Re: AMD 64 Rumours!

From: Anton Ertl (anton_at_mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at)
Date: 05/25/04 

Date: Tue, 25 May 2004 19:37:48 GMT

rodsmith@nessus.rodsbooks.com (Rod Smith) writes:
>In article <2004May25.110913@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at>,
> anton@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at (Anton Ertl) writes:
>>
>> Also, looking at the prices of mature motherboards, why not replace
>> the board together with the CPU when upgrading? You typically also
>> get a bunch of nice new features.
>
>I'm not the OP, but the problem with this approach is that the
>replacement seldom stops with the motherboard. A motherboard that works
>with a significantly better CPU might not work with your old RAM or video
>card, for instance.

In my experience, it's much easier finding a new motherboard that
works with old RAM, graphics card, and even CPU, than to find a
worthwhile CPU that fits in an old motherboard.

In four motherboard upgrades I have done, only once I did not keep the
graphics card (and there I had to switch: VLB->PCI). Switching RAM
was required more often, but the 64MB PC100 SDRAM I bought in 1998
could still work in a motherboard I bought last christmas (MSI
Combo2-L), although I did not, because I filled the slots with (also
ancient) 128MB PC100 sticks; this did require buying the right board,
though.

Ok, there are a number of upcoming changes (PCI Express, DDR2, BTX)
which will make upgrading harder, but my guess is that you will still
be able to buy a board with DDR slots and an AGP port in the next two
years.

>OTOH, I don't believe I've ever upgraded just the CPU; by the time a CPU
>upgrade seems worthwhile, the new CPUs won't work on the old motherboard.
>Even if the socket type is the same, the old motherboard usually lacks
>support for the latest CPU models because of incompatible voltages or
>whatnot.

Right, that's what I meant. I have done two CPU upgrades (Super7 from
K6-2-300 to K6-2-500 and Socket-462 FSB100 from Athlon-800 to
Athlon-1200), but they were made worthwhile to me only through special
circumstances.

- anton 

-- 
M. Anton Ertl                    Some things have to be seen to be believed
anton@mips.complang.tuwien.ac.at Most things have to be believed to be seen
http://www.complang.tuwien.ac.at/anton/home.html

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Please Help pc wont boot
    ... with the switch while the computer is plugged in. ... It could still be motherboard or PSU, ... idea would be to draw as much power as possible with the CPU. ... I assumed the problem was a faulty graphics card so I bought a second ...
    (alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt)
  • Re: CPU compatability
    ... I have been upgrading ... >370 CPU run on obsolete under-powered. ... >latest, and for UT, essential RAM, graphics cards and CPU ... >| You need to know the make and model of the motherboard ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.general)
  • Re: Please Help pc wont boot
    ... with the switch while the computer is plugged in. ... It could still be motherboard or PSU, ... idea would be to draw as much power as possible with the CPU. ... I assumed the problem was a faulty graphics card so I bought a second hand one just to check this outI tried the graphics card. ...
    (alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt)
  • Re: a7v600-x stuck in reboot loop?
    ... [Motherboard Specification] ... [CPU Specification] ... So I hold the power button in till computer shuts off ... once or twice sometimes more before the video initializes. ...
    (alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus)
  • Re: building a new DIY PC
    ... I will install the Zalman CNPS9700 LED cooler now before bringing into the ... I can go buy a bunch of other parts so I could tell myself if it's the CPU ... chip, motherboard, RAM sticks, which the RAM stick are brand new also, ... shouldn't be a problem now with the CPU chip and motherboard. ...
    (microsoft.public.windowsxp.hardware)