If the current motherboard cannot support the newer stuff, then I guess I can just change the motherboard :)

Motherboard option controls my expansion possibilities, so I have to carefully consider this. From doing some research, I guess AMD processors and Intel processors generally require different sockets? I thought that CPU sockets are standard (i.e. not company specific)...guess not.

Here is my Plan 1, it doesn't quite hit the $100 mark, but oh well, this is plan 1:

CPU: $60 - AMD Athlon 64 X2 5200+ Dual Core Processor AM2 2.7GHZ 2X512KB
http://www.bestdirect.ca/products/129509/AMD/ADO5200DOBOX/

CPU Cooling: $25 - Thermaltake TR2-R1 / AMD Socket AM2/939/754 / Aluminum / 92mm Fan / CPU Cooler
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2604150&CatId=2545

Motherboard: $44 - Biostar MCP6P-M2+ Socket AM2+ GeForce 6150 mATX Motherboard w/Video & Audio
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=MCP6P-M2PLUS&cat=MBB

Memory: $27.50 - Kingston 2GB DDR2 RAM PC2-6400 240-Pin DIMM
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=KVR800D2N6-2G&cat=RAM

Total (base cost + 13% tax): ~$181

Since its just an upgrade, the case, power supply, hard disk, other drives etc can stay as they are. That concludes option/plan 1. Now if only there was a way to halve that number...

Labels: $100 upgrade