Motherboard Updgrade?

[rbrown3rd]

I am running a dual boot WinXP and Kubuntu 8.04 machine that is getting a bit long in the tooth. I saw a good deal on video cards which are PCI Express. My motherboard has no PCI Express capability. Would it be a nightmare to do a motherboard and cpu upgrade on an old machine like this in order to be able to use a more contemporary video card?

[dibl]

Re: Motherboard Updgrade?

Assuming it is a standard ATX case, and you're happy with the hard drive, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and monitor, you're probably actually facing replacement of the following:

motherboard
CPU (plus new heatsink, prolly)
memory
video card

If the motherboard has a decent integrated sound chip, then you won't need a separate sound card. They all have an integrated ethernet chip, so that should be a non-issue.

Would it be a nightmare? Hmmmmm -- not the SECOND time you do it!

It's probably a fairly painful "character-building" experience, the first time.

[nilsA]

Re: Motherboard Updgrade?

I am running a dual boot WinXP and Kubuntu 8.04 machine that is getting a bit long in the tooth. I saw a good deal on video cards which are PCI Express. My motherboard has no PCI Express capability. Would it be a nightmare to do a motherboard and cpu upgrade on an old machine like this in order to be able to use a more contemporary video card?

Changing the motherboard is not very difficult, but you need to know some things:

The form factor - that is, will the new motherboard fit? (Size, holes in the motherboard, the USB, mouse, keyboard, serial, parallel ports.)
Do you want to keep the processor and memory? If so, check this is possible.
The power source in the PC - will the connectors fit to the new motherboard?
Hard drives - does the new motherboard support IDE? If not, you will need a new SATA drive and possibly some fittings to get the correct power to the new drive.

That is the main things I can think of right now. I'm using an (many) old machine(s), and found that it is cheaper to buy a new one when some special offer comes than rebuild what I have.

[rbrown3rd]

Re: Motherboard Updgrade?

Assuming it is a standard ATX case, and you're happy with the hard drive, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and monitor, you're probably actually facing replacement of the following:

motherboard
CPU (plus new heatsink, prolly)
memory
video card

If the motherboard has a decent integrated sound chip, then you won't need a separate sound card. They all have an integrated ethernet chip, so that should be a non-issue.

Would it be a nightmare? Hmmmmm -- not the SECOND time you do it!

It's probably a fairly painful "character-building" experience, the first time.

That is what I thought. It is a standard case and has a very good power supply. I see "bare bones" packages offered often and thought the easiest path to an upgrade would be to upgrade those components you listed. I was concerned that the software would go completely bonkers and treat the new hardware as a foreign item and would go through rejection. I think I have done this before a few years ago but I have a tendency NOT to remember unpleasant events.

[rbrown3rd]

Re: Motherboard Updgrade?

I am running a dual boot WinXP and Kubuntu 8.04 machine that is getting a bit long in the tooth. I saw a good deal on video cards which are PCI Express. My motherboard has no PCI Express capability. Would it be a nightmare to do a motherboard and cpu upgrade on an old machine like this in order to be able to use a more contemporary video card?

Changing the motherboard is not very difficult, but you need to know some things:

The form factor - that is, will the new motherboard fit? (Size, holes in the motherboard, the USB, mouse, keyboard, serial, parallel ports.)
Do you want to keep the processor and memory? If so, check this is possible.
The power source in the PC - will the connectors fit to the new motherboard?
Hard drives - does the new motherboard support IDE? If not, you will need a new SATA drive and possibly some fittings to get the correct power to the new drive.

That is the main things I can think of right now. I'm using an (many) old machine(s), and found that it is cheaper to buy a new one when some special offer comes than rebuild what I have.

You have touched on the heart of the issue. I hate pouring money into an old machine when I could get an integrated package for little more than I would spend upgrading the old one. Here is why I have a dual boot machine. I am a Microsoft Flight Simulator enthusiast and scenery developer. I need Windows for that. So, what I probably should do is buy a new machine and dedicate it to MSFS and continue using this machine as it since it runs Kubuntu 8.04 and WinXP delightfully.

[dibl]

Re: Motherboard Updgrade?

FYI, I'm presently acquiring the parts to build this system, from scratch, for a relative. As you can see, it will be about $1200 USD, and is a pretty fast and capable system:

Qty Component Price (before rebates) Link
1 Intel Core 2 Duo E8400 CPU $169.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819115037
1 Asus Rampage Motherboard $288.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813131284
1 set 4GB DDR2 1066 RAM (Corsair) $149.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820145197
1 Graphics Card $179.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130363
1 Power Supply Unit – Antec TP650 $99.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817371001
1 CPU Heatsink -- Arctic Freezer 7 Pro $36.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835186134
1 Thermal Compound $5.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16835100007
1 Optical Drive $18.75 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...2E16827135164R
1 Mid-Tower Case – Antec 300 $59.95 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811129042
1 Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard $14.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16823109026
1 Microsoft Optical Mouse $10.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16826105167
1 22” LCD Monitor $189.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16824236040
1 set JBL Speakers $39.99 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16836101013
Total Cost $1,266.59 [ less discounts and combo pricing ]




I've already got a spare WD-1500 SATA drive on hand.

Hope that gives you an idea of what stuff costs. You can get cheaper motherboards -- this one happens to have a lot of "future" potential, and he wants it for gaming so it needs to be pretty fast and solid.

[BobI]

Re: Motherboard Updgrade?

I have built up new machines on several occasions, and do not find it a "character building" experience at all. As mentioned above, be sure that a new MB will fit in your case and that the power supply has the connectors appropriate to your new MB. A new power supply might be in order. Personally, I prefer ASUS mother boards and NVIDIA chipsets and video cards. Unless they have changed, NVIDIA uses only one driver for all it's video cards and is well supported in LInux. Good luck.
Bob I

[toad]

Re: Motherboard Updgrade?

I was concerned that the software would go completely bonkers and treat the new hardware as a foreign item and would go through rejection.

Very unlikely unless you are buying state of the art stuff. It is rumoured that buying something that's been on the market for a minimum of six months is pretty safe with Linux - meaning you could just upgrade as well

Mind you, you've want windows on that machine and there is no knowing what might happen. Probably best to reinstall that one with all the drivers and programmes...

[dibl]

Re: Motherboard Updgrade?

I have built up new machines on several occasions, and do not find it a "character building" experience at all.

Personally, me neither.

However, not knowing the experience of the OP, I was thinking of the fine points of applying thermal paste, and installing a LGA 775 heatsink ... if you don't know what you're doing there, it can be kinda tough the first time through.

And of course, if you're not diligent in matching the motherboard memory support with the DIMMs that are available, you can go way wrong there too.

[rbrown3rd]

Re: Motherboard Updgrade?

I have built up new machines on several occasions, and do not find it a "character building" experience at all.

Personally, me neither.

However, not knowing the experience of the OP, I was thinking of the fine points of applying thermal paste, and installing a LGA 775 heatsink ... if you don't know what you're doing there, it can be kinda tough the first time through.

And of course, if you're not diligent in matching the motherboard memory support with the DIMMs that are available, you can go way wrong there too.

Can't believe how long I have let this thread sit without replying. My apologies. Yes, I have dealt with thermal paste, motherboard alignment, things not fitting, and all of that. I agree with the other poster that I don't find it a character building experience either. But, my systems are running well and I have not had time to do much flight simming and as a result I have been happy with my systems running Linux.