Update Old System: CPU and Memory

[Gene1]

I have a old system that I want to update. PC Chips M810DLU 7.5A Motherboard

1. Athlon XP 2400+ Thoroughbred (266) $70
Is this going to be a noticeable improvement on a Duron 1.3 Morgan (200)?

2. Corsair ValueSelect 2x512 DDR $74-80
I am sure this is going to be a major gain over 1x128.
Any reason I cant use the PC3200 which is cheaper than PC2100?

PS Sorry I edited to clean it up while you were posting. Went back and replaced mobo reference.

[glc]

That's about the best you can do with that - if you trust that old PC Chips board. I sure don't. I'd say it would be better to get a cheap modern board, processor, and ram if the case has a halfway decent PSU. Take a look at this, it's not going to cost you much more and it will be reliable:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813131029 Asus P5PE-VM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16819112206 Celeron-D 331
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820146577 Crucial 2x512 PC3200

That's only about 25 bucks more. You will have a brand new Asus board with an Intel chipset. The Cely-D will do everything she needs quite nicely. You will have a system that is upgradeable with a video card and a Core 2 Duo later if needed. If the existing PSU is junk a decent replacement will be less than 40 bucks - anything from FSP or Sparkle is good, you only need 300 watts.

[Gene1]

The powersupply is a 4 year old 300W Apex (Allied-Deere?). I know this is supposed to be the worst of the worst.
I hate to replace something thats been this reliable and still has absolutely rock stable voltage.

[glc]

Oh my. Take your chances. I'd replace it - don't give your mom something that could pop at any time. I'm referring to both the mobo and PSU.

[Gene1]

1. Asus M2N-MX $43
2. Sempron 64 3000+ $43
3. OCZ Platinum 2x512 PC2 6400 $85
4. Sparkle Power Q ATX 300GU $19

Any Better?

[glc]

In my opinion? Heck no - I'll take an Intel over that in a heartbeat. I'm not slamming AMD. That's a 24 pin mobo, the PSU is not suitable. It would be fine on the Intel board though.

[Gene1]

Dohhh!!!! Got stuck on the fact that I am currently 20-Pin. You are slowly convincing me to go Intel...

Would the P5L-MX be more future proof than the P5PE-VM? With the ability to accept SATA Drives, PCI-E Video Cards, and the 945G Chipset to run Vista Aero Glass when the time comes?

Would the D347 Cedar Mill be worth the extra $15 over the "old" D331?

PS a Athlon XP 2200+ Thoroughbred (266) $43 and $74 worth of memory sure looked attractive.
Guess I will be spending $190-225 instead of $117.

[glc]

1. Yes.
2. Yes.

Best ram value for the P5L-MX is Corsair Value Select DDR2-667. You will need a 24 pin PSU for that board. Look for a 300+ watt Sparkle/FSP ATX 2.0.

Treat your mom right - don't give her technology that died several years ago.