F5F Stay Refreshed Hardware Desktop Refresh an old HP Pavilion A700N PC

Refresh an old HP Pavilion A700N PC

Refresh an old HP Pavilion A700N PC

T
TheSharkMen
Junior Member
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4
08-18-2018, 07:05 AM
#1
Hey there! This is my first time sharing updates, sorry for the length. I was organizing the basement when I discovered my very first PC—a HP Pavilion A700N. After connecting it, it started up smoothly and booted into Windows XP without any issues. Although this old machine feels like a relic from another era, I’m excited to experiment with it. I attempted to install Windows 10 but ran into problems because it lacks sufficient RAM. So I decided to give Linux a shot, and it’s working fine with Ubuntu version 18 (it’s not perfect).

I’m completely aware that upgrading this outdated system in 2024 isn’t practical, but I thought it could be fun to play retro games or even turn it into a home server. I’ll share as much detail as possible below and let you know what assistance I need.

Current specs:
- CPU: AMD Athlon XP 3000+ (32-bit)
- Motherboard: Asus A7V8X-LA
- RAM: 1x512MB, 400MHz CL3 DDR
- Storage: 1x256MB, 333MHz CL2.5 DDR

I’m wondering if it’s feasible to upgrade any components—preferably the power supply, CPU, storage, and maybe add a graphics card. If anyone has suggestions or knows better options, I’d really appreciate it!

For RAM, I found a pair of 1GB sticks on Amazon from OFFTEK for around $2700. That would be ideal.

And a big thank you if someone can tell me whether the BIOS upgrade is possible (currently version 3.0). Any advice would mean a lot to me!
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T
TheSharkMen
08-18-2018, 07:05 AM #1

Hey there! This is my first time sharing updates, sorry for the length. I was organizing the basement when I discovered my very first PC—a HP Pavilion A700N. After connecting it, it started up smoothly and booted into Windows XP without any issues. Although this old machine feels like a relic from another era, I’m excited to experiment with it. I attempted to install Windows 10 but ran into problems because it lacks sufficient RAM. So I decided to give Linux a shot, and it’s working fine with Ubuntu version 18 (it’s not perfect).

I’m completely aware that upgrading this outdated system in 2024 isn’t practical, but I thought it could be fun to play retro games or even turn it into a home server. I’ll share as much detail as possible below and let you know what assistance I need.

Current specs:
- CPU: AMD Athlon XP 3000+ (32-bit)
- Motherboard: Asus A7V8X-LA
- RAM: 1x512MB, 400MHz CL3 DDR
- Storage: 1x256MB, 333MHz CL2.5 DDR

I’m wondering if it’s feasible to upgrade any components—preferably the power supply, CPU, storage, and maybe add a graphics card. If anyone has suggestions or knows better options, I’d really appreciate it!

For RAM, I found a pair of 1GB sticks on Amazon from OFFTEK for around $2700. That would be ideal.

And a big thank you if someone can tell me whether the BIOS upgrade is possible (currently version 3.0). Any advice would mean a lot to me!

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K
kaloood23
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165
08-18-2018, 11:42 PM
#2
This design closely matches the motherboard and arrangement I previously discovered.
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K
kaloood23
08-18-2018, 11:42 PM #2

This design closely matches the motherboard and arrangement I previously discovered.

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H
HeadshotGames
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198
08-19-2018, 02:07 PM
#3
This seems to be a task assigned to @da na.
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H
HeadshotGames
08-19-2018, 02:07 PM #3

This seems to be a task assigned to @da na.

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P
Pigboy123
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61
08-21-2018, 05:59 AM
#4
Drivers and BIOS: HP Pavilion a700.dk Desktop PC Software and Driver Downloads | HP® It's best not to turn it into a home server. Suitable for older games, possibly works well with a mid-range card like a Radeon 9200. Avoid purchasing vintage components from Amazon—they're much pricier there. Consider buying used parts on eBay instead.
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P
Pigboy123
08-21-2018, 05:59 AM #4

Drivers and BIOS: HP Pavilion a700.dk Desktop PC Software and Driver Downloads | HP® It's best not to turn it into a home server. Suitable for older games, possibly works well with a mid-range card like a Radeon 9200. Avoid purchasing vintage components from Amazon—they're much pricier there. Consider buying used parts on eBay instead.

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