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My brother has an old computer (running on a PII) he wants to upgrade and since he's no whizz (bless him) he's looking at a motherboard bundle as the most easiest and cheapest way of upgrading. Since I'm also pretty inept when it comes to upgrading, I'd like some opinions from those on here as to what they think and whether it'll actually work or not...
Basically, he want's this:
[URL]http://uk.special.reserve.co.uk/q_GG1618_pc_chips_motherboa.html[/URL]
The board relies on shared graphics (64Mb) so he's going to buy 128mb of DDR RAM (PC2100) which he's then going to add to the older RAM from the PII machine (64Mb SDRAM PC100). But will this actually work? Or will the board implode in a flash of green neon lightening killing us both in the process....etc..?
Aside from the RAM issue, will their be any problems connecting the old hard drive to the new motherboard?
Cheers.
Basically, he want's this:
[URL]http://uk.special.reserve.co.uk/q_GG1618_pc_chips_motherboa.html[/URL]
The board relies on shared graphics (64Mb) so he's going to buy 128mb of DDR RAM (PC2100) which he's then going to add to the older RAM from the PII machine (64Mb SDRAM PC100). But will this actually work? Or will the board implode in a flash of green neon lightening killing us both in the process....etc..?
Aside from the RAM issue, will their be any problems connecting the old hard drive to the new motherboard?
Cheers.
Page:
cookie monster wrote:
> EDIT: Having a look around Ebay there is actually very little choice
> when it comes to micro atx mobos, bit of a bummer really.
Yeah, micro's suck. When he gets to know a bit more about upgrading I'm sure he'll buy a normal sized case along with a better motherboard. It's just he's starting out right now and it's probably best he doesn't fry a 200 quid board.
> EDIT: Having a look around Ebay there is actually very little choice
> when it comes to micro atx mobos, bit of a bummer really.
Yeah, micro's suck. When he gets to know a bit more about upgrading I'm sure he'll buy a normal sized case along with a better motherboard. It's just he's starting out right now and it's probably best he doesn't fry a 200 quid board.
Wow, that sounds really dodgy. I'll tell him about it and he can decide for himself. By the time he has enough money to upgrade again, I'm sure he'll buy a new, better motherboard anyway along with a faster processor, so having to replace it on this board shouldn't really be an issue. Hopefully.
Anyway, thanks again for the info - tis really helpful :)
Anyway, thanks again for the info - tis really helpful :)
If your brother were to make a computer from second hand components he could actually make a far better system for only slightly more money.
EDIT: Having a look around Ebay there is actually very little choice when it comes to micro atx mobos, bit of a bummer really.
EDIT: Having a look around Ebay there is actually very little choice when it comes to micro atx mobos, bit of a bummer really.
Well i read on a website (may have been [H]ardOCP) that PC Chips got into trouble because it was ripping people off by putting dodgy processors into the motherboards, they are also known for soldering the processor into the board, thus eliminating any chance of a future upgrade.
Thanks alot for the info guys :)
cookie - He wanted this board because he has a micro desktop case, the reason for which baffles me to this day. Are PC Chips boards really that bad? He's not going to be using it for hacking into government mainframes or anything, he just wants a board to start out on....
I realise that 128Mb is very low these days adrian, he'll only be using it for older games so it's not too much of a worry, plus he can't really spend that much (but then who can). Thanks for pointing it out anyway :)
cookie - He wanted this board because he has a micro desktop case, the reason for which baffles me to this day. Are PC Chips boards really that bad? He's not going to be using it for hacking into government mainframes or anything, he just wants a board to start out on....
I realise that 128Mb is very low these days adrian, he'll only be using it for older games so it's not too much of a worry, plus he can't really spend that much (but then who can). Thanks for pointing it out anyway :)
RAM wont work as the motherboard only has 2 slots for DDR. 128Mb RAM is very low these days, 256Mb would just get you by but 512Mb is minimum especially taking into account that 64Mb of your RAM will be used for graphics ie 512Mb will be split into 64Mb video, 448Mb system.
The only other thing is the case its going in. The motherboard is micro ATX so you need to make sure the current case can fit it correctly. Not to sure with the hard drive as if its one of the speeds listed ie 133/100 or 66 then it will be fine, if its an old 33 then it might run into problems.
The only other thing is the case its going in. The motherboard is micro ATX so you need to make sure the current case can fit it correctly. Not to sure with the hard drive as if its one of the speeds listed ie 133/100 or 66 then it will be fine, if its an old 33 then it might run into problems.
DDR is incompatible with SDRAM im afraid, also i would shoot myself in the face before recommending a PC Chips motherboard.
Though the hard drive will be fine :)
EDIT: Also is there any reason in particular for going micro ATX?
Though the hard drive will be fine :)
EDIT: Also is there any reason in particular for going micro ATX?
My brother has an old computer (running on a PII) he wants to upgrade and since he's no whizz (bless him) he's looking at a motherboard bundle as the most easiest and cheapest way of upgrading. Since I'm also pretty inept when it comes to upgrading, I'd like some opinions from those on here as to what they think and whether it'll actually work or not...
Basically, he want's this:
[URL]http://uk.special.reserve.co.uk/q_GG1618_pc_chips_motherboa.html[/URL]
The board relies on shared graphics (64Mb) so he's going to buy 128mb of DDR RAM (PC2100) which he's then going to add to the older RAM from the PII machine (64Mb SDRAM PC100). But will this actually work? Or will the board implode in a flash of green neon lightening killing us both in the process....etc..?
Aside from the RAM issue, will their be any problems connecting the old hard drive to the new motherboard?
Cheers.
Basically, he want's this:
[URL]http://uk.special.reserve.co.uk/q_GG1618_pc_chips_motherboa.html[/URL]
The board relies on shared graphics (64Mb) so he's going to buy 128mb of DDR RAM (PC2100) which he's then going to add to the older RAM from the PII machine (64Mb SDRAM PC100). But will this actually work? Or will the board implode in a flash of green neon lightening killing us both in the process....etc..?
Aside from the RAM issue, will their be any problems connecting the old hard drive to the new motherboard?
Cheers.
Page: