trying to upgrade a very old computer...

[cptrohn]

It this computer.. http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/product?product=58221&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&lang=en&cc=us

I am really just trying to get my feet wet on something that #1 won't cost me an arm and a leg if I royally screw it up... and #2 won't cost me an arm and a leg in terms of hardware as well...

I'd like to replace the motherboard, add a DVD/CD writer and get some decent ram etc...(I'd also like to be able to use ubuntu of course...)

I know my options are probably going to be pretty limited as to what I can actually get away with, but starting with first things first... what kind of cheap Mohterboard/CPU combo do you think I could use for this dinosaur?:lolflag:

This is the first time I've tried to do anything like this... so please be gentle...LOL

[.Maleficus.]

Those computers are from the era that HP used very proprietary hardware. You'll be hard pressed to find a motherboard that will fit in that case (that isn't a board from the same age). A DVD drive upgrade should be no problem, and with the current motherboard you can only use 512MB of RAM (168-pin no less). What does it have now? First thing I'd do is open the beast up and check the design of the case; like I said, you're going to have a pretty tough time fitting anything in there.

[milton1]

You may have a hard time with this machine. If you max out the RAM this system can take (256MB), you might be able to run xubuntu or one of the smaller ports (DSL, puppy linux, etc). Changing the hardware may be a hassle, as well. Many of these HP machines actually have proprietary motherboards that are just a bit off from the ATX standard in terms of their fit. This means you may only be able to put another HP motherboard in there. If that is the case, for what it will cost you, you may as well buy a new low-end machine.

My recommendation: Don't waste any money on hardware for this thing. If you want to keep running it with a new system, use one of the lightweight linux distros. Otherwaise, spend your money on something new.

[milton1]

and with the current motherboard you can only use 512MB of RAM (168-pin no less).

Check the specs. This thing can handle a max of 256MB.

[cptrohn]

You may have a hard time with this machine. If you max out the RAM this system can take (256MB), you might be able to run xubuntu or one of the smaller ports (DSL, puppy linux, etc). Changing the hardware may be a hassle, as well. Many of these HP machines actually have proprietary motherboards that are just a bit off from the ATX standard in terms of their fit. This means you may only be able to put another HP motherboard in there. If that is the case, for what it will cost you, you may as well buy a new low-end machine.

My recommendation: Don't waste any money on hardware for this thing. If you want to keep running it with a new system, use one of the lightweight linux distros. Otherwaise, spend your money on something new.

Oh I have been running puppy on it with no problems.... I was just wanting to try to upgrade an old computer before I tried to build a new one from scratch.....

Oh well maybe I will just hit Ebay and see if I can buy something better to experiment on that will have more options.

[milton1]

Good luck. :)

[Revolutionary101]

What, from the original computer, are you keeping?

[cptrohn]

What, from the original computer, are you keeping?

Probably just the case really..

[.Maleficus.]

Check the specs. This thing can handle a max of 256MB.

512 GB (2 x 256 MB)

HP recommends a maximum of 128 MB per DIMM (256 maximum).
I assume they meant 512MB, not GB, but it clearly says it can support 512MB.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=bph05159&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=58221&lang=en

[nowin4me]

You could try and make your own motherboard tray for any motherboard. Time to get those power tools out. If manufactures can make them why can't you?

The other thing is is the motherboard tray removable? If so you might be in luck and you could try and replace it. If not you could rip out the motherboard tray and put a new one in.

I am not responsible for any PC damages/deaths or injuries. I am also not responsible for any human/animal damages/deaths or injuries. Please do this at your own risk!

Good luck!

[Skripka]

Sure you can "upgrade" it...but odds are you'll sink FAR more money than the box is worth to do so.

[monsterstack]

You could just install a minimal installation version of Linux and have done with it. Tinycore Linux (http://www.tinycorelinux.com/) and Slitaz (http://www.slitaz.org/en/) being two of the smallest (and prettiest):


http://www.slitaz.org/pics/screenshots/e17.png
http://www.slitaz.org/pics/screenshots/cooking-superuserpcmanfm.png
http://www.slitaz.org/pics/screenshots/cooking-geany.png

Slitaz occupies 80mb after installation, whilst Tinycore takes up about half that. (The Tinycore ISO is 10mb, by the way, so you could install it with 6 floppies if you really wanted to.) The minimum system specs are, as you can imagine, stunningly low.

Much better than dumping the computer if you can't find any hardware for it. Why not throw in a large hard disk and use it as a media server or something?

[c0mput3r_n3rD]

you also have to remember that the old CPU might not be compatible with the new mother board, and an new CPU is a b*tch to have to buy/install etc.

I'm into rebuilding old computer as well, but i find that you really have to just keep the motherboard and cpu, and see what you can do with the rest.
That's my advice

[cptrohn]

Thanks for all the suggestions....

I just cracked it open and blew everything in the old machine and from digging around the internet it looks like I can get 2 SDRAM 512 mb sticks for about $25 TO $50 depending on where I get them from... and newegg still sells IDE ATA HD's so I think I will just max the ram out and get a larger HD for it... I can get a 500gb brand new for like 80 bucks... and that would be plenty enough for what I am doing with it.... As I said this is pretty much just for a learning experience for me right at the moment... So I don't mind spending a little money so I can learn to do this myself... The video card I found out is integrated into the motherboard... so I guess I won't be trying to do anything with it.

But I figure with 1gb of ram and the larger HD, at the very least I could install puppy onto it again, but hopefully I could install Xubuntu...

So this is just an experiment to see if I can get that old box running smoothly first... and then maybe seeing if I can build my own customized system later on if I can handle this...

[.Maleficus.]

Thanks for all the suggestions....

I just cracked it open and blew everything in the old machine and from digging around the internet it looks like I can get 2 SDRAM 512 mb sticks for about $25 TO $50 depending on where I get them from... and newegg still sells IDE ATA HD's so I think I will just max the ram out and get a larger HD for it... I can get a 500gb brand new for like 80 bucks... and that would be plenty enough for what I am doing with it.... As I said this is pretty much just for a learning experience for me right at the moment... So I don't mind spending a little money so I can learn to do this myself... The video card I found out is integrated into the motherboard... so I guess I won't be trying to do anything with it.

But I figure with 1gb of ram and the larger HD, at the very least I could install puppy onto it again, but hopefully I could install Xubuntu...

So this is just an experiment to see if I can get that old box running smoothly first... and then maybe seeing if I can build my own customized system later on if I can handle this...
The RAM max is 512MB, with a per-slot max of 256MB.

[LowSky]

you can build a new pc for under $300 if you know how to shop.

Newegg.com is awesome for this, and made you a shopping list to ook over.. I like AMD but you can use Intel if you like..
Dual core processor $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103235
DDR2 4GB $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820159021
500Gb hard drve $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152137
MotherBoard $47
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135074
Power Supply And case $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147024
DVD-RW $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
Keyboard and Mouse - $17
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126018
TOTAL = $279

heck some some cash and reuse your mouse/keyboard and DVD drive if you like

[cptrohn]

The RAM max is 512MB, with a per-slot max of 256MB.

So what would happen if I installed the 512MB ram? Would it not run at all, or would it just not recognize the additional ram?

[cptrohn]

you can build a new pc for under $300 if you know how to shop.

Newegg.com is awesome for this, and made you a shopping list to ook over.. I like AMD but you can use Intel if you like..
Dual core processor $60
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103235
DDR2 4GB $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820159021
500Gb hard drve $50
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822152137
MotherBoard $47
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813135074
Power Supply And case $30
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147024
DVD-RW $25
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106289
Keyboard and Mouse - $17
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16823126018
TOTAL = $279

heck some some cash and reuse your mouse/keyboard and DVD drive if you like
Thanks much for taking the time to post this!

I will definately keep this in mind for the future...

[Blacklightbulb]

If you change the motherboard and CPU than you've practically changed the computer (tower). Anyway if your not going to change the motherboard you can use a minimal Ubuntu installation or another distro called Pupplinux and there's another still called Zenwalk.

If on the other hand you're gonna change the mother board then it will probably not fit in your case. There may also be the need to change the PSU (power supply unit). An old case won't cost more than a few bucks (10$ ?! used?!) or you can just work out a frame to screw the mother board on like mine.

Good Luck.

[Gizenshya]

I'm going to review lowsky's suggested parts later and give my input...

x2 on the fact that you'll sink more cash into it than it is worth. you'd be much better off getting another computer. Then, at least you'll have 2, and one will be fast :)

and another x2 on the proprietary (aka, as incompatible as possible!) HP computers from back then. I have one from that same series, just one level up. Haven't been able to do anything with it, except upgrade the RAM. (supports 756), and change a case fan. it is CRAMPED in there!

and your computer will NOT support a hard drive size over 120 GB, and there isn't anything you can do about it. Well... internally (on the mobo). and it only supports ide hard drives, not SATA. and the ond type ram it uses is expensive! newer, much faster RAM is bigger and cheaper.

there are other things as well. But I strongly suggest you just get a new(er) computer.

[Blacklightbulb]

BTW I also did this once as a learning experience I built my Desktop. The "hardest" part was searching the net for cheap and compatible hardware. Other than that it's all fiddling with a screwdriver. Nothing special. Just be patient or else you'll gonna break something.

[HappyFeet]

I was just wanting to try to upgrade an old computer before I tried to build a new one from scratch.....


You are talking about replacing the motherboard which means it will basically be a whole new computer, as you will need new memory, hard drive, DVD, power supply. You may as well buy a new case and build a new one from scratch. In effect, you are not "upgrading", but building a new pc anyway.

[K.Y.A]

You could build a brand new system with a decent cpu and ~1gb ram for $200 with parts from newegg. Just keep the hard drive.

[kerry_s]

+1 just get the new stuff.

i just bought 1 of the mini barebones, threw in a stick of ram & harddrive, haven't even bothered to put a cd/burner drive in it yet.
spent $170 so far & it's already up & running.

[K.Y.A]

+1 just get the new stuff.

i just bought 1 of the mini barebones, threw in a stick of ram & harddrive, haven't even bothered to put a cd/burner drive in it yet.
spent $170 so far & it's already up & running.

And it's probably 10X the specs of the machine he's trying to upgrade. :D

[kerry_s]

And it's probably 10X the specs of the machine he's trying to upgrade. :D

it runs nice to & fully linux compatible, even the suspend & hibernate works like a champ. i got this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16856119012