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Mobo dying .... suggestions please on upgrading my system ...
NeilS:
Hi Carol,
There's quite a lot of stuff to consider there, but one thing jumped out at me: you have a RAID-0 setup using the onboard controller. It's pretty likely that, if you plug those drives into another RAID controller, you won't be able to access your files. Even with the same RAID controller chip, I don't think there's any guarantee that it will work.
If your mobo is dying and you don't already have a backup of the files on your RAID array, it's probably a very good idea to sort that out first. Once the mobo dies, your chances of getting at your files is pretty slim.
As far as the rest of the machine goes, I would say it's probably of an age where upgrading one or two core components isn't really worth it. You kinda need to use bits from the same era (if era is a valid way to describe something which happens every 6 months) or you risk wasting money on components which are starved by the older components. For example, it's probably not worth going dual core unless you plan on getting faster memory, since you'd now effectively have two CPUs trying to use the same memory bandwidth as before.
I guess the simplest, cheapest solution would be to just get a replacement mobo that will take all your hardware as-is (not including the RAID array). Although they are becoming fairly rare now, you can still get Socket A / AGP mobos, and they should be fairly cheap (around £30). Not a very exciting option, but there you have it. Oh, and Overclockers probably isn't the best place for less cutting-edge hardware. I can point you at a few other places that might have what you want if you decide to take this option.
Other than that, I'd be inclined to relegate the machine to PC#2 and build a new one. There are quite a few new mobos that will take your 4 IDE drives, although you need to be careful when choosing one. You're also unlikely to get an onboard IDE RAID facility on new mobos, but I'm not a fan of onboard RAID, so I'm not going to list that as a downside. ;) That said, if you're building a new machine, you'll probably want to keep one or two of your current drives for PC#2 anyway, so you might end up wanting to get a shiny new SATA drive, which will reduce your need for lots of IDE ports.
If it was me though, I'd be worrying about that RAID array before anything else. :o
dk70:
A suggestion, stayed at the site you linked to:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Others__Asrock__BFG___Foxconn__174.html at bottom there is a strange motherboard which supports both AGP and PCI-E video card.
Does not seem to require newer power supply with 24 pin connector - see specs at Asrock site, 20+4. New motherboard could mean new psu as well. Not what you want. Memory modules can be recycled providing they are "compatible" or works ;) They should if identical sticks and may be will anyway. 164pins would be 184pins right? Hope so or there is a problem. PC2700 vs std. PC3200 dont mean that much, minor loss of performance. 2x1gb is too much to throw out for a few percentages extra speed. If they are overclocking friendly they can always be overclocked to PC3200 :D Depends on what chip they use and how well they work with motherboard.
Cpu could be 3000+ at 38.99 http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Socket_939.html Only 1800mhz but with a little overclocking, even with Asrock software, you can probably get way past 2000. 2400+ if lucky. So no reason to pay more than needed. Cpu runs very cool, stock cooler which you get in retail package is more than enough - also for overclocking. For a bit of extra speed on desktop and in some games a X2 3800 would be ideal. They dont have that, cost more for sure, Im guessing 100+.
Alternative could be older socket A motherboard but probably cost the same as newer and you wont get new cpu 8)
Ive used ATA->SATA converter before, worked ok - even with cd drive. http://www.google.com/search?q=ata%20sata%20converter Solution if you want cheap motherboard and more than 4 IDE disks. Not many expensive ones have more than 4 either. External PCI-IDE card is other option. I got free converter with my old Abit NF2 motherboard http://www.abit-usa.com/technology/serillel_new.php Cant cost that much or they would not have included it.
http://www.asrock.com/product/939Dual-SATA2.htm click on some of their AWARDS icons and see what reviewers think. Not sure they mention Anandtech http://www.anandtech.com/showdoc.aspx?i=2524&p=1 Asrock is made by Asus I think, budget brand. There are disadvantages like not being able to overclock very high because of voltage limits. Enough for you and if it works out it is as good as any.
Even if you got PCI-E video card this Asrock should still be in top 5 choices considering price. May be budget models of MSI, Asus can manage to compete. Boards with VIA chipset could be a little cheaper. I would go Nvidia/ULI any day, anything but VIA but they are cheap. Less than 30£ is unlikely. The longer you wait for new video card the better, soon DX10 cards available.
Carol Haynes:
There's quite a lot of stuff to consider there, but one thing jumped out at me: you have a RAID-0 setup using the onboard controller. It's pretty likely that, if you plug those drives into another RAID controller, you won't be able to access your files. Even with the same RAID controller chip, I don't think there's any guarantee that it will work.
-NeilS (November 01, 2006, 07:21 PM)
--- End quote ---
Thanks for reminding me but I am aware of that - consequently my array is mainly used for temporary storage of one form or another - my pagefile is on there and I do a lot of graphics/video type stuff so it is used heavily as a fast scratch disc for editing and storing temporary CD/DVD images prior to burning etc. so there is little of value that would be lost precisely for the reasons you described. Having said that I can run the 'RAID' drives from the 'RAID' interface as two separate IDE drives so it might be worth me considering that route now ;)
Carol Haynes:
if you have an expensive AGP card, then that will narrow down your search to agp motherboards which are few are far between now.
the ide drives are something you need to think about.
sata interface is NOT compatible with ide drives. if you have 4 ide drives that you want to mount inside your pc you need to look for a motherboard with 4 ide interfaces, which is not common these days, but you may be able to find one with sata and 4 ides, which would be ideal. alternatively you could get new sata drives and use your ides in an external drive racks for backup purposes.
onboard sound is reasonable these days.
onboard video is less so; if you want to run graphics heavy stuff like games, youll want a graphics card.
im guessing you will need to buy new memory.
question: do you already have a secondary pc? if not, my advice might be to build a new machine, and just do the minor stuff to make this current one a frankenstein secondary machine.
-mouser (November 01, 2006, 06:41 PM)
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I have seen these boards which look like they would go some way to doing what I want:
DABS at £30
MSI
but both need a new CPU (not too much of a prob) and presumably both will need a new PSU.
The main problem I have with these is that the one on DABS doesn't seem to be on the MSI site and I can't find the one on the MSI site for sale anywhere!
OK these are not exciting options but building a whole system from scratch is really not an option as I simply can't afford it and I am not a game player so it doesn't have to be totally 'state of the art' - just reasonably quick and it works!
A suggestion, stayed at the site you linked to:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Others__Asrock__BFG___Foxconn__174.html at bottom there is a strange motherboard which supports both AGP and PCI-E video card.
Does not seem to require newer power supply with 24 pin connector - see specs at Asrock site, 20+4.
-dk70 (November 01, 2006, 09:20 PM)
--- End quote ---
Link for this is http://www.asrock.com/product/939Dual-SATA2.htm and actually looks like it could be a good interim compromise. Problem is I would probably have to ditch my memory because it only supports DDR400 (I think mine are DDR333).
Thanks - I'll read you comment properly later but I have to go out now.
nudone:
i don't think you mentioned which msi board it is, Carol, but you could take the ebay cheap fix approach.
http://search.ebay.co.uk/msi-motherboard_W0QQfromZR40
for the price they are, i'm sure it will be the cheapest solution - you could even get a second replacement board just in case the first one dies.
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