Good cheap desktop mobo upgrade?

[Major Debacle]

I currently have an Intel D845EBG2 mobo with a Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz CPU.

The RAM is 1 gig of PC2700.

The power supply is Coolmax Technologies AP-450X which has 3.3 and 5
volts available.

The case is ATX type.

The CPU is the fastest one supported by the mobo.

I would like a minimum 20% faster machine at the cheapest price.

I would like to replace just the mobo and the CPU and keep the RAM.

I am somewhat aware of a change in designating CPU speeds such that
somewhere along the line, CPUs after the Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz with lower
cps numbers are faster than earlier ones with higher cps numbers.

Used is fine.

Any suggestions?

thx
Major

 

[Paul]

I currently have an Intel D845EBG2 mobo with a Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz CPU.

The RAM is 1 gig of PC2700.

The power supply is Coolmax Technologies AP-450X which has 3.3 and 5
volts available.

The case is ATX type.

The CPU is the fastest one supported by the mobo.

I would like a minimum 20% faster machine at the cheapest price.

I would like to replace just the mobo and the CPU and keep the RAM.

I am somewhat aware of a change in designating CPU speeds such that
somewhere along the line, CPUs after the Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz with lower
cps numbers are faster than earlier ones with higher cps numbers.

Used is fine.

Any suggestions?

thx
Major

Planning around the RAM probably isn't worth it.

First, price 1GB worth of DDR2. I can replace your existing RAM for $19.00 .
I picked two sticks, so I could run dual channel. (I wouldn't actually
do this, but this is just to make a point. At least some RAM now,
isn't that expensive.)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134594

This AMD processor runs at 3.1GHz and costs $99.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUDetail.aspx?id=560

I can use the CPU Support page on Asus, enter that processor's name,
and it will return a list of motherboards. I'll pick one of those
as an example solution.

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/...0W,rev.C2,SocketAM3,Dual-Core&SLanguage=en-us

ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $79
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131324

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=M3A78-EM

"Phenom IIX2 550 (HDZ550WFK2DGI),3.1GHz,80W,rev.C2,SocketAM3,Dual-Core ALL 1602"

So for $99 + $79 + $19 = $197, I have a kick ass microATX board with build-in
graphics and a fast processor.

On the Intel side, I might be able to find a cheaper board than
this, but I selected this one for the built-in graphics (and
the hope you wouldn't need to upgrade the graphics, for a while
at least).

GIGABYTE GA-E7AUM-DS2H $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128363

Processor list
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=2946#anchor_os

Using this article, an Intel E5400 does slightly better than the
Phenom IIX2 550 (on SuperPI). On many other tests, the 550 is
crushing the Intel parts, and I'd have to go up in price
considerably to keep up. I use SuperPI as a metric when
comparing my systems here.

http://www.techspot.com/review/171-amd-phenomx2-athlonx2/page9.html

So I'll select an E5400 for now, just to get a price.

E5400 Wolfdale 2.7GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116076

My Intel system is $130 + $90 + $19 = $239
compared to the AMD at $197.

I can go with a less fancy Intel motherboard. This one is $60
and has two DIMM slots for DDR2 memory. So this is closer to
a budget solution. If I do that, then I have $197 - $60 - $19 = $118
for an Intel processor.

GIGABYTE GA-G41M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G41 Micro ATX Intel $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128388

The best I can do for $118 is an E7400 2.8GHz Core2 Duo.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206

So you can do an upgrade for about $200, with some choices
as to what you can get. I selected DDR2 RAM type, when pricing
motherboards, for best economy.

HTH,
Paul

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

I currently have an Intel D845EBG2 mobo with a Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz CPU.

The RAM is 1 gig of PC2700.

The power supply is Coolmax Technologies AP-450X which has 3.3 and 5
volts available.

The case is ATX type.

The CPU is the fastest one supported by the mobo.

I would like a minimum 20% faster machine at the cheapest price.

I would like to replace just the mobo and the CPU and keep the RAM.

I am somewhat aware of a change in designating CPU speeds such that
somewhere along the line, CPUs after the Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz with lower
cps numbers are faster than earlier ones with higher cps numbers.

Used is fine.

It's unlikely you'll notice a 20% increase in speed, except on
benchmarks, and even a 50% increase may not be worthwhile. OTOH
unless you're playing games, you probably don't need anything faster
than what you currently have.

The cheapest sensible upgrade may be one of the Fry's (not Fry's)
bargain mobo/CPU combos of the week, currently a $120 Biostar with
Core2 E5300 or $80 Biostar with AMD LE-1640 (single core). These need
DDR2 memory modules.

Don't buy another Coolmax PSU. If you need to upgrade, choose
Seasonic, Win-tact, Fortron-Source (FSP), Enhance, or Delta, some of
which are also sold as Antec (most by Seasonic, Basiqs are FSP, and
Signatures are Delta), OCZ, and Corsair. JonnyGuru, HardOCP, and
XbitLabs publish good PSU reviews, but most other places don't.

 

[Major Debacle]

Planning around the RAM probably isn't worth it.

First, price 1GB worth of DDR2. I can replace your existing RAM for $19.00 .
I picked two sticks, so I could run dual channel. (I wouldn't actually
do this, but this is just to make a point. At least some RAM now,
isn't that expensive.)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134594

This AMD processor runs at 3.1GHz and costs $99.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103680

http://products.amd.com/en-us/DesktopCPUDetail.aspx?id=560

I can use the CPU Support page on Asus, enter that processor's name,
and it will return a list of motherboards. I'll pick one of those
as an example solution.

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/...0W,rev.C2,SocketAM3,Dual-Core&SLanguage=en-us

ASUS M3A78-EM AM2+/AM2 AMD 780G HDMI Micro ATX AMD Motherboard - Retail $79
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131324

http://support.asus.com/cpusupport/cpusupport.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=M3A78-EM

"Phenom IIX2 550 (HDZ550WFK2DGI),3.1GHz,80W,rev.C2,SocketAM3,Dual-Core ALL 1602"

So for $99 + $79 + $19 = $197, I have a kick ass microATX board with build-in
graphics and a fast processor.

On the Intel side, I might be able to find a cheaper board than
this, but I selected this one for the built-in graphics (and
the hope you wouldn't need to upgrade the graphics, for a while
at least).

GIGABYTE GA-E7AUM-DS2H $129.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128363

Processor list
http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Support/Motherboard/CPUSupport_Model.aspx?ProductID=2946#anchor_os

Using this article, an Intel E5400 does slightly better than the
Phenom IIX2 550 (on SuperPI). On many other tests, the 550 is
crushing the Intel parts, and I'd have to go up in price
considerably to keep up. I use SuperPI as a metric when
comparing my systems here.

http://www.techspot.com/review/171-amd-phenomx2-athlonx2/page9.html

So I'll select an E5400 for now, just to get a price.

E5400 Wolfdale 2.7GHz LGA 775 65W Dual-Core $90
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116076

My Intel system is $130 + $90 + $19 = $239
compared to the AMD at $197.

I can go with a less fancy Intel motherboard. This one is $60
and has two DIMM slots for DDR2 memory. So this is closer to
a budget solution. If I do that, then I have $197 - $60 - $19 = $118
for an Intel processor.

GIGABYTE GA-G41M-ES2L LGA 775 Intel G41 Micro ATX Intel $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128388

The best I can do for $118 is an E7400 2.8GHz Core2 Duo.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206

So you can do an upgrade for about $200, with some choices
as to what you can get. I selected DDR2 RAM type, when pricing
motherboards, for best economy.

HTH,
Paul

I ended up getting a used Intel D915PBL mobo on ebay with a 3.4ghz P4 HT
CPU cand 1GB RAM for $50 delivered. It's plenty enough faster for my
purposes and the auction was just ending when I came across it.

 

[John Doe]

I ended up getting a used Intel D915PBL mobo on ebay with a
3.4ghz P4 HT CPU cand 1GB RAM for $50 delivered. It's plenty
enough faster for my purposes and the auction was just ending
when I came across it.

That might be useful to know after it has been delivered, set up,
and tested.

 

[Z]

I currently have an Intel D845EBG2 mobo with a Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz CPU.

The RAM is 1 gig of PC2700.

The power supply is Coolmax Technologies AP-450X which has 3.3 and 5
volts available.

The case is ATX type.

The CPU is the fastest one supported by the mobo.

I would like a minimum 20% faster machine at the cheapest price.

I would like to replace just the mobo and the CPU and keep the RAM.

I am somewhat aware of a change in designating CPU speeds such that
somewhere along the line, CPUs after the Pentium 4 2.4 Ghz with lower
cps numbers are faster than earlier ones with higher cps numbers.

Used is fine.

Any suggestions?

thx
Major

why not the Intel Atom platform ?

 

[Thomas Wendell]

Compared to the other dual processor CPUs you mean?
It is for note/net books after all, and the thread is about a
"desktop mobo upgrade". That said you can get a lot, for
not much money, with something like this:

What _other_ dual core CPUs?? The Atom 2xx is a single core , the Atom 3xx
is a dual core CPU...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Atom

http://www.geeks.com/pix/2009/900A.html

And it can be a fun toy for those of us who can't
leave well enough alone. Check out this Mod site:
http://beta.ivancover.com/wiki/index.php/Eee_PC_Internal_Upgrades
or some of the YouTube clips.

[ All I've done with mine, so far, is to replace the 4GB SSD with
a 64GB SSD, replace the 1GB SO DIMM RAM with 2GB, and
replace Linux with XP Home SP3. ]

Luck;
Ken

 

[John Doe]

I agree netbooks are fun toys, but they'll be even funner when
they evolve enough to have a CPU that can do HD video decoding
as integrated graphics can't do hardware decoding on all video
formats even when capable of doing it on some... this will at
least allow netbooks to be portable movie players without need
for an optical drive though that also requires a mechanical HDD
for enough affordable storage space for videos unless careful
attention is payed to the size of everything on the smaller SSD
drive.

Sounds like mobile WebTV. The iPhone 3G (or higher) can be
wirelessly connected four different ways... WiFi, "3G" Internet
network, cell phone network, and a GPS receiver. Still, to me, it
seems more like a computer. Some might think that it too is a toy,
but IMO it is at least a fascinating piece of machinery. I wonder
how a netbook compares to the iPhone, processing power versus
Internet connectivity and whatever other stuff. Maybe I should do
a bit of research too, mainly out of curiosity. Thanks.

 

[John Doe]

....

Then again, since I don't carry a purse,

....or street skate, or do other activities that might risk
destroying a larger device...

not such a size constraint on what I carry around, I am as well
off with a 12" tablet as a netbook.

Carrying capacity is not the only consideration. The bigger they
are, the harder they fall. A rubber protective "tough skin" can
protect an iPhone from damage when dropped from a bicycle onto
concrete.

 

[John Doe]

....


??

Yeah... I was unclear about what you meant too, Sony.

<snipped something about Sony's personal preference to avoid
small devices>

I don't plan on dropping anything while riding a bicycle,

Planning is different than preparing, Sony.

but if I were to have such gear riding a bicycle, it would be in
a backpack

Why not a notebook armband or belt clip, Sony?

and if the backpack fell it would be because I fell too,

Your argument has fallen and is bouncing around, Sony.

so damaging someting in the backpack would be the least of
concerns.

BING BING BING

However, having ridden a bike for years when young and still
occasionally riding one recently, I have not had the urge to
carry such gear

If you had an ultraportable PC, Sony, your urges might be
different (assuming you are ambulatory).

nor dropped any other gear I had when riding

Check your marbles, Sony.

so I discount the importance of protection

Again... The importance of protection depends on how immobile you
are, Sony. Other people might need to do things with a computer on
the go, and for those responsible individuals, protection is very
important.

and actually I doubt highly that a rubber protective skin would
save a phone or netbook while riding, just not enough shock
protection for the speed or height of a potential fall.

Not everything is ones and zeros, Sony, protection is a matter of
degrees. According to people who know, a rubber protective case
does help prevent damage to ultraportable PCs and other similar
devices. The idea that such protection matters is common sense,
and until it happens by accident, I will rely on the real-life
real-world experiences of others.

 

[~misfit~]

Somewhere on teh intarwebs John Doe wrote:


<a whole bunch of totally unhelpful shit>

About par for the course for 'John Doe'.