[K12OSN] CPU envy

[anthony baldwin <anthonybaldwin snet net>]

Okay,
I'm having that old feeling of CPU envy again.  I'm presently running a 
Pentium 3 1ghz with 512mb ram.  The mobo is whatever was included with 
this Compaq when I bought it 3 years ago, but I have ugraded to it's 
maximum potential (was a celeron 600mhz with only 32mb ram). So the mobo 
must go!

I'm eyeing this: 
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=638353&Sku=MBM-P4MDPT-C2000

It's a CPU/Mobo combo with a Celeron 2.0ghz.  The link gives all the 
details.  My present Mobo has onboard audio & video, so I'm looking at a 
similar mobo solution, in order to avoid the expense and hassle of 
installing separate sound and video cards/drivers, but I want to check 
the compatibility to make sure that I can run this board. The price is 
within my near grasp (when tax money comes).  I would have to purchase a 
new fan and ram, too.  Altogether, I suspect that should still be 
cheaper than buying a new machine, but I'd have to add it all up. 
Really, the mobo/cpu bundle, a fan and 1ghz of ram could run over $200, 
couldn't it?    (Now I mention it, I do think I've seen faster machines 
than mine preloaded with Lindows, which would come right off in favor of 
K12, of course, for around $200, and they are tempting.  I've seen those 
at Tigerdirect and at Walmart.com.  Lycoris is also selling cheap PCs 
now, I think....enough rambling.)

As far as I understand, too, I can install a new board and cpu without 
doing a fresh install, right?  I mean, the kernel will detect the 
difference and adjust accordingly, won't it?  This is what I've been 
told, and I'm amazed by that, considering that, afaik, the new board 
should require new video and sound drivers, etc.  Or would I be required 
to reconfigure the Xserver and sound by hand?  That would make more 
sense than to expect this to be done automagically, but if it does occur 
automagically, I'll be both grateful and amazed.
I am sure that backing up all crucial files before this undertaking 
would be wise anyway, then if I do have to do a fresh install, I won't 
lose anything.  I've had difficulty tar/gzipping things due to my own 
ignorance and difficulty in translating man pages into the common 
tongue.  I've only upgraded the hardware (besides adding ram and simple 
stuff like that) with the old win98, which I wiped last summer.  I've 
had this same mobo and the P3 since slightly before I started running 
linux two years ago.  This is the first computer I've ever owned, so my 
experience is limited, even though I did build a computer around the old 
celeron I swapped out (for my daughter, on which she loves to play 
Gcompris, Tuxpaint, Stickers, Tuxtype, Ktuberling and more.)

I guess mostly I'm asking for suggestions regarding upgrading my 
machine, especially simple solutions for swapping out the mobo/cpu 
without incurring great expense or hardship.
I'll likely put this mobo/cpu into my daughter's machine upon upgrade, 
then donate the celeron and mobo she has to my ltsp project at school.
Part of me says I'd buy a whole new machine if I could, but I can hardly 
justify the expense.  Upgrading seems the best option.  I guess my mind 
isn't completely made up yet.  I just feel the need for more speed.  Any 
hardware that becomes obsolete here at home will likely go to school.

Now that I've babbled and jawed, I'd like to express my gratitude for 
any time you've already wasted reading this mess, in addition to any you 
spend actually dignifying this drivel with a reply.

--
Anthony Baldwin

http://www.School-Library.net
Freedom to Learn!