Upgrading 10yo old pc, possible??

Hey

I've got an old computer I would like to upgrade. (if possible)

The pc consist of an Epox EP-BX3 motherboard with Petium II or maybe III
(the processor is mounted like another card on the motherboard). It's using
PC100 168pins DIMM memory (128mb ram). 120W power supply... All parts are
mounted inside a tower cabinet (ATX)

The goal of this upgrade is to have an computer I can run Windows Server
2003 + MS Exhange + Sql Server 2005 on at home. So I can use this pc as
server. I have no problem running Windows Server 2003 on it today, but I
cannot run Sql Server 2005 or exchange on it. This is not a production
environment, I would like run this programs so I can learn to use them....

I doubt putting more memory inside the pc would increase performace. What if
I upgraded with a new power supply... then I could put a new motherboard
inside it and a new processor...Is that possible? The cabinet is 10 years
old, can that put some limitations on the upgrade...?

How can I spark new life in this box?

Jeff

"Jeff" <it_consultant1@hotmail.com.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:jbGdnYXCMrMqZFTbRVnzvQA@telenor.com...
> Hey
>
> I've got an old computer I would like to upgrade. (if possible)
>
> The pc consist of an Epox EP-BX3 motherboard with Petium II or maybe III
> (the processor is mounted like another card on the motherboard). It's
using
> PC100 168pins DIMM memory (128mb ram). 120W power supply... All parts are
> mounted inside a tower cabinet (ATX)
>
> The goal of this upgrade is to have an computer I can run Windows Server
> 2003 + MS Exhange + Sql Server 2005 on at home. So I can use this pc as
> server. I have no problem running Windows Server 2003 on it today, but I
> cannot run Sql Server 2005 or exchange on it. This is not a production
> environment, I would like run this programs so I can learn to use
them....
>
> I doubt putting more memory inside the pc would increase performace. What
if
> I upgraded with a new power supply... then I could put a new motherboard
> inside it and a new processor...Is that possible? The cabinet is 10 years
> old, can that put some limitations on the upgrade...?
>
> How can I spark new life in this box?
>
> Jeff

I hve in the past always built my own boxes. However the price of new basic
boxes and 2 gen old boxes coming off lease are so inexpensive at this point
I believe you would be better off buying. About the only component you have
that you could reuse is the case not including the power supply.

I believe you could get a very reasonable P4 desktop in the 2.5-3.0ghz range
with 100gb hd 512-1g mem with OS for $300.

Quick look at Dell outlet at the Dell site and lease returns at dfs direct
sales www.dfsdirectsales.com (dell lease return department) showed me dozens
of such computers in the price range of $250-400. Larger hard drives and
more memory push the price closer to $400 but you can still get 3.0 P4
512ram and 80gig HD with windows xp for less than $300.

Hope this helps
Howard

"Jeff" <it_consultant1@hotmail.com.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:jbGdnYXCMrMqZFTbRVnzvQA@telenor.com...
> Hey
>
> I've got an old computer I would like to upgrade. (if possible)
>
> The pc consist of an Epox EP-BX3 motherboard with Petium II or maybe III
> (the processor is mounted like another card on the motherboard). It's
using
> PC100 168pins DIMM memory (128mb ram). 120W power supply... All parts are
> mounted inside a tower cabinet (ATX)
>
> The goal of this upgrade is to have an computer I can run Windows Server
> 2003 + MS Exhange + Sql Server 2005 on at home. So I can use this pc as
> server. I have no problem running Windows Server 2003 on it today, but I
> cannot run Sql Server 2005 or exchange on it. This is not a production
> environment, I would like run this programs so I can learn to use
them....
>
> I doubt putting more memory inside the pc would increase performace. What
if
> I upgraded with a new power supply... then I could put a new motherboard
> inside it and a new processor...Is that possible? The cabinet is 10 years
> old, can that put some limitations on the upgrade...?
>
> How can I spark new life in this box?
>
> Jeff
>
>
>

You probably can't even use the chassis.
It'd be my guess that it has a front mounted Power On switch that runs
directly to the Power Supply.
You'd need to replace that with a momentary contact switch ... not worth the
trouble when you can buy a new case sans Power Supply for 20 bucks.

>



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I'm not sure what you mean with "momentary contact switch". On my cabinet
the power-on switch in the front is connected to the motherboard (it isn't
connected directly to the power supply/ power source)

Do you think I can use my cabinet?

Jeff wrote:
> I'm not sure what you mean with "momentary contact switch". On my cabinet
> the power-on switch in the front is connected to the motherboard (it isn't
> connected directly to the power supply/ power source)
>
> Do you think I can use my cabinet?
>
>


On the very old PCs they used a different form factor called AT or baby
AT. The power supply usually had the switch wired directly to it. If
your chassis uses the type switch that connects to the motherboard
header, then it is ATX , or at least mini ATX. AT cases are VERY old.

"Jeff" <it_consultant1@hotmail.com.NOSPAM> wrote in message
news:0eSdnbHah6dG_VbbRVnzvQA@telenor.com...
> I'm not sure what you mean with "momentary contact switch". On my cabinet
> the power-on switch in the front is connected to the motherboard (it isn't
> connected directly to the power supply/ power source)
>
> Do you think I can use my cabinet?
>
>

Based on this, I'd say you could use it with a modern Power Supply/




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In article <0eSdnbHah6dG_VbbRVnzvQA@telenor.com>, it_consultant1
@hotmail.com.NOSPAM says...
>
> I'm not sure what you mean with "momentary contact switch". On my cabinet
> the power-on switch in the front is connected to the motherboard (it isn't
> connected directly to the power supply/ power source)
>
> Do you think I can use my cabinet?
>

Absolutely you can use your case, since you said it's ATX. Having said that,
you'll be looking at new psu, mobo, ram, cpu, video card to revitalize.

Looking at the service you want to put it to, I'd get a new 400W-ish psu, and
buy the used mobo++ of someone else who is upgrading their box to the latest
and greatest bleeding edge gaming rig ;-)
Just make sure you don't purchase a 2nd hand mobo with bursting capacitors.

my $.02 worth -P.

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