new motherboard question

I have a gateway gp7-500, it's real old. It has a p3 500mhz processor. Over the course of years I have replaced almost everything except the motherboard, and that is what I want to do now. On newegg I'm finding all these sweet deals, but on to question.. Can I just buy a board and stick it in like magic? Probably not I'm guessing. So how do I find about what size/type board I can use?

You need to know your CPU - AMD - Intel and also what type of RAM you have, and video card slot. And as long as it fits in your case, those are the only things you should need to worry about. Thats all I can think of, might have better luck in the hardware forum.

also try out DevH forums they are all about hardware

Thanks I'll head over there.

Ok check this out, are these guys high?

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=19-116-172&DEPA=1

vs.

http://www.newegg.com/app/viewproductdesc.asp?description=19-116-173&DEPA=1

Yea like I'm going to pay almost $100 extra just for a .2 ghz difference??!! Or am I not seeing something else?

That's Intel for ya. I agree that it is outrageous price increase, especially since you don't really see any performance increases past the 2.0 Ghz level (or at least I can't see any).

Actually, all you need to know is if your motherboard will fit in your case. From there you can determine what CPU, what RAM, etc. to buy.

Didn't the earlier prescotts run really hot? Maybe the second one is a newer model -- you're paying the extra $ to keep your processor from melting.

Ucht << Hey thanks!! http://www.computing.net/cpus/wwwboard/forum/10644.html **** now I donno what to do.. At least I saw that first, thanks again.

So wtf am I supposed to buy here? I read all over the place that AMD's run too hot, now I see this.. aghhhgrrrr

This is what I have picked out, didn't order yet, any opinions:

board:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=13-137-042&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

cpu:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-103-486&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

memory:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=20-146-299&catalog=23&manufactory=BROWSE&depa=1

AMDs only run too hot if you don't have good cooling.

I have 2 AMD processors running in my machine (yeah, I have a dualie), and it slows down if I keep the case cover on it. I don't mind keeping it off though, because it tends to keep my heating bill down in the process. haha It runs fine during the summer though, so maybe it's just my imagination.

I really like my AMDs, and my next processor will (hopefully) be an FX. mmm... I don't really see the advantage of spedning more money on an Intel that is "faster", but performs just the same, if not worse, than a "slower" and cheaper AMD.

Just calm down and do some more research. I researched my PC for a good three months before I actually started ordering parts, and I based it all on the motherboard and processor(s) that it could support. Best of luck! (and yes, newegg.com is a goldmine. )

Very, very nice. I wish I could afford to upgrade to such a machine.

My only suggestion is, if you can afford it, get Crucial RAM instead. While I don't anticipate you'd have any problems, Crucial comes with a lifetime gaurantee, and their RMA service is fast. I've had one stick go bad (during a heat wave with indoor non-A/C temps reaching about 95°F, and that's not inside the computer case...), so I contacted their RMA dept., and within 2 weeks had my brand new stick. I'm a very satisfied customer. Hope this helps!

LOL, I was getting pretty excited :P. I was so close to ordering that first CPU, thank Stevens I came here first. I'm definitly not trying to have to buy some cooling system. I'm not really much of a geek (no offense to any that are, I'm just not), so I could give a rat's a$$ about overclocking and whatnot. I just want a CPU that works well, and requires little of my attention. My current setup is a 500mhz p3 w/ 384 ram, so I'm sure that this thing will be so amazingly fast (comparitive) I'm not going to care about cranking it up an extra 200mhz or w/e you get for overclocking.



Heh affording it and buying it are two completely different things Thanks for the input, appreciated.