As I keep searching to make the $100 upgrade possible, I am surprised by how hard it is to make this possible...

But here is one pretty good option. The nice thing about this option is - it IS an upgrade - but it limits future upgrade options and its has DDR memory - which is expensive compared to DDR2 and DDR3.

Now for the details,

CPU + Motherboard + Memory: $88 - Intel SE7501BR2 Server Motherboard w/Dual Xeon 2.4GHz CPUs, 1GB RAM, Heat Sinks & Fans
http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=SE7501BR2-KIT-R&cat=MBB

Total (+ 13% tax): $100 + Shipping? + USD coversion?

Labels: $100 upgrade

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

I have an old desktop at home - an HP computer, with 512 MB SDRAM, 1.7 Ghz Pentium 4 Processor and 30 GB HDD, and the motherboard is an Intel i845. Since this computer isn't being used much now, I decided to make it a[n intranet] server. I already use it as a CVS repository. It runs Apache, MySQL, MSSQL and has PHP. The OS is Windows XP.

So far there is nothing really to complaint about with the machine's performance, but its only the processes running now without any load. I wanted to upgrade the hard disk and also make this a media server. Now, I felt the machine's processing power and memory could use some boost here. Afterall I am trying to run every kind of server (web, cvs, media, database and file) on this.

Looking into my upgrade options I was pretty shocked..the memory type it supports is very hard to find now! Futureshop and Tigerdirect don't even seem to have Socket 478 processors anymore. Determined not to lose hope and make something (actually no, not something but everything I want) of this machine, I decided to find a way to upgrade it and do it in less than $100!

I'll blog and post updates on how my hunt for the $100 upgrade goes. Wish me Luck! Also any ideas appreciated :)

Labels: $100 upgrade