For the computer geeks.

[gozetec02]

OK i am finaly upgrading my home machine. I am getting a new motherboard and processor from www.tigerdirect.com.

My question is should I go with Celeron or Athalon.

[Smulkin]

Depends on how often you're likely to work graphics, video/audio editing, gaming, compiling etc. Athalon will outgun the Celeron but the required chipsets can sometimes be finicky.

[gozetec02]

Well I do alot of gaming especialy games with 3d graphics. I have a 128MB Radeon PCI Video card. But my machine is currently running a 566MHZ Celeron. I also work with a program called autocad that requires a strong math coprocessor.

This is the one I was actually thinking about http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...2700&CatId=191

Will the SDRRAM work in a DDRRAM Slot?

[hhw]

Definitely an Athlon, with an nforce2 motherboard. If you're looking to save money, the Athlon XP-Mobile 2500+ can easily be overclocked to greater than 3200+ speeds, and comes fairly cheap.

[gozetec02]

Will the SDRRAM work in a DDRRAM Slot?

[Hoomi]

When I built my new computer last year, I went with an Intel Motherboard and a 1.7 Ghz Celeron. I have a 64Mb AGP video card, and a Philips Quad sound card. Running 512Mb of DDR memory, I have no issues with the online gaming I do. Granted, I'm running the 2D client and not the 3D, but I have had no problems using a Celeron.

SD Ram and DDR memory are not interchangeable as I recall.

When I built the new computer, I had planned on recycling some of the old parts to the new machine, but found that many of them would not carry over. Memory is getting cheap; just count on getting newer, faster memory. If you switch over to an AGP video card, be certain the level of AGP is compatible with the motherboard. The first video card I selected was not supported by my MB, and it would have damaged it to try and run it. Fortunately, Tiger Direct is pretty good at doing exchanges, so I simply called them, got an RA number, and sent it back with an order for one that would work.

My case and power supply were also no longer compatible with the new MB. The new ATX boards have an auxilary power supply connection that my old system did not have. I ended up picking up a new case and supply on sale from CompUSA from just a bit more than a power supply alone.

My sound card SHOULD have worked on the new system, except that when I upgraded, I also upgraded to Win XP, and the old card (a very good one from Turtle Beach) did not have drivers for XP, nor were any available.

Upgrading computers is a lot like working on cars. Start with your estimate, and then double it, and add a bit more for a buffer. Something unexpected is going to come up in the process for certain.

[Smulkin]

Yeah I am joe-perpetual-upgrade, its the only way I can keep everyone elses PC going is by doing the trickle-down upgrades, though there's no way I can afford to be anywhere near bleeding edge so I ride a wave or two back for the sweet spot on prices. We used to run AMDs but went the Intel route after a few disappointing chipsets (VIA etc). Our two younger kids are still pretty into the games so whatever they wind up with has to be able to crank out the graphics. Just make sure whatever you do that the motherboard isn't one of those all-in-pne intergrated kinds with shared memory-on-board-video/sound - make sure you got an AGP slot and enough PCI slots and that the memory type you want is compatible with the processor/mobo.

[gozetec02]

The one i want has one AGP and 5 PCI slots. It has onboard audio but thats it. It has 2 USB ports and a built in NIC. http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...Tab=2&NoMapp=0

Let me describe what i want to do.

About 4 years ago i bought an Emachines computer with a 566MHZ celeron processor.

About 2 years ago i wanted to add a hard drive but there was no room. I had a case just sitting there with a blown motherboard so i transfered all the guts of the emachines to the other case so i can have room to mount the extra hard drive.

What i want to do is replace the motherboard and processor with a new one this way i keep my OS and all the information on my other HD.

Does that seem feesable

[Wizill]

might not be easy but it does seem feesable.

[Smulkin]

You might need to make sure the mobo has an EZ plug that will take a molex-type power supply connector or that it has one of the 4-prong square power supply adapters hanging off of it. It likely doesnt. I had to replace a bunch of power supplies for this reason when upgrading - luckily most of the ASUS board have the dual power suuply plugins on the mobo.

Also replacing the mobo under an installed OS will more than likely not work - the way the OS uses the cipset/mobo to interact with the hardrive will try to update itself to new drivers and you might wind up staring at a BSOD stop error. I havent been able to swap out a motherboard (to a diff model at least) and keep a windows install in a couple of years - usually upgrades that significant I just reinstall fresh to avoid all the headaches. Just back your stuff up first - or heck throw in a new hard drive then after installing make your old one a slave drive and copy your data over.