Socket what?? (CPU sockets)

[GoneWest]

I'm considering the idea of trying to blow new life into an ageing computer.

It has two fairly modern hard drives, 72 pin 133SDRAM memory chips, CDRW, CD, SoundBlaster audio card, network card etc.

All the cards are PCI.

I'm thinking it will need a new motherboard, processor, AGP graphics card and a case (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?sku=B452-1018) to put them all in.

When I looked at a website (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?id=14) for motherboard/CPU "bundles" it started talking about "socket 370", "socket 478", "socket A" and "slot A".............hummpphhh.

What do I need to look for here?? What's the difference?

[ORAC]

CPUs plug into sockets. So the motherboard you get has to have the correct socket/chip set for the CPU you want.

The latest Pentium 4 socket is the 478.
The latest AMD socket is the socket A. Make sure it supports the AMD XP (same socket but different power).

Socket chart (http://users.erols.com/chare/sockets.htm)

[GoneWest]

Thanks, ORAC. I knew about the "square peg needs a square hole" theory (though hadn't considered the power question).

What I wondered is - of the options, is there a "better than the others option" - or is it just different manufacturers, different boards.

(That's why I was going for a pre configured bundle (http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?id=14) )

[ORAC]

Starts coming down to the chip sets on the motherboard. The latest chip sets support USB 2, 333Mhz memory etc. Best place to read up on it all is Toms hardware.

Tom's Hardware Motherboard Guide (http://www17.tomshardware.com/mainboard/index.html)