kona0197 kona0197

So the computer finally is showing it's age

▼

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.

1,125,178 views 739 replies
Reply #451 from WinCustomize Forums Top

How am I supposed to do anything in Windows 7 without a mouse? :(

Reply #452 from WinCustomize Forums Top

How did you install Win 7 in the first place? Install, shut down, plug mouse in, restart.

Start11 - Customize the Start Menu and Taskbar in Windows 10/11.
Reply #453 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 451
How am I supposed to do anything in Windows 7 without a mouse?

You're kidding, right?  Try this along with Tab & Enter and you'll do fine.

Reply #454 from WinCustomize Forums Top

so, who's going to fly to Oregon and fix kona's new free rig for him?

Reply #455 from WinCustomize Forums Top

No worries guys. I turned off the computer, plugged in my USB mouse, and restarted Windows 7 setup from scratch. Everything is working just fine. I have named this build the "Wincustomize" build. Here are some screenshots:

Reply #456 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Is that mouse a Lopgitech optical by any chance? That was what I experienced with the one I have. It had to be plugged in before startup or it didn't get recognized. Btw, congrats on the build. Like I thought, the gfx card is the weasest link but it should get you by. Sorry I didn't have something better laying around.

Thanks to all the fine people who pitched in here at WC to make this all happen for Terry. You all are a great bunch!!! 5* 5* :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Reply #457 from WinCustomize Forums Top

If you are running 64 bit Windows, go to the CPUZ site and on the right side of the page near the top, download the 64 bit portable (zip) version 1.63.0 x64, if using 32 bit, you can get it there also.

Reply #458 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Never mind, :blush: it has been explained to me in very few words. ;)

Reply #459 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting Wizard1956, reply 457
Ace or Starkers, why is the core speed so slow? 803.7 and the multiplier at x4.0 ? For comparison, my Phenom 9850BE is running at 2500.20 with a multiplier of 12.5, all stock, no OC, on an MSI 7376 mobo.

It could be that all 4 cores need to be activated in run> msconfig> boot > advanced options> No. of processors> tick box> select No. of cores.  I have found in the past that while all cores may appear in CPUZ, Windows is not necessarily seeing them all... enabling them in msconfig should resolve that.  If they're already registered, however, then it's probably a question for yrag or somebody more techy than I.

Reply #460 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting starkers, reply 459
a question for yrag
I already have an answer from that source " Cool and Quiet, dummy"  I just enabled on my rig, throttles down to 1300 MHz,  mutiplier of 6.25. I learned something and now my head hurts. ;P

Reply #461 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 455
No worries guys. I turned off the computer, plugged in my USB mouse, and restarted Windows 7 setup from scratch. Everything is working just fine. I have named this build the "Wincustomize" build. Here are some screenshots:



YAY WC and Kona!!!

Reply #462 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Starkers I did as you suggested. All four cores are running. I have no idea why they are running around 800 Mhz. Is there a fix? Now I am worried! :(

Reply #463 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Nevermind. I went into BIOS and turned off cool and quiet technology. Is there an easy to use program to control these fans? Very noisy little computer! It now shows 4 cores at 2.4 Ghz.

Reply #464 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 463
Is there an easy to use program to control these fans?
You already have something. Cool and Quiet.

yrag told me to enable it. I suggest you do the same.

Reply #465 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Quoting kona0197, reply 462
Starkers I did as you suggested. All four cores are running. I have no idea why they are running around 800 Mhz. Is there a fix? Now I am worried!
Quoting kona0197, reply 462
Starkers I did as you suggested. All four cores are running. I have no idea why they are running around 800 Mhz. Is there a fix? Now I am worried!

 

Kona, cool and quiet is designed to run at lower speeds until you need more power. It saves heat and wear on the CPU.

 

 

Reply #466 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Ok I will next time I restart. Thanks.

Reply #467 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Okay, we all learnt something... Cool and Quiet. 

Well I didn't really learn it. 

I already knew [thanks to yrag] but forgot due to C.R.A.F.T. disease... thanks for the timely reminder, Wiz. 

Yeah, I'm swapping out my AMD FX 8170 x8 later today for an AMD FX8350 x8 I recently swapped for a AMD Phenom II x6 1100T with my nephew... and ensuring Cool & Quiet is enabled is something I may have otherwise forgotten.

Reply #468 from WinCustomize Forums Top

It dropped my CPU idle temps from 50-52c to 39c. I also had to go into power settings and set it to Power Saver instead of High Performance.

Reply #469 from WinCustomize Forums Top

Oh yeah, kona, I'm just so pleased that the build all came together and all is running okay.  I'm also happy the CPU wasn't the reason the build with the other mobo didn't fire up.  I knew that it worked when I last used it, but it briefly became a concern that something could have happened during shipping when the build wouldn't boot up.  Oh well, all's well that ends well.

:)

Reply #470 from WinCustomize Forums Top

You should be able to set the core speed in setup also if it is off.Glad I missed all that dumb how to use a keyboard or I may have had to fly to Oregon, to slap you! To funny. Ahhh , life before a mouse!

 

Smokin setup, except for that video. Still okay though for almost anything normal users need.

 

Glad your up, I am anticipating that cpu upgrade on mine very soon, then, I will send you that cpu for the other board.

DT1

Reply #471 from WinCustomize Forums Top

I guess the only thing I would add besides a newer video card is a sound card. All of that in time I guess. For now this is a sweet machine. It flies. Leaves that old Pentium 4 in the dust. Now I can truly multitask, watch a YouTube video with no lag, play a game with no worries, and get some serious work done.

CPU temp at idle is around 122F. Is this normal?

A very big thank you to everyone that made this happen. I don't now what else to say. I will treasure this machine for years to come. Thank you so much!

Reply #472 from WinCustomize Forums Top

No onboard sound?

Should be some realtek or something. Checked your setup for it .? Would need mobo drivers for it, didn't Ace send a disk?

 

 

122? I think that is okay if you were playing a game or somehow using alot of cpu, otherwise I feel that is a bit warm. But, I have an A+ case with a 14"sidefan. 12"frontfan and several others all 120mm. Could maybe reposition the case so it gets better air flow around it. You are not in danger either though of overheating. On that note, you probably can set an alarm in bios for cpu temp, if not plenty of third party software .If you need fans , let me know.DT1

Reply #473 from WinCustomize Forums Top

That 7.2 cpu rating is giving me w _ _d .I can hardly wait now to get an upgrade. that has been my low score since I put this system together. I could not afford better at the time cpu wise.I would have a 6.9 with that cpu overall. Not that I lag now, much. But it happens.

Reply #474 from WinCustomize Forums Top

This is all giving me rebuild fever and I have tried to avoid that , thank you! All this shopping and research is a bad thing. You all know what I mean. Cutting edge technology gets a hold and there goes the mortgage payment! Better go to work, have a feeling I may need some extra cash soon!Catch up with kona and Starkers with their monster pc's.Have fun Kona.

Reply #475 from WinCustomize Forums Top

No I have onboard sound. The 3.5 mm jack for sound is so loose I may need to invest in a sound card sooner or later. The system has a 120mm up front, a 80mm in the rear, the PSU has a 120mm, and then there is the CPU and GPU fans. I don't think cooling is an issue.

Ace I went with the newer case, the case you sent is being put to good use as well.