help with overhauling my desktop

M

Merky Works

New Member
first off let me just say that im new to modifying computers, so i dont know all the lingo yet so please bare with me.
I am looking to upgrade my current desktop so that it can play games better and decrypt/encode dvd much faster than it does now. the system is 3 years old and needs to be updated bad.

desktop spec
dell dimension 4300
P4 1.6 on a 478 socket mobo, i think that it is intel brookdale i845
512 SDR SDRAM pc133
80 GB 7200RPM ATA seagate with 2 MB buffer
geforce2 mx/mx400 video card

now i have read that the 478 socket mobo's are old and being faded out but id like to try and work around this mobo cause other wise ill need to buy a new case to fit a new mobo, right? Id like to upgrade the processor to something in the P4 3.0+, range as well as change the ram to 1 GB(i know the ram can chage easy). Is a processor like this possible with this mobo? Id also like to get a faster HD, what i was thinking is getting a 36 GB 10,000 8MB HD and use the 80 GB as a mp3/file storage drive(the case as slots for 3 HD so i assume the case can hold it). can i get a HD like that to work? I will of course upgrade the graphics processor but that is a easy thing to do and i really havent thought much about which on. im more concerned about getting a fast running system first. now i realize that i might need to upgrade the cooling and power supply so any info or advice would be greatly appreciated. any info that i have not supplied please let me know and i will try and find it useing the everest program.
 
If you want it to play games better, you probably need a new motherboard as the AGP interface on that motherboard is only 4X.
 
The Intel D865perl motherboard has everything I think you need and more. Agp 4x and 8x, Suports up to 3.4 cpu, up to 4gb ram,onboard audio, eight USB(no Firewire,have to install card ) A very sturdy 478 board(Prescott supported) and priced reasonably.
Might be wiser to build a system, save your present one as backup.
Doesn't hurt to price one up online and see what you think..
 
now i have read that the 478 socket mobo's are old and being faded out but id like to try and work around this mobo cause other wise ill need to buy a new case to fit a new mobo, right? Id like to upgrade the processor to something in the P4 3.0+, range as well as change the ram to 1 GB(i know the ram can chage easy). Is a processor like this possible with this mobo? Id also like to get a faster HD, what i was thinking is getting a 36 GB 10,000 8MB HD and use the 80 GB as a mp3/file storage drive(the case as slots for 3 HD so i assume the case can hold it). can i get a HD like that to work? I will of course upgrade the graphics processor but that is a easy thing to do and i really havent thought much about which on. im more concerned about getting a fast running system first. now i realize that i might need to upgrade the cooling and power supply so any info or advice would be greatly appreciated. any info that i have not supplied please let me know and i will try and find it useing the everest program.
Click to expand...
Sounds a lot like you want a new CPU, MOBO (which means PSU/Case/RAM) which sorta suggests you should consider a completely new platform :) Depends on the budget and intent for the machine tho
 
If you're talking about getting a Serial hard drive, make sure your motherboard has the connection. I am not sure if a three year old dell would have that, so before you buy eveything, consider if your motherboard is compatible with it.
 
Yeah im pretty sure a SDR mobos dont have SATA but i could be wrong so yeah, good point :)
 
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