[NTLUG:Discuss] hardware upgrade

[Greg Edwards]

Michael Sandfort wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
> I've got a brother who's going to law school next year and needs a basic
> computer for wp/email which dual boots win/linux.  I have an old
> 486DX4/100 from which I'd like to salvage as much hardware as possible:
> 

[snip]

> 
> Any advice (either to list or private email) is greatly appreciated.
> 
> Thanks!
> 
> Mike
> 


Michael,

I built my son a system using the FIC VA 503+, 350MHz K6-2, 128M ECC
SDRAM.  The system runs great and this was the 3rd FIC MB I've used
without a hitch on doing the setup.  I did get 1 bad 503+ board but
swapped it with the store and no more problems.  I don't know if this
board will support the 450MHz cpu though.  When we built his system
350MHz was max but the newer BIOS may support 450 now.

You can save a couple $$$ and go with a Cyrix MII 300MHz for about $20
cpu cost, +$65 for MB gets you in for less than $90.  The only
disadvantage to the Cyrix is reduced floating point performance.  The
503+ has a feature that takes advantage of the linear burst mode the
Cyrix has.  This allows for a faster loading of the 1M onboard cache.

This is a baby AT form factor so your 486 case and PS may work.  But I'd
recommend a new case for the better air flow and mounting designs that
are out today.  Also I'd recommend getting a newer CD.  Faster and
getting real cheap lately.

Don't lose any sleep over the AGP and DMA issues.  I/O is on-board and
AT keyboard works fine.  PS/2 or serial mouse on-board as well.

On the RAM I strongly recommend that you pay the extra few $$$ for good
parts because with RAM you get what you pay for.  I only use Crucial
Technology RAM and I have far fewer problems with Win9x than most people
that use cheaper RAM.  IIRC the 503+ can use 66MHz so don't bother with
PC100.  Get a 64M SDRAM stick and you can add another 64M stick later. 
Go to www.crucial.com, 64M 66MHz ECC SDRAM $62.99 + S&H.

Good luck,
-- 
Greg Edwards
New Age Software, Inc.
http://www.nas-inet.com