**Computer Help**: max compatible processor and new mobo

[DrLove'sKuDang]

im still using a quite ancient computer. i have an epox 8rda+ mobo with an amd athlon xp 2100. it runs fine for what i need, but i want to upgrade the processor... but i cant seem to find the highest compatible processor for it. from what ive found, i can use athlon, tbred or barton processors, but speeds arent specified. if anyone is able to find the info, please lemme know.


and one more thing. im also considering getting a new mobo+cpu. my question is, if i do get a new one, do i have to reinstall windows, or can i just install the new mobo and plug in my existing harddrives?

[bodiez]

Anything Socket A (AMD) should fit just fine.

[head4life]

if you were to upgrade the mobo and cpu you wouldnt have to reinstall xp just plug in your old hardrive and get new ram

you might have to upgrade your psu (there cheap)



make sure the mobo has onboard sound and video


www.newegg.com FTW!


I would get socket 939 with amd 4000 and 2gb of ram

[cjv998]

As mentioned above, that's Socket A...I've got a 2400+ myself. Anyway, the tbred core Athlon XP's were up through the XP 2800+, and the barton core Athlon XP's were positioned above that (up to around 3200+, maybe higher). I know how it feels (I'm in the same situation ), and I understand why you (presumably) don't want to upgrade the mobo, because that means buying new RAM (DDR-2), video card (PCI-express), etc.

[DrLove'sKuDang]

i went back, and i fucked up... my mobo takes athlon and duron, not barton... so im screwed. new tower here i come.


if i do get a new tower, since everything nowadays uses sata drives... will i be able to use my hd's that are all ata/eide?

[NAiL05]

Maybe. If not I am pretty sure they have some sort of converter for it.

[head4life]

oh shit u dont even have a sata hardrive?? LOL


bro just upgrade your computer build a new one

[foamypirate]

You'll be able to use your CD drivers, as most modern motherboards have at least 1 IDE connector, rather than the standard 2 a year or so back. Of course, if you have 2 CD drives and 2 hard drives, you need to get a converter. They're maybe $5-15 on newegg. Just look up PATA to SATA converter.

[kmart64]

when will u update us with some pics of the tl ;P

[DrLove'sKuDang]

well thanks for all the help... most likely i will be getting a new one sometime soon. not sure if im going to build or just buy one. i was looking around and bestbuy has a gateway for $500. its the gt5428, heres the link and a few specs if clicking another link is too much work.

http://www.gateway.com/systems/product/529666273.php

-pentium d 935(dual 3.2ghz)
-1gb ddr2
-dl dvdrw
-250gb sata


i dont know much anymore about this shit, but it seems like a good deal to me. but i do have a few more q's for those who do know their shit.

i want to transfer over my video and audio card from my current computer. its a sb audigy 5.1/7.1(dont remember) and an ati 9600xt aiw. are their ever hardware compatibility issues because of the new type of mobo/cpu? or do they have different slots now? is agp still used for video cards?

when will u update us with some pics of the tl ;P

and ill get some up soon. nothing really has changed. last month i had the windows tinted and got visors... but thats it.

[cjv998]

Don't forget, Walmart sells Dell now also. Here's a good one for $700.

http://www.walmart.com/catalog/produ...uct_id=5925440

dual-core Athlon 64 X2 3600+ processor
320GB SATA hard drive
1GB of DDR2
Windows Vista Home Premium
integrated graphics (Geforce 6150) - this is the only thing I'd be concerned about, if you like to play games, that is, otherwise it's fine
integrated 7.1-channel audio
13-in-1 memory card reader (for SD cards and Memory Sticks and such)
dual-layer DVD burner
19" LCD monitor

Saw your question about transferring over the sound and graphics cards too. The audio card will be fine, PCI slots are still used for a lot of things. However, AGP slots for graphics cards are pretty much obsolete, thanks to PCI-e. So that means your graphics card is probably done for, unfortunately. Actually, that brings up a point I wanted to mention. If you buy a pre-built computer, be VERY careful if you get one with integrated graphics, because it may not have a PCI-e slot for a graphics card, so if you decide to upgrade later, you're screwed (I'm not sure if this happens anymore, but I know it used to happen all the time when AGP was still around).

[DrLove'sKuDang]

yea i know, thanks.

but im gonna stay away from amd, something that sounds fast like a 3600, is probably a low 2.x ghz processor. not to mention that i dont need a monitor. i either have to get one from a place like bestbuy where i can get just the tower... or build my own, which i think ill end u doing.


as far as mobo's compatible with core2duo, what are some good brands to go with? i would like to stay around $100 for the board alone. i see alot of them for under $100, but give me any input as far as what brands to look for or what to stay away from.

[Lil' Whitie]

what u have is a socket a processer and you can take a barton core, thats what i'm running now, an overclocked 2500+ barton core.

my plan is to switch to ddr2 memory now, but not over do it becuse in like less than two years pc's will be switching to ddr3

my setup is now a overclocked 2500+barton core
1gb ram
geforce 6800 Ultra GT
80gb IDE HDD
DVD reader
DVD +/-DL Writer

my next system is gonna be

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103036
X2 3500+

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813138052
geforce 6100 motherboard so i get somewhat decent video till i get a high end PCI x16 vid card

and i will be running 2gb of ddr2 ram becuse 1 gb is not enough for gaming for vista.

and i'll be running all my drive with SATA and have my backup drive hooked up to my old IDE's

so you can look at the motherbard dual core processer and a gig of good ram to start off for $200. then that system have potenional to upgrade in the futre becuse you are already running on the dual channel platform

[foamypirate]

At the moment I've got an AMD Athlon 64 3800+ X2, 1GB of DDR400, and a 7800GS AGP. However...I have a mother board that supports my processor (socket 939), and has PCI-express. Sooo...I'm buying my bros 7900GTX and getting another gig of ram. It's gonna own.

[sackingz123]

amd owns