kona0197 kona0197

So the computer finally is showing it's age

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So the computer finally is showing it's age

from WinCustomize Forums

It's taken me awhile to start this thread, sorry. I know this may end up in flame wars. Again I am sorry.

So everyone knows my situation. Well those close to me on this site do. My computer is finally showing signs of how old it truly is. Keep in mind my computer has a Pentium 4 processor so I am guessing this setup to be almost ten years old. The problem, even after a few friends helped me here with a new hard drive and more memory, is the rest of the system. The processor can't keep up with the newer operating systems. I'm having a hard time just running XP. Found out the other day my DVD Burner drive is almost dead as it will read disc sometimes and other times it will not. Monitor is on it's last legs as well. Hard to read anything and the brightness is going out. It's an old CRT Dell monitor that is almost as old as the tower.

As Starkers had told you this computer is my main way to communicate with the things that are important in my life. So I was hoping someone out there had a few newer parts I could install to extend the life of the machine a bit. Nothing special. I already have DDR2 memory and a newer hard drive. Just need a few other things.

So carry on. Discuss I guess.

1,124,860 views 739 replies
Reply #301 from Stardock Forums Top

Quoting ernie, reply 301
Did you hook up the second power connection, if you have an old power supply it would must likely require an adapter ?

 

Yup ernie leo is correct, older PSU's don't have all of the needed plugs and will need an adapter.  The secondary power connection is usually behind the CPU towards the back of the case.

Reply #302 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The old PSU had two power connectors. The new one has two as well. Both were plugged in. Seriously guys I think the mobo is dead. I have nuked my new hard drive, and I think I will just install Linux to turn the machine into a Internet terminal and music player at this point until we figure out what we are going to do. No sense installing Windows now only to reinstall it again down the road.

Any ideas on a fix? I guess I need a AM2+ mobo. I would send the old one back if I could afford it.

By the way a big thank you to DoorTech. This LCD monitor rocks. :)

Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #303 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Kona, I do not believe for one minute 3btech refurbished a board and it is dead now. If the cpu is not compatible, which it is not, you would get no post beeps . So, lets lean that direction.

 

I said if you checked on it, they will probably just send you a prepaid shipping label, so no cost, and maybe we could exchange it. Just a thought on a easier way to get you going.

 

Also, I apologize for my reading errors again.

 

Can you do some searching on cpus for that board, ebay or elsewhere, see whats available.

 

Wizard, or whoever corrected me, my bad on the processor, it is amd, but, not dual core, would fit maybe , I will dig it out if needed to make sure I am not remembering it wrong.

 

I have a AMD Athlonx2 in my machine. If that is compatible with yours, I may consider upgrading and send you my old one. Its early and I can not think yet, so if this is jibberish I apologize. Will mine fit?

 

I will check with you after work. Keep positive man, we will get it working.

 

Last thing, do any of the case fans that plug directly to the board or the cpu fan work when powered up? If so, this would indicate something is flowing through the board, meaning cpu could be the only setback.

Reply #304 from WinCustomize Forums Top

The part that is confusing me is the x2, is that the same as am2+. Anyone?

Reply #305 from WinCustomize Forums Top

*If you use AM2+ CPU on AM2 chipset motherboard, the system bus speed will downgrade from HT3.0 (5200 MT/s) to HT1.0 (2000 MT/s), but the CPU frequency will not be influenced.

 

 

Just found this, it was at 3btech printed under that board I mentioned. Kinda implies the processor should work. That would mean a bad board. I hope you check that return policy and details. Let me know, us know.

Reply #306 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting doortech1, reply 303
Kona, I do not believe for one minute 3btech refurbished a board and it is dead now. If the cpu is not compatible, which it is not, you would get no post beeps . So, lets lean that direction.

Sounds good, and I agree.

Quoting doortech1, reply 303
Last thing, do any of the case fans that plug directly to the board or the cpu fan work when powered up?

Yes the CPU fan spins up. I do not have a case fan plugged in to the board., The board also will shut down if the power button is held down. Reset button also works. Just no beeps.

I think the baord and CPU are not compatible. All I could find is that this board works with AMD X2 and Sempron CPUs. No mention of this board running a Phenom CPU.

Up and running with Fedora 18 Linux for the time being. Not sure what to do. Pulling my hair out. Think I shed a tear or two.

Reply #307 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Do we want a board from the same place if it is a bad board?

 

My cpu will fit, but if the board is bad, no help, and if the board is bad, that means the info is probably right and the cpu you have will fit if you just had a good board.

 

That kinda leaves us at the mercy of return procedure and you have the invoice, so could you check on the details of return and exchange.

Reply #308 from WinCustomize Forums Top

At this point I don't know if the board is bad. I will not know until we put a AM2 CPU in it to see if it will fire up. As for the RMA process I can request a RMA form but I will still have to send it back. I can't do that.

So I guess my options are to use Fedora or Windows XP. I thought I would be done using XP by now. Sigh.

Thanks for the help guys. Sorry.

 

Reply #309 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Okay, first apologies for being all over the place, very confusing.

 

I did some research and my board is an am2+ socket with support for amd socket939/940/am2/754and socket F. which means I am in good position boardwise to upgrade as it supports phenom cpus and such.

 

Also , the processor I have will run yours, it is dual core 3.0 gig125wattcpu amdx2{dual core} I think that is the x2 reference.

 

Which also means your board which I did not see in specs, does not support am2+, .

 

So, let me, after work and I am already late, oh well, check which route is better. An upgrade for me or just a cpu or different board for you.

 

Still you could check that return policy, would help greatly and I will help with costs, but I am hoping for free exchange. Just keep me updated somehow and I will chat after work, DT1, :grin:

Reply #310 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 308
As for the RMA process I can request a RMA form but I will still have to send it back. I can't do that.

It should cost less than $5.00 to ship it ground to anywhere in the US...you really can't afford that?

Reply #311 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Nope. I have maybe a quarter to my name. Sorry.

Reply #312 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 306
I think the baord and CPU are not compatible. All I could find is that this board works with AMD X2 and Sempron CPUs. No mention of this board running a Phenom CPU.

That's what I got when I did a bit of checking, that the Phenom II series is not backwards compatible to AM2.  I have a vague recollection that they are forward compatible to AM3, just not the other way.  Anyway, let's see if we can get this current board exchanged for an AM2+ one... I'm sure that'll get the business done... just like when I swapped the AM3 and AM3+ CPU's to their respective sockets.

 

Reply #313 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Might be an issue getting them exchanged. I don't recall where I put the receipt and besides I am not the one that bought it. Did I ruin the board by running that CPU in it? Or did I burn out the CPU?

Reply #314 from WinCustomize Forums Top

What speed is your ram? The new motherboard only supports DDR2 800

Reply #315 from WinCustomize Forums Top

is the vendor 3btech in south bend? i've dealt with them before....many years ago. after that experience, i'll never deal with them again. i actually took a mobo and cpu in to their office/display building to prove they didn't work (they're only an hour or so up the road). even though they admitted the units didn't work, they still refused a refund because i had waited 3 or 4 days after taking delivery of the items before bringing things to their attention. sorry, i had kidney stone surgery before i worked on the person's rig. you can bet your rear end they were reported to the BBB as soon as i got home.

Reply #316 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I have an ASUS  M2N-SLI Motherboard already mounted in a ThermalTake - WingsRS Tower. It is compatible with AMD2 and AMD2+ CPU. I had an AMD Phenom 9500 Quad core mounted in it. There is also an extra fan in the case and some extra wires/cables as well. It works fine. I was merely storing it because I upgraded my system. It does not have onboard Video. A seperate video card is required. Don't know if that is a problem, but I can ship it all if interested.    -- Ace ---

Reply #317 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Mighty nice of you Ace, that is some good equipment. He has a Radeon GFX card I sent to him that is PCI-e. Will that work?

Reply #318 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Yes ,  The board has 3 PCI-e slots and 1 PCI slot and supports to 16 gig of memory , and is also compatible to all Radeon cards and supports SLI graphics card configurations.    - Ace -

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Reply #319 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Okay, Kona, it is your decision as far as I am concerned. You have been very thankful to all who contributed and that goes a long way with me. You should not feel bad or anything. If you want to take Ace up on his most generous offer, you would have a good system!Better than what we were getting. Sure it sucks for me kinda, but, you are happy with the monitor, so I would only be out like 60 bucks because you will find a use for the case I am sure. Maybe a second system down the road for just xp or something.

 

 

 

Or, we can proceed to the next logical step which to me seems to be a different board if your ram is compatible, that way you can use Starkers CPU,which is faster than what the board you have takes. Let me search a bit on possibility of shipping arrangements. Last resort, I could send you a prepaid credit card with enough for shipping on it, but would take time with mailing and all.

 

I have one more thought and it would have to include Starkers.

 

 

I send you a credit card with shipping money, you send me starkers CPU, I send you mine, his will work on my board.

 

Just let me know, DT1

Reply #320 from WinCustomize Forums Top

By the way, it should not have hurt anything, board or cpu or ram.

Reply #321 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting ernie, reply 314
What speed is your ram? The new motherboard only supports DDR2 800

 

 

Also supports 667\533

Reply #322 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Ace...you been gone awhile dude. Good to see you again!

I should have an answer tomorrow about the funds for shipping Win7. As soon as I do its off to Oregon. I put it in a Jewel case with the product key.

Reply #323 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting AceMatrix, reply 316
I have an ASUS M2N-SLI Motherboard already mounted in a ThermalTake - WingsRS Tower. It is compatible with AMD2 and AMD2+ CPU.

Is that board compatible with DDR2 667 memory? That's all I have.

Reply #324 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Yes it is. I was running DDR2 800 memory when I was using it. The board is specifically designed for DDR2.     -- Ace -- 

 

 

 

 

Reply #325 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Ace - I don't want to step on any toes around here. If you could just send the mobo that would be cool. That way I can still use the new case I got from Doortech.