Upgrading an OLD Computer

  • Thread starter Evo7GTA
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Evo7GTA

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The computer i'm upgrading is a dell dimension 4100 (yeah i know, its failry ancient :indiff: )

It started out as:
Pentium 3 processor (933MHz)
128mb of RAM
20GB hard drive
16MB video card
Windows Me

Over the years its been slightly upgraded
40GB hard drive
384MB of RAM
32MB video card
Windows XP

I have a Radeon 64MB 3D video card to replace the 32MB one.
I'll probably buy another 256MB stick of RAM to bring me to the pc's upgradeable maximum of 512MB.


However I wanted to know if it is possible to upgrade to a Pentium 4 processor seeing as how the motherboard is so old.

Also, if I cannot upgrade it, would it be possible to swap out the old motherboard for a newer one? (I hear people saying how hard it is to fit things in old dells)

Finally, I wanted to upgrade to a 2.0 USB drive, as my computer is still running 1.1 :crazy: I would like one with 4 ports so I was wondering if anyone could give me some info on a good one to buy.
 
No, you wouldn't be able to upgrade to a Pentium 4. The physical socket that the CPU resides in is different between the Pentium 3 and 4.

As long as the Dell case is ATX compatible, you can swap in a new ATX motherboard.

You can find USB add on cards just about anywhere. Just drop it into an open PCI slot.
 
I think Asus makes addons to make p3 mobos take a Pentium M... but I think it only works on one or two of their motherboards :(

Your only real option is to get a new pc if you want to really make yourself up to date. Check the after-christmas sales for something cheap.
 
My fault for dragging/whoring up an older thread, but I didn't want to start a new one that had the same topic.

Can anyone help me out with getting a new motherboard? What would fit or be compatible? Compaq Presario 5170, maxed out original 128 RAM to 384, has a newer graphics card that I don't use anyway. (originally bought the PC from Circuit City November, 1998, and still have the receipt :dopey: ).

The Disgraceful Specs:
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...&cc=us&product=93118&dlc=en&docname=c00191266

All I really need is Windows 2000 or better and 512 MB of RAM. 10 gigs for the HD is infintesimal, I know, but I've never needed more (I don't game).
 
Evo7GTA
The computer i'm upgrading is a dell dimension 4100 (yeah i know, its failry ancient :indiff: )

It started out as:
Pentium 3 processor (933MHz)
128mb of RAM
20GB hard drive
16MB video card
Windows Me

Over the years its been slightly upgraded
40GB hard drive
384MB of RAM
32MB video card
Windows XP

I have a Radeon 64MB 3D video card to replace the 32MB one.
I'll probably buy another 256MB stick of RAM to bring me to the pc's upgradeable maximum of 512MB.


However I wanted to know if it is possible to upgrade to a Pentium 4 processor seeing as how the motherboard is so old.

Also, if I cannot upgrade it, would it be possible to swap out the old motherboard for a newer one? (I hear people saying how hard it is to fit things in old dells)

Finally, I wanted to upgrade to a 2.0 USB drive, as my computer is still running 1.1 :crazy: I would like one with 4 ports so I was wondering if anyone could give me some info on a good one to buy.
Click to expand...

For the USB, just buy a USB PCI slot card, and put it in there.
 
Viper Zero
No, you wouldn't be able to upgrade to a Pentium 4. The physical socket that the CPU resides in is different between the Pentium 3 and 4.

As long as the Dell case is ATX compatible, you can swap in a new ATX motherboard.

You can find USB add on cards just about anywhere. Just drop it into an open PCI slot.
Click to expand...

Any way to find out if the case is atx compatible? I've been searching on the net with no results so far. :indiff:

Yeah I know you can get USB cards anywhere and I know how to install them, I was just wondering if there were particular brands which are better than others. :)
 

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