New Motherboard

[CrazyMobster]

I have a Sony Vaio from 2005. I mostly use it for gaming and watching TV and movies and so on. I see that all the new Graphics cards are PCI or PCI Express, but I can only connect AGP. I can still get a pretty good card that can play the latest games that connects with AGP but I would rather change the motherboard and be able to connect more powerful PCI cards. But I dont have any experience in this so I dont know what motherboard is right for my PC. Anyone have any suggestion on how to start looking? Thanks

[jlreich]

Welcome to the http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/pcgubb.gif forums.

Unfortunately it won't be as simple as replacing the motherboard. Most of your old components will not work with a modern motherboard that supports PCIe x16 video cards. You would be looking at replacing the mobo, CPU, ram, video card, most likely a new power supply... basically a whole new system. You could reuse any optical drives and hard drives but that's about it. I doubt you could even reuse the Sony case. It may support a standard motherboard, but it may not.

Sorry to break it to you. :( The system may only be two years old, but it was probably one or two year old technology when you bought it. A lot has happened in the computer world since then. Computer generations go by in six months to a year. Over the last couple of years it has probably went by faster than that. ;)

[CrazyMobster]

Oh ok, I see. So I would be better off buying a new system instead of having to get all new parts?

[jlreich]

Yes. Or since you were already willing to swap the motherboard yourself you are already most of the way to building an entire new system yourself.

Something to think about. Building isn't for everyone, but it is satisfying and cheaper if you are prudent. And you can get exactly what you want instead of settling for whatever options an OEM gives you. And you can future proof it much better in order to be able to upgrade in the future without replacing the whole system.