I don't know where the cost/muscle trade off comes out on:
(A) replacing my motherboard, memory and CPU as a package, reusing what I can from the current system; vs.
(B) upgrading the CPU and memory and adding a RAID card to this motherboard.
The downside of trying to replace the motherboard is that I've never done it - and while I'm reasonably technically proficient on the software side - I only know enough to be dangerous on the hardware side.
That said, I generally like to make infrequent major stepchanges in my system as oopposed to little steps (she was pretty state-of-the-art, for my purposes, when I bought her 4.5 year ago). If the cost of going to a new motherboard were more, butr not a lot more, and it yielded a lot more muscle, it might make sense.
I use the box primarily for:
(A) writing music (Gigastudio, Cuebase, Sibelius, migrating toward ProTools, etc.)
(B) producing videos with ProShow Producer
My ideal is:
Fastest possible combination that includes:
(a) 64 bit OS
(b) 4 GB memory
(c) ability to connect all 5 of my raptors (currently have 5 in the case)
(d) rehabilitating RAID (the inbuilt RAID controller died
As a secondary question, there are updates available for my bios - but I'm a little afraid to apply them
(a) are there risks to updating the bios?
(b) if you recommend upgrading it, are there any tips of which I should be aware?
Here's what I have:
OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows XP Professional Service Pack 3 (build 2600)
PROCESSOR: 2.20 gigahertz AMD Athlon 64; 128k primary cache; 512k secondary cache
MOTHERBOARD : ASUSTeK Computer INC. A8N-SLI DELUXE 1.XX; Clock: 200 megahertz
BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD ASUS A8N-SLI DELUXE ACPI BIOS Revision 1002 11/26/2004
MEMORY: 1024 Megabytes Installed Memory
Slot 'A0': 512 MB - DDR400 (PC3200)
Slot 'A1': Empty
Slot 'A2': 512 MB - DDR400 (PC3200)
Slot 'A3': Empty
CONTROLLERS:
Standard floppy disk controller
Primary IDE Channel [Controller] (3x)
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller] (3x)
Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller (3x)
DRIVES:
(5) Hard Drives: WDC WD740GD-00FLA1 (74.35 GB)
(2) DVD/CD-ROM: NEC DVD_RW ND-3520A
Floppy drive: 3.5"
DISPLAY:
(2) CONNECT 3D RADEON X300
MULTIMEDIA:
Realtek AC'97 Audio
RME Fireface 800
Thanks in advance!