Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

My PC has finally given up the ghost, when I turn it on, the lights come on, the hard drive LED is solid, and the power button won't turn it off, and the DVD drive won't open.
It's an old AMD 64 3200 if memory serves, so I guess time to get a new one, unless anyone has any ideas?

This was the last PC I built, so as you can tell, it's been a while, and I've no idea what CPU's are out there at the moment.
I'd like to stick with AMD, and it doesn't have to be top of the range, I've got 1.5 GB of PC 3200 that I'd like to keep, and I'll need a new graphics card.
Any suggestions?

Budget is around £200

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Have you made sure it is not the power supply.
It could be on it's last legs.

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

That was my first thought, tried a brand new one with no luck before I posted :(
Checked all the connections etc, tried it with no IDE devices attached, no PCI cards, only the AGP, still no joy.
MB is an Asus K8V SE Deluxe

I've looked at replacement S754 boards, but all the ones I have found only have 2 DIMM slots, and I'd like to fit my 3 in there as I use memory intensive programs.

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

If that's old, my 1800XP must be ancient :o

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

my xp2600 is fubared, too, presumably - I still get TV, though ;)

I have PC3200 memory, too ;)

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Tried a clear cmos? I have that board.

You could also try the reset thing that seems to work more than you suppose it might... power lead out, hold in power button for 20 seconds and try again.

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

No joy with either.

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Sounds like the board's fubared then.

Any blown caps?

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Xaccers: I'm assuming the thing nffc suggested is specific to your motherboard [most motherboards usually have a jumper for clearing the CMOS, or in the case of some newer 1s a button on the mobo], but there's something similar you could try. Does your PSU have a power switch on the back? If so, turn it off, then unplug, wait a few secs, plug back in, & turn the switch on again, then try powering up. Don't ask me why, but that's worked on more than 1 machine.

<edit>
Unless you get a second hand or just as-yet-unsold socket 939 board, I doubt you'll find a socket AM2 board that can take PC3200. Having said that, I think there might be 1, made by Asrock. I know it has the capability to take either a s939 or AM2 CPU [you need to buy a seperate adapter card to use an AM2 with it], &...
<goes & looks>
Ah, yes, I was right about the CPUs, & it does take DDR1.
That's not a recommendation, BTW - just letting you know there is 1 that will do what you want, no idea what it's like.
</edit>

<edit2>
BTW, it also has both PCI-E & AGP, though you can't use both at the same time.
</edit2>

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Yep its your Motherboard. Hopefully the CPU etc are fine, so you will only need a replacement Mobo.

Do remember to use risers when placing the mobo onto the case :) And earth yourself :)

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Looks like I'll be dropping to 1GB of RAM then with the S754 boards I've found :(

Anyone care to suggest a good PCI-E graphics card?

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Define "good". What sort of budget are we talking about here?

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

£100-150

Able to play games like Half life 2 and Quake 4, also Dark Star One.

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

There is some 7800 cards with 512mb RAM going around these days for under 100 quid.

I think Gigabyte are the ones doing them.

Or you could get a couple of older series 7xxx cards or Xxxx ATI and SLI them.


EDIT: Sorry 7600 not 7800

---------- Post added at 08:10 ---------- Previous post was at 08:04 ----------

http://www.dabs.com/productview.aspx...avigationKey=0

Cheapest I could find for that card.

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Not bad, thanks :)

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Another option for you would be to recycle your RAM and existing graphics card by using the Asrock Dual bus (AGP/PCI-E) S775 (core2duo/p4D) motherboard

Discussed previously here:

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/19...re-around.html

Works a treat for me. :)

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

:( ive touted that board for ages never get a mention on it though ;)

---------- Post added at 09:26 ---------- Previous post was at 09:23 ----------

X1950xt dude :) sorry only been able to pop on over the last few days so missed this thread

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Hmm, price tag is more than the components of a new PC!

So far I'm thinking of replacing everything with the following (care of Scan):


LN15975
AMD AM2 Athlon 64 3800+ Windsor Core, Dual Core 2GHz, 2x 512KB Cache, OEM Energy Edfficient £61.79

LN15777
Asus M2N, NF430, S AM2, PCI-E (x16), DDR2 533/667/800, SATA II, SATA RAID, ATX £49.53

LN14370
Zalman CNPS9500-AM2 AMD Aero Flower Cooler, AM2/939/754 £30.42

LN17135
1Gb Micron Major, DDR2 PC2-6400 (800), 240 Pins, Non-ECC Unbuffered, CAS 5-5-5-12 £88.10

LN14964
512Mb ASUS 7600GS Top PCI-E (x16), Mem 950 MHz, GPU 550 MHz, 12 Pipes, D-Sub/HDTV/Dual Link DVI-I £89.17


Total inc VAT and postage: £326.04

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

you can get it for 100 quid ish thought you said between 100 and 150?

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

All the ones I've found price it at £150+ with 256MB

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Try this one?

actually just found this Nvidia 7950GT Here think it may be better than the 1950xt - zing'll confirm/deny this though!

also i have to say if you're looking to build a totally new pc, use C2D cpu's...

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

my mistake im sure there was one last week but a few days out the loop lol

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

or if you can wait a month or so Nvidia's 8800gts/gtx card will plummet in price due to the pending release of ATIs R600 cards. Nonetheless £190 quid for an 8800gts is 1st rate considering it can handle pending directx 10 games and is LEAGUES ahead of the XT / GT.

Waste of money buying a 1950 as you'll be looking for an upgrade if directx 10 games are a hit over the next year

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

will you? like these wont play on directx 9 cards. And with a limited budget you wont do justice to the new hardware

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

How about This one?

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Great find.

Can anyone explain the differences between sockets AM2 and 939, and pros and cons.
And SLi ready.

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

sli ready means the board is capable of running two graphics cards in tandem...

sli = nVidia
crossfire = Ati
both do the same thing

basically lots of games take full advatage of sli/crossfire and allow you to run in higher resolutions with more effects turned on - like anti aliasing etc etc

in other use like desktop work/internet etc you'll not notice any difference unless doing graphics intensive stuff.

am2 is the new replacement socket for old 939. 939 is dead tech now... thats all i know!

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Well on overclockers I've found a motherboard, AM2 cpu, X1950XT and 2GB RAM for £350 so may have to wait a while.

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

but its still not expensive.Maybe a little more than you want to pay but not expensive.What board and cpu is that ? x2 I take it

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=MB-116-AB

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=CP-188-AM

Bah forgot HSF! *dashes off to find a pretty one*

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...=57&subcat=821

Up to £320 now.

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

just built a machine using an AM2 abit board and it seems ok. The dual core cpu is well cheap I knew they were coming down but 62 quid for a dual core 3800 is wicked

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Not sure when I'll get chance to upgrade, as have other stuff that needs paying for. If money wasn't an issue I'd build a system around the Tyan n3600b & a pair of 2200s, but it looks like I'll have to settle for an AM2 system as well. I've got/used 2 Abit boards I was/am fairly happy with, but that Asus Crosshair is very tempting. :)

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

I hope not, just built a PC (E6600, 4gb, 3x400gb, GigaByte P965-DQ6) with a 8800 GTSwith 640mb - still only scapes a 5.3 on vista ratings...

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Heh you should know how quicky gfx card prices plummet. Watch out over the next few months as the R600 tries to become the new king also to be released are nvidias 8900s as a response.

I still feel that the 8800 was too much too soon but the real ATI v NVidia war is just round the corner.

Anyway I have also recently bought a 8800gts too as its still a safe bet for at least a year and at 185 quid is a lot cheaper than a GTX.

(having said that I am still finding my old 9800pro on a c2d to be fairing quite well !)

PS are you overclocking your 6600 ? should get you to 3.4ghz

---------- Post added at 22:25 ---------- Previous post was at 22:16 ----------

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37610

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Vista takes the lowest scoring componant and thats the rating it does not find a mean. I bet your ram is what kept the score down ;)

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

Do remember people, that not all RAM (even if DDR400 etc) will all run at same speeds.

And cause you have 4GB Ram doesnt also mean your machine will be lightning fast, it will be fast, but not that amazingly fast :)

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

It was the processor that scored the lowest at 5.3 Ram comes in at 5.7 (DDR2 800Mhz)

Not intending to overclock yet (but you never know):D

Re: Dead PC, time to build a new one?
 

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...odid=GX-063-CO x1950xt at 135 quid again