Just got a free pc, BUT....

[SirVal]

Well I just got a pc given to me by a member of the family, it's a dell dimension 8100. The RAM is a pathetic 128mb, and I want to upgrade to 512, it's stupid though it only takes pc800 ram, which is SO expensive, It costs $400 for a stick of 512mb, and that is a definate no.
I was thinking about buying a cheap motherboard and just swapping it all over, what does everyone think?

Cheers

 

[mammikoura]

I don't know about Dell but some brands don't let u change any hardware. But if u change the mobo then the BIOS will change too so it should work. But u might want to check from the manufacturer before buying anything.

 

[lhuser]

You could buy another 128MB stick... it's Rambus an this thing is powerful in transfers. I'v got some used P4 mobo that has rambus an it's sold for $10

 

[SirVal]

Just found 512mb REAL cheap on ebay It'll go up i reckon, but to nowhere near the £200 i would be paying!

 

[lhuser]

rambus memory is much more performent than a single PC3200 or PC4200...maybe even more than PC5400!

 

[Dishdog]

if you change the MOBO you have to change the PSU too. don't dell make them have a special fit to each other.

 

[SirVal]

Think so Dishdog, I'm not changing the mobo anymore.
I've found an upgrade site which sells a socket 478 adaptor which means I can upgrade to a much better proccessor, w00t. Not bad for a free pc huh?

 

[Dishdog]

one mans junk is another mans treasure.

 

[SirVal]

Oh too true
My aunty thought it was at the end of the line, would barely get past the WINDOWS loading screen, a quick reformat later, it's working like a charm.

 

[lhuser]

Like me that had the Athlon 1000=. Blown up PSU...had to change it. I have to change it again...it doesn't produce enough power. (250W)