Computer help.

funkyass · Post by **funkyass** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 6:12 am

the case might be fine, you'd need a new power supply.

sweener2001 · Post by **sweener2001** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:00 am

tomshardware just did 500$ build article

clickage

probably has some excellent ideas

Gil_Hamilton · Post by **Gil_Hamilton** » Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:23 am

odditude wrote:
Gil_Hamilton wrote:Also...
Wouldn't a '98 case most likely be AT instead of ATX?
Not likely. Slot-1 AT motherboards are fairly rare, socket-370 ones even moreso. A 400MHz P-II or Celeron would be a second-generation chip, and the likelihood of an AT board supporting them is slim-to-none.

Ah.
I was riding the K6 series at that time.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:10 am

Just bought a 256mb PCI graphics card, and I bought a 1.4gh processor. Next I will buy a Hard drive. Then my computer will be up to par.

I.S.T. · Post by **I.S.T.** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:13 am

Up to par, no. Better, yes.

So, what was the graphics card? a GeForce 5200?

funkyass · Post by **funkyass** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:27 am

mike. stop being stupid. take the card back.

Resist the urge to spend now and save it. what you buy now for your current computer is junk and out of date long before you bought it. Hell, the video card itself is probably has more horsepower than your current CPU.

The only thing you can buy that can bring your computer to par is completly new one. Anything else is a waste of money.

I.S.T. · Post by **I.S.T.** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:29 am

That reminds me of something... Mike, did you get a PCI or PCI-Express card? They are not the same thing.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:41 am

I got a regular PCI. My computer doesn't take PCI-Express. I can't afford a new computer. I have a feeling If I save up and actually make enough to buy a new computer I wont want it. Right now I want a new computer but I don't know if I can save up, it'll take long.

I.S.T. · Post by **I.S.T.** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:45 am

You can build a PC INCLUDING OS for 500-600 bucks.

Hell, you can build one for less.

If you ever need help on that front... PM me.

So, what was the graphics card? Amount of ram on a graphics card doesn't really mean anything in regard to performance.

I'm speaking from personal experience here.

snkcube · Post by **snkcube** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:50 am

I.S.T. wrote:So, what was the graphics card? Amount of ram on a graphics card doesn't really mean anything in regard to performance.

I'm speaking from personal experience here.

He's right. If everything else is old and crappy, it doesn't really matter how much RAM the video card has. It's even worse when it's a PCI video card.

I.S.T. · Post by **I.S.T.** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 7:57 am

snkcube wrote:
I.S.T. wrote:So, what was the graphics card? Amount of ram on a graphics card doesn't really mean anything in regard to performance.

I'm speaking from personal experience here.
He's right. If everything else is old and crappy, it doesn't really matter how much RAM the video card has. It's even worse when it's a PCI video card.

It's more like the graphics card might not be able to properly utilize the 256 megs because the graphics card itself is too slow. 256 meg GeForce 5200s have been sold. There aren't many applications that would properly use 256 megs of ram on that card that would run fast with ram taken out of the equation...

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:52 pm

Yeah It's geforce FX 5200. Is that bad?

Post by **odditude** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 5:59 pm

The GeForce FX 5200 is the stripped-down, budget model of a series that was underpowered when it was introduced roughly 5 years ago.

Your 1.4GHz processor (I'm assuming a Tualatin/256-core Celeron, socket-370 with a metal heatspreader) will NOT work in your current motherboard. Install it at your own risk - the difference in power usage may cause damage to the processor and/or motherboard.

For the love of God, man, stop wasting money, deal with your existing hardware for another 6 months, and buy something decent.

sweener2001 · Post by **sweener2001** » Fri Apr 18, 2008 10:46 pm

sweener2001 wrote:tomshardware just did 500$ build article

clickage

probably has some excellent ideas

oh hey

I.S.T. · Post by **I.S.T.** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:21 am

Mike wrote:Yeah It's geforce FX 5200. Is that bad?

For running games made in 2001 and before, it's OK.

Gil_Hamilton · Post by **Gil_Hamilton** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 5:58 am

sweener2001 wrote:tomshardware just did 500$ build article

clickage

probably has some excellent ideas

"A little overclocking is much less dangerous than the use of dubious-quality components"

A LITTLE overclocking? They have an E2160. There's nothing little about the overclocks on those.
Their heatsink really isn't necessary, though. Those things will routinely get 80-100% overclocks on the stock cooler.

Personally, I stuck a Scythe Ninja on mine. But that's because I wanted a quiet PC. Hard to go wrong with a part intended to passively cool a Pentium 4.

sweener2001 · Post by **sweener2001** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 6:38 pm

i haven't really read it in depth, nor do i know that much about components these days, but there seemed to be a few solid ideas in there.

and it's honestly a lot better than throwing money at this old computer.

I.S.T. · Post by **I.S.T.** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 7:59 am

Gil_Hamilton wrote:
sweener2001 wrote:tomshardware just did 500$ build article

clickage

probably has some excellent ideas
"A little overclocking is much less dangerous than the use of dubious-quality components"

A LITTLE overclocking? They have an E2160. There's nothing little about the overclocks on those.
Their heatsink really isn't necessary, though. Those things will routinely get 80-100% overclocks on the stock cooler.

Personally, I stuck a Scythe Ninja on mine. But that's because I wanted a quiet PC. Hard to go wrong with a part intended to passively cool a Pentium 4.

I've got mine OCed by 1.2 ghz via FSB OCing. It's awesome.

Stock cooler, too.

Edit: WTF? They had to increase the voltage to OC? I've got mine on stock voltage. They got a shitty 2160.

declan · Post by **declan** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:20 am

Hey Mike.
My dads computer was a peice of sh**! I wanted to give i a make over, with new CPU, new Mobo and new RAM.

So i checked eBay, and i found a mad package..... AMD Anthlon 64, ASUS Mobo, 1GB RAM..... $200..... FREE postage!

I'll seeif i can dig up the specs for ya...

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:05 pm

odditude wrote:The GeForce FX 5200 is the stripped-down, budget model of a series that was underpowered when it was introduced roughly 5 years ago.

Your 1.4GHz processor (I'm assuming a Tualatin/256-core Celeron, socket-370 with a metal heatspreader) will NOT work in your current motherboard. Install it at your own risk - the difference in power usage may cause damage to the processor and/or motherboard.

For the love of God, man, stop wasting money, deal with your existing hardware for another 6 months, and buy something decent.

You are good, but why wont it work?

funkyass · Post by **funkyass** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:28 pm

it won't work because your motherboard would supply too much voltage, in essence frying the CPU.

your current CPU is using 2 volts, the most the 1.4 Tualatin can take is 1.75 for like a few seconds.

You have nothing as a base to upgrade with; you are stuck buying a new computer. Either start saving or get a better job.

Or both. I recommend that if you want to pay car insurance.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 8:56 pm

I mean I bought the stuff for cheap. But I guess I will just save up

Post by **odditude** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:34 pm

Mike wrote:I mean I bought the stuff for cheap. But I guess I will just save up

Good choice.

Next time, ask us BEFORE you spend any money.

funkyass · Post by **funkyass** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:43 pm

Mike wrote:I mean I bought the stuff for cheap. But I guess I will just save up

you didn't buy anything for cheap.

Mike · Post by **Mike** » Tue Apr 22, 2008 12:04 am

I guess It wasn't cheap If it wasn't worth buying, huh.

I still can't even run the HQ filter on zsnes without experiencing sluggish game play.