Upgrading just the motherboard of my pc for getting a PCIe slot

[marcolisi]

Hello guys, I have an old Hp 754n :

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&docname=bph08026


I would like to change my motherboard so that I could have 1 PCI express slot, but I would like to spend no more than 50 dollars or even less (buying used motherboard).
I just would like to be sure that I could use all the other parts of my old pc on this new motherboard that can mount a PCI express card.

Do you have any suggestion in how I could see if all the other parts of my old PC (RAM, CPU, internal fans, ecc...) are compatible with a motherboard that has at least 1 PCI express slot ?

Thank you

[david eaton]

if you upgrade the motherboard, besides the problem of finding one, you will also need a new copy of windows, as the one you have with that machine, in the shape of a sytem restore CD will not work, as it was tied to the original motherboard.

[marcolisi]

Ok, thanks, no problem to re-install windows. I have done that thousands of times for different reasons during my life.

The problem is, how can I find out which motherboard should I buy that is compatible with my CPU and other periphals of my old PC ?
thank you

[mjc]

I think you are misunderstanding here...the license for the copy of Windows is tied to the original hardware configuration, in addition to the fact that HP 'watermarks' their restore disks to the specific machine. The install of Windows on that machine would no longer be valid, if the motherboard were changed.

Besides, finding a socket 478 board, with PCIe is probably going to be over $50...

Here are a couple...both are slightly over $50

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813138079

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=P4M900-M4&cat=MBB

[marcolisi]

Thank you, I understand what you mean.

The price is below 60 dollars that it is not too bad if I compare it to the amount of money I should spend if I want to buy a new pc, I guess, or am I wrong ?

Also, sorry for this stupid question, but can u pls suggest me what are all the parts that I need and should buy if I want to build a new PC from zero.

I would like to understand how much would cost me building a new pc, buying some complete new parts and re-using some parts of my old pc, like (HD, DVD, ribbon cables, case, monitor, pc power supply ecc....)
I do not understand how to find out also which parts of my old I could re-use.

Thank you so much

[mjc]

Here's the deal...your HP uses the bare minimum power supply to do the job (HP is notorious for this), so that isn't usable. And a case that is custom fit for that configuration...usually short on extra space/drive bays and difficult to fit a new motherboard into and have it fit properly.

Your hard drive is several years old, most have a life expectancy of about 5 years, so as a primary drive it isn't worth it.

New motherboards will usually come with a couple of cables for drives, so there is no need to reuse those.

Modern boards will be using at least DDR2 RAM...your original is probably DDR, so it wouldn't be reusable.

About the only thing worth reusing would be the DVD drive and that is one of the cheapest things to replace ($30 or less).

You can probably reuse your monitor, too.

That is less than $60 for the board...but you would likely need a new power supply and new RAM, another $100 or so.

I recently built a machine for my son, including monitor and decent video card (not great but good) for $400. So leaving those two items out (the motherboard I used has decent onboard video that would work for just about anything short of gaming...and even then it would work for 5 yr old or older games).

Here's the thread with the specs of the build...

http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=72242

Now that price does not include the price of Windows, but in either case (replacing the motherboard in your current machine or a new one) you would have that cost...somewhere around $100.

[jlreich]

It just isn't worth trying to upgrade that old machine. And since you want to do it to get a PCIe slot, I am assuming for a video card upgrade, it is even less worth it. Any modern video card would be severely bottlenecked by an old s478 P4.

Don't waste your money and time trying to upgrade that old thing. Time to start saving for a new machine. ;)

[saphalline]

I have given away more powerful systems than that!

If you really want to game, consider whether or not you can truly afford to do it on a PC. Consoles are far cheaper and much more simple. For the cost of a building a shiny new low-budget gaming PC, you could probably buy a new X360, 4 wireless controllers, Modern Warfare 2, and a 1-year subscription to Xbox Live! - DONE