Choosing a new motherboard

[JoeScott]

Hi,

I'd like to install a newer motherboard to my 6 1/2 year old Gateway PC. My current, old mobo is an Intel D845PECE, Pentium IV 2.53ghz, 533mhz FSB, 478 socket with 2gb of RAM (two modules, each is 1gb DDR PC3200, 400mhz). Here's my tower:

http://support.gateway.com/s//CASES/3501313/3501313nv.shtml

If I could replace the mobo, how would I find out which of the current generation of mobos is the closest match (physically and electrically) for my Gateway tower? I'd also like the new mobo to be SATA II compliant and would be willing to cut away some of my tower's old I/O panel to accomodate the new mobo if I needed to.

Since Gateway shipped what apparently is an OEM version of the OS CD with the PC when I originally purchased it, would I have a problem reinstalling the OS with a different mobo/CPU chipset combo?

Any opinions would be appreciated. Thank you in advance.

 

[Bodaggit23]

You're kind of stuck.

If you found a motherboard that would accommodate your Processor, it wouldn't be any better than what you have already.

You'd be better of buying a newer updated board and a new cpu and RAM.

This would require a Retail install disc to reinstall Windows.

 

[JoeScott]

You're kind of stuck.

If you found a motherboard that would accommodate your Processor, it wouldn't be any better than what you have already.

If it had SATA II (or even SATA I) capability (without the need for an added PCI SATA card), that would be better than what I have now.

You'd be better of buying a newer updated board and a new cpu and RAM.

Could you suggest any possible mobo/cpu/ram combos, please?

This would require a Retail install disc to reinstall Windows.

No way around this?