Want to upgrade motherboard from my prebuild pc!

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Want to upgrade motherboard from my prebuild pc!

panda123

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Master Geek

#154488 29-Oct-2014 16:57

Hey guys so I've got a prebuild Compaq-Presario pc and its getting pretty old and was looking to upgrade the motherboard in it.
I have a Compaq-Presario SR5085AN (http://h20566.www2.hp.com/portal/site/hpsc/template.PAGE/public/kb/docDisplay?javax.portlet.begCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.endCacheTok=com.vignette.cachetoken&javax.portlet.prp_ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01=wsrp-navigationalState%3DdocId%253Demr_na-c00913812-19%257CdocLocale%253D%257CcalledBy%253D&javax.portlet.tpst=ba847bafb2a2d782fcbb0710b053ce01&sp4ts.oid=3328519&ac.admitted=1414555543515.876444892.199480143), have upgraded the ram (Team Group 2x2GB, DDR2-800, PC2-6400, CL4, DIMM), gfx card (NVIDIA GeForce GT 430), psu and cpu (AMD Athlon 64 X2 5600+) . I want to know what motherboard I could get for an upgrade that has USB 3.0 and would support all my other hardwares so I don't have to go buy/change anything else and one that would fit in my case too.
Any suggestions would help thanks.

timmmay

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#1164497 29-Oct-2014 17:02

You can't link to a document on your PC, you have to put it online or copy and paste it into the thread.

Tell us what CPU, RAM, etc you have. Generally when you upgrade a motherboard you need all new CPU RAM etc.

ubergeeknz

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Vocus

#1164505 29-Oct-2014 17:15

Your best bet is to just add a USB 3.0 card: http://www.pbtech.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=ADPUNI3003&qr=pspy&ref=pricespy

Otherwise you'll be looking at new CPU and RAM at least.

timmmay

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#1164506 29-Oct-2014 17:15

Your CPU uses the AM2 socket, Ascent doesn't even sell CPUs that fit that socket any more. Their compatible motherboards are very expensive.

I'm unsure why you'd want to upgrade your motherboard. Suggest you don't spend another cent on this PC and instead save for a replacement. You can keep the case, but you'll need a new motherboard, CPU, and RAM. Suggest Intel i3/i5, or maybe a modern AMD.

panda123

172 posts

Master Geek

#1164514 29-Oct-2014 17:24

ok thanks for the suggestions. If I don't upgrade the motherboard but instead get a USB 3.0 card. Can my current pc/motherboard support the card and what kind should i get from computer lounge/mighty ape/ascent. Brought from PB twice and have a bad experience with them.

ubergeeknz

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Vocus

#1164515 29-Oct-2014 17:30

According to the specs you have a PCI-Express 1x slot which ought to be free, so any PCI-Express 1x card should be usable there. Suggest searching your preferred seller for "USB 3.0 card". But the question is, is it really worth investing in that PC given the age of it? Or are you better off to get a new motherboard/cpu/RAM combo. Any microATX form factor board should fit.

panda123

172 posts

Master Geek

#1164534 29-Oct-2014 18:07

Theres a whole bunch that pops on Ascent http://www.ascent.co.nz/search.aspx?T1=usb+3.0+card

There a some with has 2 usb3.0 and 4 usb 3.0, don't know much about my hardware so can you guys suggest a good product for me for my PCI-Express 1x slot

timmmay

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#1164538 29-Oct-2014 18:24

Digitus or Vantec. Digitus is cheaper, and they're usually reasonable quality. Vantec maybe slightly better quality but probably both much the same.

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panda123

172 posts

Master Geek

#1166064 31-Oct-2014 17:39

Hey guys, so I saw that there a front panel ones like:
http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=399874
and http://www.ascent.co.nz/productspecification.aspx?ItemID=413551
and was wondering if these can be connected to my current motherboard or does my mobo not support it and only supports a pcie x1 adaptor card?

timmmay

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#1166070 31-Oct-2014 18:02

That's just a panel and plugs, physical cables and such, they don't add USB 3.0 support.

panda123

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Master Geek

#1166073 31-Oct-2014 18:23

oh ok, so the best way for me to get 3.0 is still the pcie cards?

timmmay

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#1166076 31-Oct-2014 18:47

Yes.