Upgrade Guide

Sure, you can upgrade various parts of your computer, but for the ultimate performance boost, a new motherboard--which, in turn, usually requires a new processor and new memory modules--is the answer.

The 100- and 133-MHz system buses on today's motherboards ease the bottleneck between the CPU and other internal components, such as system memory. Built-in extras, like high-speed parallel and USB ports, unclog the arteries leading to external peripherals.

If you want to keep your total cost down to about $350, look for a motherboard outfitted with an AMD K6-III-400 processor and 64MB of SDRAM. If you're willing to spend as much as $500, look for a motherboard with an Intel Pentium III-450 or -500 CPU and 128MB of SDRAM.

Before you buy, find out whether your PC case requires an AT or an ATX motherboard (see diagrams linked at right). If your system is more than two years old, it probably has an AT motherboard. In that case, you'll find a much greater selection of AT motherboards that support Socket 7 processors (like the K6-III and Cyrix's MII) than you will AT motherboards that support Slot 1 processors (such as Intel's Pentium II and III). If your PC is newer, it probably requires an ATX motherboard, and you can use one of the latest Slot 1 or Socket 370 processors. In the unlikely event that your PC case takes neither an AT nor an ATX motherboard, you'll probably have to replace your system's power supply and case.

Upgrading your motherboard is an advanced-level project. Figure on devoting half a day and plenty of patience to the project. If you're reasonably comfortable with multiple intricate steps and working with basic tools, you can probably pull it off, though having a hardware-savvy friend on hand (or at least available by phone) is good insurance.

Of course, before you install your new motherboard, back up your hard disk.