Help on New PCI-E Motherboard

AggroChan

Hi, my brother has this hp computer and this video card.
The video card can't really fit in the motherboard, so i'd assume he needs a PCI-E motherboard (not to mention more ram)?
What I need help with is a new motherboard that can use all of the drives and the case of the HP but also compatible with his video card.
And I have no clue about the CPU D;
Can you guys help?

AggroChan

He's also most likely going to use it for dual screens rather than gaming, if that counts for anything

Stormwatcher

Looking at the machine's specs, upgrading just the mobo doesn't sound like a good idea.

I mean, it's a mini-tower with an older CPU socket, so you're gonna have to buy at least a newer CPU, too, which would be a great idea anyway, because cpus are cheap and the P4 sucks.

Then you'll need new, ddr2 or ddr3 RAM.

So you'll need at least a mini-ATX mobo, new CPU and new RAM (which is also cheap as dirt).

MrMonroe

You don't want to buy a new socket 478 mobo, or a DDR mobo. It's just a waste of money to keep using components that are now too expensive because they are dying out. If your RAM or CPU busted you'd be stuck buying an old 478 socket CPU or DDR RAM. Bad situation. He needs to think about saving a bit more money and starting again.

Also, the tech help forum is a subsection of this one.

CmdPrompt

If he isn't interested in gaming at all (or at least current generation ones), he can buy something like this, which will give him dual-screens while fitting that motherboard.

He could get something like this in order to support his current CPU and PCIe, but he'd need to buy DDR2. Additionally, I'm not sure if his case will fit the MicroATX form factor or not.

However, this is all old technology. As MrMonroe said, paying $50 for old technology is not that great of an idea. You might be able to find a board (e: or that card) on eBay for a reasonable price, but otherwise it might be worthwhile to think about upgrading.

Dehumanized

Yeah, it's time to stop looking at upgrading and start looking at replacing. PC component manufacturing is a harsh mistress.

MrMonroe

I would actually go with something along the lines of Prompt's suggestion and return the 8600 (if you can). If he's not gaming this rig will last him for a while yet.

AggroChan

Thanks everyone for being so helpful!
So basically he should invest in a different video card rather than motherboard?
Would this (from Prompt's post support his current specs?
Or are there alternatives ):

MrMonroe wrote: »

Also, the tech help forum is a subsection of this one.

:oops:
If a mod or somebody could move it, that'd be fine.

CmdPrompt

So basically he should invest in a different video card rather than motherboard?

That's pretty much the sum of it.

You're going to have less possible conflicts (and therefore money spent, and less hassle) if you just find an AGP card that supports dual monitors.

This link gives you a listing of all AGP 8X cards that support dual monitors. You can either buy from there, or look those model numbers up on eBay.

One thing to take note of is that the usual connections are 1 D-SUB and 1 DVI connector. You can find other configurations (the one I linked had 2 D-SUBs), but you want to make sure he either has those type of connections from the monitor, or an adapter.

Stormwatcher

That card (fx5200) is pretty bad, but if he WON'T game AT ALL, then it's probably good enough.

He won't be able to play anything better than WoW and Solitaire, though.

Kaseius

Stormwatcher wrote: »

That card (fx5200) is pretty bad, but if he WON'T game AT ALL, then it's probably good enough.

He won't be able to play anything better than WoW and Solitaire, though.

And WoW will be all minimum settings at like < 30fps.

I played like this for years.

Stormwatcher

Kaseius wrote: »

Stormwatcher wrote: »

That card (fx5200) is pretty bad, but if he WON'T game AT ALL, then it's probably good enough.

He won't be able to play anything better than WoW and Solitaire, though.

And WoW will be all minimum settings at like < 30fps.

I played like this for years.

here, have a hug!

AggroChan

update ):
he would like to play games now (what) so doing this is kind of out of the question.
Can anyone help with the original question?

PeregrineFalcon

AggroChan wrote: »

update ):
he would like to play games now (what) so doing this is kind of out of the question.
Can anyone help with the original question?

Buy a new machine. It's not worth it to upgrade that one.