Need help with HW Upgrade Path

Oblivious · Aug 16, 2003, 04:48 PM

The system in question is:

PIII 450
512 MB (Sdram - 133)
Radeon 7500
I'm not sure as to the motherbord Model/Manufacturer but it's a Slot 1 only board with an AGP 2x slot. (Thats AGP 1.0 if you wanna get technical). Also I'm pretty sure the chipset is a 440BX. (I'd have to drive about 45 min there and back again to confirm that, so no go).

The goal is to have smooth gameplay in War Craft III. I suppose the first item on the agenda is the CPU. And any links to Slotcket info would be greatly appreciated.

Matth · Aug 17, 2003, 03:33 PM

Before going to great lengths finding a CPU upgrade - and worrying if it IS compatible

Check prices on a CPU/Motherboard (RAM?) combo - with a suitable AMD motherbaord, you could re-use the SDRAM (eg. a cheap ECS motherboard with SDRAM and DDR capability, fitted with an Athlon XP - or for a real cheap deal, an AMD Duron 1200).

Since it seems ALL the Radeons will work down to AGP2x / V1.0
http://www.ati.com/support/faq/agpchart.html

http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Ha...eon7500/2.html
The plots show the Radeon 7500 to be somewhat down on a Geforce 2 Ultra, though better than a 2MX.

Since the Game mentions DX8.1, upgrading to a DX8 capable accelerator such as a Radeon 8500 / 9000/9100/9200 may be a fair balance, as well as being a card that would not be out of place in a more powerful system, but not horrendously expensive either

------
Example:
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=69503
Motherboard, $41.99 - takes SDRAM or DDR

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=60685
T-bred 1700 CPU, $49.85
Don't forget the heatsink!

And/or
http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=79669
Radeon 9200

PS. These are not "RECOMMENDED" parts, but just an example of the possibilities - and to put an absolute STOP on what you should consider paying for a CPU for the old board (I'm assuming that the new motherbord would fit the case, and that the power supply would be acceptable!)

Oblivious · Aug 17, 2003, 03:54 PM

Thanks for the help. It would be cheap enough to build a new comp (which equates to replacing the Mobo/cpu/video in my book) but... My goal here is actually to keep as many of the old components as possible. I was pretty vague about that... sorry :/ .

Bane the ECF · Aug 17, 2003, 09:53 PM

Hmm, you could probably replace the CPU with a high end P3 for about 80~90 bucks, but you might need to get a Sock370-to-Slot1 adapter as well.

The AGP slot will support a GeForce 4-class video card, but I think GeForce FX cards require a 4x or 8x AGP slot. I'm not 100% sure about this.

Really, for the money you'd have to spend on that CPU and CPU adapter, you're probably better off doing a full upgrade.

Bane

Oblivious · Aug 17, 2003, 10:18 PM

Yup. Youre absolutely right there.... and once again any slotket links are appreciated.

Bane the ECF · Aug 17, 2003, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Oblivious
and once again any slotket links are appreciated.

Is that what those adapters are called? I never knew that. =0P

Bane the ECF · Aug 17, 2003, 10:24 PM

There ya go. Sheesh, making people do all your work eh?

http://search.shopping.yahoo.com/sea...p=slotket&did=

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...onics&n=507846

Oblivious · Aug 19, 2003, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bane the ECF
There ya go. Sheesh, making people do all your work eh?

http://search.shopping.yahoo.com/sea...p=slotket&did=

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...onics&n=507846

Shot Down! Well actually my sinister plan was to try and get a recommendation from someone who bought one :sinister laugh:. Thanks for all the info... I think I'm gonna shell out for a generic one at my local store then.

scobywhru · Aug 19, 2003, 08:29 PM

its a better idea to buy a slocket adapter from the smae people that made your motherboard, better chance of having it work, and you also need to remeber that what CPU the mobo will support even with the adapter, like i had an Asus MB and I bought a Asus adapter BUT I couldn't use anything better then a 1ghz P3 with it

Oblivious · Sep 15, 2003, 04:38 PM

This is just sort of a wrap up to this thread. I went out this sunday and gutted the system. Thanks for all the help.

[img]realgar.hopto.org/PICT0109.jpg[/img]

[img]realgar.hopto.org/PICT0105.jpg[/img]

As you can see it's an Athlon system now (AXP 2100+ Revision B i think). And the gameplay is smooth in Warcraft III at 1024X768. Only the motherboard (ECS K7S5A) and cpu were replaced.

The old hardware will probably be doing time as a router/server now.

Aug 16, 2003, 04:48 PM	#1
Oblivious DivrerHaeven Seinor Mebmer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 236 Rep Power: 0	Need help with HW Upgrade Path The system in question is: PIII 450 512 MB (Sdram - 133) Radeon 7500 I'm not sure as to the motherbord Model/Manufacturer but it's a Slot 1 only board with an AGP 2x slot. (Thats AGP 1.0 if you wanna get technical). Also I'm pretty sure the chipset is a 440BX. (I'd have to drive about 45 min there and back again to confirm that, so no go). The goal is to have smooth gameplay in War Craft III. I suppose the first item on the agenda is the CPU. And any links to Slotcket info would be greatly appreciated.

Aug 17, 2003, 03:33 PM	#2
Matth Flash Banner Hater Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: UK Posts: 3,426 Rep Power: 93 System Specs	Before going to great lengths finding a CPU upgrade - and worrying if it IS compatible Check prices on a CPU/Motherboard (RAM?) combo - with a suitable AMD motherbaord, you could re-use the SDRAM (eg. a cheap ECS motherboard with SDRAM and DDR capability, fitted with an Athlon XP - or for a real cheap deal, an AMD Duron 1200). Since it seems ALL the Radeons will work down to AGP2x / V1.0 http://www.ati.com/support/faq/agpchart.html http://www.neoseeker.com/Articles/Ha...eon7500/2.html The plots show the Radeon 7500 to be somewhat down on a Geforce 2 Ultra, though better than a 2MX. Since the Game mentions DX8.1, upgrading to a DX8 capable accelerator such as a Radeon 8500 / 9000/9100/9200 may be a fair balance, as well as being a card that would not be out of place in a more powerful system, but not horrendously expensive either ------ Example: http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=69503 Motherboard, $41.99 - takes SDRAM or DDR http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=60685 T-bred 1700 CPU, $49.85 Don't forget the heatsink! And/or http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/produ...duct_uid=79669 Radeon 9200 PS. These are not "RECOMMENDED" parts, but just an example of the possibilities - and to put an absolute STOP on what you should consider paying for a CPU for the old board (I'm assuming that the new motherbord would fit the case, and that the power supply would be acceptable!) Last edited by Matth; Aug 17, 2003 at 03:46 PM.

Aug 17, 2003, 03:54 PM	Thread Starter #3
Oblivious DivrerHaeven Seinor Mebmer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 236 Rep Power: 0	Thx. Thanks for the help. It would be cheap enough to build a new comp (which equates to replacing the Mobo/cpu/video in my book) but... My goal here is actually to keep as many of the old components as possible. I was pretty vague about that... sorry :/ . __________________ Pepole olny raed wrods. Btu oyu shuodl sitll check oyur spleling! http://realgar.hopto.org

Aug 17, 2003, 09:53 PM	#4
Bane the ECF DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 220 Rep Power: 0	Hmm, you could probably replace the CPU with a high end P3 for about 80~90 bucks, but you might need to get a Sock370-to-Slot1 adapter as well. The AGP slot will support a GeForce 4-class video card, but I think GeForce FX cards require a 4x or 8x AGP slot. I'm not 100% sure about this. Really, for the money you'd have to spend on that CPU and CPU adapter, you're probably better off doing a full upgrade. Bane __________________ ASUS K8N-E Motherboard Athlon 64 3200+ 10x200MHz Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu Heatsink & Fan 2x512MB Mushkin Black Level 2 PC-3500 ATi Radeon X800 SE 256MB 100GB Western Digital SE 8MB 7200RPM 320GB Seagate 8MB 7200 RPM Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Sony 19" E400 Trinitron Thermaltake Xaser III V2000A All-Aluminum Logitech Z-5300 5.1 Surround Sound Last edited by Bane the ECF; Aug 17, 2003 at 10:02 PM.

Aug 17, 2003, 10:18 PM	Thread Starter #5
Oblivious DivrerHaeven Seinor Mebmer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 236 Rep Power: 0	Yup. Youre absolutely right there.... and once again any slotket links are appreciated. __________________ Pepole olny raed wrods. Btu oyu shuodl sitll check oyur spleling! http://realgar.hopto.org

Aug 17, 2003, 10:24 PM	#7
Bane the ECF DriverHeaven Lover Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 220 Rep Power: 0	There ya go. Sheesh, making people do all your work eh? http://search.shopping.yahoo.com/sea...p=slotket&did= http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...onics&n=507846 __________________ ASUS K8N-E Motherboard Athlon 64 3200+ 10x200MHz Zalman CNPS7000A-Cu Heatsink & Fan 2x512MB Mushkin Black Level 2 PC-3500 ATi Radeon X800 SE 256MB 100GB Western Digital SE 8MB 7200RPM 320GB Seagate 8MB 7200 RPM Sound Blaster Audigy 2 Sony 19" E400 Trinitron Thermaltake Xaser III V2000A All-Aluminum Logitech Z-5300 5.1 Surround Sound

Aug 19, 2003, 08:29 PM	#9
scobywhru DriverHeaven Senile Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Penthouse Basement Posts: 619 Rep Power: 0	its a better idea to buy a slocket adapter from the smae people that made your motherboard, better chance of having it work, and you also need to remeber that what CPU the mobo will support even with the adapter, like i had an Asus MB and I bought a Asus adapter BUT I couldn't use anything better then a 1ghz P3 with it __________________

Sep 15, 2003, 04:38 PM	Thread Starter #10
Oblivious DivrerHaeven Seinor Mebmer Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Baltimore, MD Posts: 236 Rep Power: 0	This is just sort of a wrap up to this thread. I went out this sunday and gutted the system. Thanks for all the help. [img]realgar.hopto.org/PICT0109.jpg[/img] [img]realgar.hopto.org/PICT0105.jpg[/img] As you can see it's an Athlon system now (AXP 2100+ Revision B i think). And the gameplay is smooth in Warcraft III at 1024X768. Only the motherboard (ECS K7S5A) and cpu were replaced. The old hardware will probably be doing time as a router/server now. __________________ Pepole olny raed wrods. Btu oyu shuodl sitll check oyur spleling! http://realgar.hopto.org