My first PC ever built is sort of unusable in its current state, and there are a few things I could do:

  • Update necessary parts and keep it as a retro-media-compatible PC/nas/server. I love how it has a floppy drive!
  • Get rid of it and save money

If I wanted to replace it, I would need to get at minimum:

  • motherboard
  • ram
  • CPU

I’m hoping I can keep using the following parts, some of which have been updated over the years:

  • pcie 2.0 graphics card
  • 500 W power supply
  • monitor / peripherals
  • optical / floppy drives
  • SSD / HDD
  • ATX case (the original case and motherboard PCI slots never lined up quite correctly…) Cooler Master centurion (?)

I’ve never done anything like this, and last time I built a PC was in 2006. I lack a lot of knowledge…

  1. Is my case likely to be compatible with a modern motherboard?
  2. Can I buy a modern motherboard/CPU that will be compatible with this other stuff?
  3. Would it be less expensive to buy another used PC and use its motherboard/CPU ?