Worth Motherboard Replacement


  1. Posts : 172
    Windows 7 Home premium 64bit SP 1
       #1

    Worth Motherboard Replacement


    Hello all, I'm installing a SSD drive in my old Gateway GT5676 and would like to know if there is available, or if it's even worth upgrading to a board that includes SATA 3GB/s ports?
    The present board is the stock Gateway Foxconn (Bengal) RS780 Motherboard with SATA II only.

    I'm only considering this because this PC has many upgrades and has been pretty good to me over the years.
    I know the SSD drive will work with my present on-board SATAII Ports, the question is will there be a noticeable difference that would make it worth changing my mother board to go full speed?

    I recently read about a sata expansion card for PCIe to sata 3, but but a video card uses that connection.
    My thoughts were if I could find a compatible board that would take all my other hardware, but offer sata3
    I could just mount the new board and plug all my old hardware in and be done with it.

    Any advise?
    Thanks
    N2
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,101
    W7 home premium 32bit/W7HP 64bit/w10 tp insider ring
       #2

    Another thing to think about is your licence it is tied to your motherboard,ie new motherboard new licence,. (unless its retail)

    Roy
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #3

    Hi,
    Might be better off waiting and do a new build than to mess with an old system even though some upgrades have been done,
    Best thing you might can do is get a small ssd and put on the older system
    Save the 500gb for the new system and new install disk

    That's pretty much how new builds start piece by piece :)
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 172
    Windows 7 Home premium 64bit SP 1
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Yep, you guys are right, completely spaced out the COA, In the old days you could call MS and tell them you had installed a new MB and they would give you a new COA!

    I don't do any gaming or graphics rendering so I'm pretty sure the SATA II will still be an improvement over the disc drive!
    Thanks
    N2
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 25,847
    Windows 10 Pro. 64/ version 1709 Windows 7 Pro/64
       #5

    I have run SSD's on Sata II and it's still extremely faster than a hard drive.
    I wouldn't update a old motherboard on a old system just to get Sata III.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #6

    What SSD did you order?

    You've got a 7 or 8 year old Gateway case.

    It's anybody's guess whether or not a new motherboard or power supply would bolt right in with no compatibility issues. Maybe or maybe not.

    The point is:

    If your motherboard failed tomorrow, you should plan on getting a new case and power supply as well. Or be prepared to do a lot of Googling to try to confirm that your antique case would have no compatibility issues with a new PSU and motherboard.

    OEMs are known for using non-standard stuff, particularly those 3 components and particularly if they are quite old--as yours are.

    Your next upgrade would likely be new case, power supply, motherboard, processor, RAM, and operating system. Keeping pretty much nothing other than hard drives. But it's OK to run what you have now until it drops dead.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 172
    Windows 7 Home premium 64bit SP 1
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Thanks everybody! some great advise here.
    I have upgraded almost everything in this box, but the MoBoard and Processor. So maybe the SSD will be my last step.
    Thanks to everyone for all the great help!
    N2
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 20,583
    Win-7-Pro64bit 7-H-Prem-64bit
       #8

    I'm sure just the ssd will make the most difference :)
      My Computer


 

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