First post, by CodeBugging
Hello to all forum members. My first time here, so be kind with me. I was asked to upgrade a friends PC with a Pentium II 333Mhz on slot 1 on a ECS i440BX-P6BX-A+ Rev: 1.1A motherboard.
Now the PC runs smoothly a Win98FE installation with a 64 Mib RAM.
The upgrade I'm thinking of, will be on the following parts:
a. RAM modules (128 or 256)
b. HDD
c. Fast ethernet network PCI card
d. USB 2.0 PCI card
On the RAM upgrade, I'm thinking to max out all 3 banks either with a 128 or 256 modules. Problem is that, I cannot find a manual on Internet about this mobo. I have found only controversial hints about max out memory, to be either 384 Mibs or 768 MiB RAM. There is also a guy on Ebay, selling a similar mobo with 512 Mibs RAM installed. The sites that I found those hints are https://assets.hardwarezone.com/2009/reviews/ … bxap/p6bxap.htm and https://www.ebay.com/itm/114319575845?hash=it … qYAAOSwc01fGkT0.
So my first question is, what is the max out RAM for this P6BX-A+ Rev: 1.1A motherboard, and what dims should I use to max out RAM?
On the HDD upgrade, I'm considering a two ways approach. First is the SSD approach with a 32GB max capacity (because the Award Modular BIOS v4.51PG, supports up to 32GB HDDs. Correct me if I'm wrong on this), and a IDE To SATA Hard Drive Converter Adapter.
Second approach is the SD solution. I will be using a SD Memory Card to 3.5" 40pins Male IDE Adapter, so I can have many Linux distros on SD cards at hand, ready to swap.
So my second question is, which approach is the most suitable for a PC of this configuration and age, the SSD or the SD choice?
On the network upgrade, I'm also thinking to use a USB WiFi adapter on a spare USB 2.0 port of the PCI card., so to have the WiFi goodies.
My third question is if this is feasible on this PC configuration or I'm missing something?
The upgrade should be completed, with the add on of a Multi Card Reader USB 2.0 Internal with USB Front panel and a Slim DVD-RW with a panel adapter that i have spare.
This upgraded system will by running on a Linux distro for old hardware (e.g. Pappy Linux, Trisquel Mini, or antiX), or an educational distro for kiddos.
This is all I'm thinking on this PC upgrade and I will be delighted, to read your opinions on this topic. I' m open to any other easily made and cost effective upgrade approach, as although I have upgraded other PCs at past, all were more recent builds than this old runner. Thank you all for reading this post, can't wait to read your answers.