s) (1 FRONT, 1 back)
* 1 Parallel, 2 PS/2 (back)
* Microphone/headphone/line-in (Front)
Included Mouse and Keyboard
* Compaq scroller mouse
* Compaq multimedia keyboard
Dimensions
* Unpackaged: 15.35"(H) x 7.17"(W) x 16.54"(D)
* Packaged: 23.5"(H) x 10.25"(W) x 29.75"(D)
Weight
* Unpackaged: 30lbs
* Packaged: 33lbs
Software:
Operating System
* Microsoft ® Windows ® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
The video card is a PCI Express card, my mobo has no PCI Express cards. You see my problem. And I figured that since PCI Express cards are gonna be like the next big video card thing I figured that upgrading would be a good idea. So asking on the same forums about upgrading my motherboard one of the people there said this.
"Your system is a S754 AMD, meaning your motherboard choices are limited (although there are still a few good ones). At $64 the Asus K8N-VM would be my pick. The main power connector is a 24-pin, and while you can still use your old 20-pin, I really wouldn't recommend it.
While the Building Computers 101 guide doesn't refer specifically to replacing a motherboard, the process is very similar. You will need to remove any expansion cards, power and data cables, as well as the front panel connections such as the power switch before removing the old motherboard. Remove the RAM and CPU from the old board and insert them into the new one. It would be a good idea to reapply thermal paste to the processor before putting the HSF back over it (be sure to clean both before applying the new paste).
Screw the new motherboard into the case, reattach the cables (the board manual will tell you what goes where), and reinsert the expansion cards, including the new video card.
Before using the computer, you would be best off to run a repair reinstall from the Windows CD."
The link for the mobo he posted is http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131588
Is this the right motherboard? Or is there better? I am willing to pay more but the cheaper the better is my philosophy.
Vid Card + PSU I ordered:
PSU: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16817170010
Vid Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130011
Mobo: Board: ASUSTek Computer INC. Salmon 1.04
Bus Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 3.07 01/10/2005
Specifications:
Processor
* AMD Athlon™ 64 3400+ processor
Processor Speed
* 2.4GHz
Processor Cache
* L2 Cache = 512KB
Bus Speed
* 1600MHz System Bus
Memory
* 512MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to 2GB)
(currently has another 512 MB Kingston for a total of 1Gig, installed
11-05)
Hard Drive
* 200GB 7200RPM Serial ATA hard drive
Optical Drive(s)
* CD-ROM drive 48x max. speed
* LightScribe Double Layer 16X DVD±R/RW drive with CD writer
capabilities: 16x DVD+R, 8x DVD-R, 4x DVD±RW, 2.4 DVD+R DL, 16x DVD-ROM, 40x
CD-R, 24x CD-RW, 40x CD-ROM
Video Graphics
* Integrated SIS Mirage 2 Graphics with 128MB
(currently upgraded to a Radeon 9200 SE AGP 128mb)
Network Interface
* Integrated 10/100Base-T networking interface
Sound
* Integrated audio, 6 speaker configurable
Fax/Modem
* 56k modem
Memory Slots
* Two DIMM 184-pin (both in use since upgrade to 1 G)
Expansion Slots
* Three PCI (two available)
* One AGP (available)
Expansion Bays
* Two external 5.25" bays (occupied)
* One external 3.5" bay (one available)
* One internal 3.5" (occupied)
Total External Ports
* Front panel 9-in-1 memory card reader - [supports Smart Media, xD,
MultiMedia Card, Secure Digital (SD), Compact Flash I, Compact Flash II,
Micro Drive, Memory Stick and Memory Stick Pro
* 7 USB 2.0 ports (3 FRONT, 4 back)
* 2 FireWire (IEEE 1394) port(s) (1 FRONT, 1 back)
* 1 Parallel, 2 PS/2 (back)
* Microphone/headphone/line-in (Front)
Included Mouse and Keyboard
* Compaq scroller mouse
* Compaq multimedia keyboard
Dimensions
* Unpackaged: 15.35"(H) x 7.17"(W) x 16.54"(D)
* Packaged: 23.5"(H) x 10.25"(W) x 29.75"(D)
Weight
* Unpackaged: 30lbs
* Packaged: 33lbs
Software:
Operating System
* Microsoft ® Windows ® XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2
