want to upgrade

[tjk0123]

well christmas is on its way and i want to put a few computer things down on my list to boost the performance.

my machine now is running windows 95. i have a 4 gig HD. my motherboard is a socket 7 599LMR that has on board sound and video. my CPU is a pentium 200MHz.

now in previous posts, a few members and moderators have suggested i ugrade to windows 98 first. next to get a new CPU. im thinking about a AMD k6-2 500MHz. Murf suggested this to me and here is an example:

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicati...-K62-500C%20DT

sound good? well he also suggested a PCI video card. now here is where i need help. what kind of video card? i want a good one but not the best. also, is there any faster CPU's that i could get with the current board that i have now? below is some more about my motherboard if u need it.

M599LMR

Socket-7 Processor Support
- Supports all recent socket-7 processors including Intel P55C
(Pentium MMX), Cyrix/IBM 6x86L/6x86MX/MII, AMD K6/
K6-2, and IDT C6 CPUs
- Supports socket-7 processors with system bus frequencies of
60/66/75/83/95/100 MHz
- CPU Plug and Play support let the firmware automatically
configure the CPU
- 512K/1MB external Level 2 cache memory is provided onboard

Memory Support
- 3 Dimm slots for 3V SDRAM 168-pin memory modules
- Support for 66 MHz and 100 MHz memory bus
- Maximum installed memory can be 3 x 256 MB = 768 MB

Expansion Slots
- Two 32-bit PCI slots
- One 8/16-bit ISA slots

Onboard IDE channels
- Support for Bus mastering and UltraDMA 33/66 modes

Power Supply and Power Management
- Provides ATX power connector
- Support for Power button/Suspend Switch, and Keyboard
Power On/Off (needs Win98 keyboard)
- Support Wake on Modem, Wake on Lan and Wake on Alarm

Built-in Graphics System
- Onboard 64-bit 3D AGP Graphics Accelerator
- Shared memory architecture allows a maximum of 8 MB
main memory to act as frame buffer
- Support high resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 pixels
Although only 8MB (shared) may be sufficient for your use

Sound System
- Meets PC98 audio specification
- Full duplex playback & recording with built-in 16-bit CODEC - Supports 24bit digital audio and 4 speakers
- Downloadable Wave-table Synthesizer supports Direct Music

Onboard I/O Ports
- Provides PC99 Color Connector for easy identification of
peripheral devices
- One serial port, One parallel port, Two USB ports, Two PS/2
ports, one optiona infrared port

Hardware Monitoring
- Built-in hardware monitoring for CPU temperature and fan
speeds
- Supports AMI's Desktop Client Manager (ADCM)

Built-in LAN Adapter
- Onboard 10BaseT/100MBaseTX LAN Adapter
- LAN controller integrates Fast Ethernet MAC and PHY
compliant with IEEE802.3u 100BASE-TX, 10BASE-T and
ANSI X3212 TP-PMD standards
- Compliant with ACPI 1.0 and the Network Device Class Power
Management 1.0
- High Performance provided by 100Mbps clock generator and
data recovery circuit for 100 Mbps receiver

Fax/Modem DAA Module
- 56Kpbs Fax/Modem DAA module
- Supports V.90, V.34, V.32bis, V.32, V.22bis, V.22
- Supports Auto Fallback and MNP 5, V.42bis data compression
with 115200 compatible Virtual UART
- Requires 16 MB RAM and WIN 95/98/NT

Onboard Flash ROM
- Provides plug and play function for automatic CPU and board
configuraion
- Built-in virus protection using Trend's ChipAway Virus which
ensures that the entire boot process is virus protected

Bundled Software
- AMI Desktop Client Manager supports hardware monitoring for
a stand-alone system or a networked workstation

Dimensions
- Micro-ATX form factor ( 24.4cm x 19cm )

so what do u think i should choose? thanks

[Murf]

I know others will be around. I forgot is this a PC CHIPS board, as I think you can only go to a 450MHz processor.

It should support the 500MHz, but you need to make sure that you get a fan and heatsink for it, as it runs hotter then the 200Mhz you have.

The AMD K6-2 is an excellant cpu for that board, I still run the 500MHz in my son's machine.

$39.99 is an excellent price:
However: $22.50

The highest they make is a 550MHz

As for the video card, that motherboard has 8MB video on board, not bad but as inidcated, a Video Card with more RAM would be beneficial:

Several PCI cards are available:

Pine 32MB $34.99


TNT2-M64 PCI 32MB- $42.79

Pine Technology 32MB TNT M64 Video Card-$35.00


Now you could do this;

Chaintech Motherboard for AMD Athlon/Athlon XP/Duron Processors, Socket A AMD Duron & Thuderbirds processors up to 1.2GHz -$45.00

Here

AMD DURON 1.1GHZ Socket A PGA Processor -OEM $37.00
Here

Now you have $82.00 invested with a 1.1GZ processor. the video card for this later boards are AGP, which are cheaper then PCI.

Example:
ATI RADEON 32M SDR 4X AGP -$30.00

Here

This is an example for Newegg you can get cheaper if you shop around. The point is to buy the 500Mhz and PCI Video Card you will spend approximately $75.00

The above combo, Motherboard/Processor/Video Card is approximately $112, butr shopping can cut this down.

As for memory you can reuse what you have, but you did not mention how much you have: and what kind PC66/100 Mhz...

As I suggested before I would really consider going to at least Windows 98SE... USB does not work with Windows 95, I don't care what anybody says... If you want to go to USB then Win 98 and up is the way to go.

[tjk0123]

Originally posted by Murf

Now you could do this;

Chaintech Motherboard for AMD Athlon/Athlon XP/Duron Processors, Socket A AMD Duron & Thuderbirds processors up to 1.2GHz -$45.00

Here

AMD DURON 1.1GHZ Socket A PGA Processor -OEM $37.00
Here

Now you have $82.00 invested with a 1.1GZ processor. the video card for this later boards are AGP, which are cheaper then PCI.

Example:
ATI RADEON 32M SDR 4X AGP -$30.00

Here

This is an example for Newegg you can get cheaper if you shop around. The point is to buy the 500Mhz and PCI Video Card you will spend approximately $75.00

The above combo, Motherboard/Processor/Video Card is approximately $112, butr shopping can cut this down.

As for memory you can reuse what you have, but you did not mention how much you have: and what kind PC66/100 Mhz...

As I suggested before I would really consider going to at least Windows 98SE... USB does not work with Windows 95, I don't care what anybody says... If you want to go to USB then Win 98 and up is the way to go. [/b]

well i like that idea. im gonna go ahead and bookmark each one of those parts that you suggested. but about that 1.1GHz AMD duron CPU, couldnt i go with the one right below it on that site? the board you listed, isnt it a 1.2GHz right?

i am going to upgrade to windows98 before i do anything. this is the version ur talking about right?

http://www.bestbuy.com/software/Deta...2652&scat=2731

now for the memory that is currently installed, is 128MB SDRAM. how much can could i have with the Motherboard you listed above?

i guess i will just have to wait until christmas thanks

[Murf]

Yes if you are currently running Windows 95, which you are then the upgrade version to "98" would be the cheapest way to go.

128MB SDRAM can be used in just about any later motherboard. The problem may be that your existing SDRAM may be 66Mhz, which is OK, but newer boards run 100 or 133MHZ. If you put a stick of 100MHz memory in with a 66MHz then the 100MHz will run at the slower 66MHz speed.

You need to find out the speed of your existing memory. One way is download this program from my web site and run it. It will tell you everything about your current system:

BELARC

As for the suggested Chaintech, a good board but I used it as an example, there may be better for about the same price out there. If you do decide to go this way we can help ypou find some deals out there. And yes you could go with the 1.2GHz.

Max Memory 1.0GB thats Gigabyte which is 1000MB....


There is nothing wrong with going with the 500MHz processor and a decent 32MB video card and maybe an extra 128MB ram to give you 256MB, you will see a significant performane improvement w/Windows 98.


For example I just purchased a 256MB PC133 SDRAM for this one, waiting for it, as I am taking a 128MB stick out for my son's puter to give him 256MB and I will have 384MB.

I paid $19.85 for the stick at HERE

I spend about two hourse searching for the cheapest place. The $19.85 includes shipping.

For an example

128MB PC133/100 sdram
for intel MMX,P2,P3,P4 & Athlon (Tbird),duron motherboard Is only $11.97 at this place.

Now this is not top-of-the line memory but it works.

You just need to take the time and search.

As for Windows 98

Here is the FULL Version (not an upgrade - means you take Windows 95 completely of of the computer) Windows 98SE- $100

$80.00

When you decide poat and we can help find some great deals.