Major Upgrade

[aqualectrix]

I've had my Dell Optiplex GX240 for nearly four years now, and have been upgrading it along the way -- a new graphics card and PSU here, an extra HD and bump up to 1 GB RAM there. Pretty easy, non-scary stuff.

But I'm pretty much fed up with the slowness of the CPU, and I think it's time to get this hybrid system away from its megacorp-build roots with a new mobo, CPU, and case.

Here's what I'm keeping:

ATI Radeon 9800Pro (which means I need a mobo with an AGP slot. I'm not willing to shell out for a new gfx card right now.)
Various CD/DVD, floppy, Zip drives (I don't really need the floppy and Zip drives, but I might as well keep 'em.)
Seagate 80 GB HD, original to the system
Seagate 160 GB HD (both HDs are IDE)
Enlight 360W PSU (unless new stuff requires more power)
Peripherals - monitor, etc.

The system came with an XP Pro "Reinstall CD", which I hope is all I'll need as I'm keeping the hard drives.

I'll be picking up a set of 2x512 Corsair ValueSelect RAM, but I'd like recommendations for the rest of what I need:

Mobo: needs to support AGP
CPU: I'd like something in the 3.0+ range. I'm not interested in overclocking. I think I'd prefer to go Intel, but I'm not wedded to the decision.
Case: something simple, lightweight, and preferably quiet -- or perhaps recommendations for nice quiet case fans.

[THEoBZ]

Well you didnt give a price range but im guess your gonna want something that is gonna last another four years for you. Id go with dual-core processor pentium D , Now for the motherboard your gonna want a good reliable motherboard; Asus,gigabyte,abit is what your gonna probaly want but there are many other good quality boards out there, here is a list of some good products. Its not gonna be really cheap, buts it gonna last your many years...


Processor

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819116213


Mobo

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813127203



Now if your going to get a case, unless its ANTEC dont use the powersupply that is in it.. just buy a xclio powersupply for only 50 bucks 450watt. they are very nice.


PSU -

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817189003


Someone correct me if the ram isnt compatable i, believe it is tho.

[myrgo_31]

um i dont know about that Processor. maybe he should go with the 9xx series because of the newer core, higher cache and better process type. the 920 is going for about the same price, so that would be better. either that or the 930 becasue he said he wanted something in the 3.0 range. that 930 will run you at about 350 bucks from newegg.

[jayb1234]

this board would be better, better maker.

Dual core Pentium D is not an option unless you switch to a PCI-E video card.

A hyperthreading Prescott core CPU will be the highest you can go without switching.

You will have to get a new copy of Windows, since the Dell versions liscense is tied to the original Dell machine and can not be transferred to another build.

Antec would be good for the case and PSU.

[aqualectrix]

Thanks for the suggestions, all.

jayb, while I certainly have heard that Asus makes excellent mobos, the particular one you've recommended doesn't seem to be getting very high reviews over at Newegg. Any particular reason you're recommending it?

Thanks for alerting me about the OS, too. Turns out it won't be much of an expense, though, as my university has a deal with M$ and I can get XP Pro dirt cheap.

I'll take a look at the HT Prescotts and Antec cases. Thanks.

[jfk]

If you change the mobo, you will need a new copy of Windows to get things working. The mobo won't recognize the reinstall disk. You will probably find that you will need to reformat your hd again, so if you have any info you want, you'll want to save it before the move.

[nicolaus corelius]

ive heard that some mobos with 865 could take dual-core cpus.
from wikipedia
The 865 and 875 series chipsets do have multiprocessor support, so motherboards based on these chipsets may be Pentium D compatible, provided that the manufacturer provides an appropriate BIOS update.

[jayb1234]

I linked that board because it was similar to the one you posted. Here are several other ASUS boards with the 865 chipset.

As far as the reviews at the reseller sites, a lot of them are from people griping because the board won't do something that they would have known about if the had read the specifications in the first place.

Regarding the 865/875 bios update, there is virtually no chance that Intel will release that. Some of the second or third rate manufacturers might try it, but an ECS board will still be an ECS board.

[nicolaus corelius]

my question is whether any bios updates by first-rate manufacturers were made for the 865/875 chipset

[jayb1234]

None that I could find from any manufacturer has Dual core support on the 865/875 platform.