Teaching an Old case new Specs (Needing assistance with choosing a new motherboard for an old tower)

traeman2000

Commendable
Apr 23, 2016
2
0
1,510
My mother gave me her old computer and I would like to make it a faster more up to date computer. I will just be scrapping the tower primarily and looking to upgrade the interior, however I can't seem to find a motherboard to fit into the old tower. The current specs are as follows:

Case:
Cisnet
Mini ITX Form
Production year 2004

Motherboard:
Biostar K8VGA-M - Socket 754
3 x PCI
1 x AGP 8x
2 x DIMM

Processor:
AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3000, 2.0 GHz

Video Card:
NVIDIA GeForce FX 5500

As it stands the case information is all I can find, however the motherboard maxes out the casings thresholds. I understand that I am working in the 'reverse order' on building my PC, but sentimental right lol.

I have found a processor that I would like to put in it, but it is an AM3+, and am uncertain if there is even a motherboard (I certain can't find one) that would fit the tower and still allow me those PCI slots. I would appreciate advise where it maybe available.
 
Solution
Biostar K8VGA-M - motherboard - micro ATX form factor.

Cisnet desktop computers were low-cost machines sold by many distributors, such as CompUSA. Your case is likely some mini-tower model. Mini-tower cases fit micro-ATX form factor motherboards.

ASRock 970M Pro3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157582
This model uses the AMD 970 + AMD SB950 chipset.

There are lots of micro-ATX AM3+ motherboards with the AMD 760G + SB710 chipset. This one has two PCI slots.
ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131942

Motherboards with 3 PCI slots may have been popular in 2004 but aren't today. This ATX form factor model has three PCI slots but will require a mid-tower case.
ASUS M5A97...
Biostar K8VGA-M - motherboard - micro ATX form factor.

Cisnet desktop computers were low-cost machines sold by many distributors, such as CompUSA. Your case is likely some mini-tower model. Mini-tower cases fit micro-ATX form factor motherboards.

ASRock 970M Pro3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157582
This model uses the AMD 970 + AMD SB950 chipset.

There are lots of micro-ATX AM3+ motherboards with the AMD 760G + SB710 chipset. This one has two PCI slots.
ASUS M5A78L-M/USB3
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131942

Motherboards with 3 PCI slots may have been popular in 2004 but aren't today. This ATX form factor model has three PCI slots but will require a mid-tower case.
ASUS M5A97 PLUS
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA24G3KG5334

If your looking at the low-end stuff, some of the motherboards only support 95 watt TDP CPUs. You should refer to the CPU Support List of that motherboard.
 
Solution

Plumboby

Respectable
Apr 18, 2016
1,079
0
2,660
go with the gigabyte h81 micro atx haswell i just built 1 in an old tower shell out buy a new psu to suit ur case they are around decent video card & 2 decent case fans they dont get warm i spent $630 nz using an i3 on a gtx video card old case easiest conversion i have done & for gaming go impressive blown me away with the get up & go power do ur research & buy ur parts to suit ur budget & case go intel as they cost a bit more but run realy cool paired with an nvidia card compared to how hot AMD gets