MB and processor upgrade.

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I am considering getting a new MB and processor for my Dell Dimension 4400 case. I have changed out HDs, CD drives, and added a floppy and DVD drive. I have upgraded my vidoe card twice, most recently a NVidia fx 5700 128 MB that I picked up for $20 from a friend.

I am assuming that changing out the MB/CPU should be as easy as changing the parts. Is this true? I would need to upgrade my power supply as well seeing how Dell skimped here with a 250 watt one. It should be just plug every thing in and run it so I'm told, but I thought I would ask here as well. I plan on upgrading to a PCI video card as well, seeing how they are phasing out AGP.

The other option I have thought of is getting a bare bones system and stealing all the other goodies off my Dell. Which idea do you all think would be better?

 

I hope you mean PCIe and not just regular PCI...

As for upgrading, at this point you pretty much have a new system...but it might be cheaper if you just go out an buy an entirely new system. Just save the DVD and hard drives for use in the new system.

 

Well... I can say from my own experience that you simply cannot upgrade your mobo and CPU without replacing the whole rig. Trust me, either you keep it as it is or then you buy a whole new machine (with, perhaps, some recycled parts from the old one).

 

I did mean PCIe. What about one of these bare bomes systems, and just switch my drives over to it? I'm not so much trying to go cheap as I am trying to go a route that lets me afford to upgrade sooner.

 

The only ways you can afford a new system sooner are that you a) buy used, b) select carefully what you need, and c) buy cheaper. Seeing the stats of your current comp, the best choise might be to "buy used" and fill out the blanks with good price/performance -ratio products.

So start hanging out at auction sites and hope that you can snatch a good deal before anyone else does. Just be careful not to buy from those morons who try to sell used stuff at the price of a new one. And don't forget that you can also sell your old hardware for some extra cash. Not much, but extra is extra.

 

Definite do not buy used. I have heard horror stories of people buying used computers and being ripped off. If you want you can build a mid-range system for roughly $500, if that is if you know what you are doing. Right now you can pick up a Nvidia 6800 video card, a SLI motherboard, and a Nvidia CPU for under $300. To me that isn't a bad deal considering for another $100 your system would be setup for SLI.

 

Nvidia CPU?

 

I meant AMD.

 

Thanks for the advice but some unexpected auto repairs are sucking up my new PC cash right now, so I get extra time to research. I shouldn't complain, my PC plays all the games I have without any problems.