motherboard/processor

[fgillis]

I was interested in upgrading my sons computer. It's a packard bell pentium 233 mhz with win 95. I see on some auction sites that they sell petium 3 and 4 processors with a mother board for about $100-$150. What would I need to purchase to upgrade his computer? Is it something I shouldn't do because it leads to problems with these older computers?
I've had success with this message board before so I value your opinions.
Thanks, Frank

[jdharm]

Packard Bell had a lot of integrated peripherals, so what you need to buy would depend on what things would get thrown out with the motherboard. What cards do you have plugged into pci and isa slots? You could probably keep them, but things that are on your motherboard, like video and sound maybe, you would need to make sure the new motherboard had it or buy a card for it. If you get a model number of the new board you can research it on the manufacturer's website before you buy it.

Keep in mind that Win95 won't work with USB or AGP, standard features on newer motherboards, because they were developed after Win95 was. (Just to forestall objections: later versions of Win95 can be made to work with USB)

Too, the newer processors are power hungry. You should make sure your power supply can handle the new demand.

I could be wrong on this, but if I remember right PB liked to do a lot of things non-standard. You need to make sure the case is one that will accept the size, shape, and layout (form factor) of the new motherboard.

BTW: For the $150 pricetag you quoted you can get a good NEW mobo/proc combo, no need to go to an aution site and risk getting burned on used equipment. WWW.PRICEWATCH.COM

After all of this you may end up replacing everything. Upgrading an older computer a piece at a time is rarely economical compared to buying an assembled system. It's like building a car from the ground up: The main reason for doing it is for the experience or just for the fun of it. Or to build a hotrod that you can't buy in the stores. Both of which are good reasons, by the way.

There's my $.02

For what it worth.
I'm just making this up as I go along.
Scoff, ignore, or flame at will.

[fgillis]

Thanks for the info. His computer is working just fine so It's probably better to just wait until he needs a new one.
Thanks, Frank