[CLUE-Tech] Hardware Questions

[Jeffery Cann]

Greetings.

<disclaimer> I typically build a new box every 3-4 years, so I am rarely 
up-to-date on the specs of x86 hardware. </disclaimer>

I have a PII / 350 with about 384 MB of RAM.  It just turned four and it is 
feeling a bit sluggish.

If I purchase a new processor (maybe an Athalon), will my memory be unusable? 
 Probably not a big deal, given the cheap RAM prices.  Can folks give me some 
impressions / recommendations on what you are running?

I think I will I have to buy a new motherboard because my PII is a slot 1 
interface.  I suspect that slot 1 died with PII and the 'standard' went back 
to pins.

I have no problem swapping a board out of my machine, so can folks recommend 
a good, local (cheap) computer shop (not like CompUSA), that sells components?

Finally, can folks recommend web sites where I can get up-to-date on x86 
specs?  Google searches produce way too many results.  I am looking to filter 
out the chaff.

Thanks in advance.
Jeff