The quickest route to blowing it up?

[mediaboy]

I'm thinking of buying a P4, but I've seen some reviews about the 3.0ghz version (the one I'm going to get for a computer I'm using atm...) that say it has a problem with overheating, w/out OCing or anything...

This a problem or just a myth?


Also, what's the best sort of Intel/AMD processor I can get for <£50?
It's just to make do for the moment, but with no intention of EVER upgrading it...

I'll need suggestions for both Intel AND AMD processors for the moment, because this computer is coming from a friend on Saturday and I can't get him to give me it any sooner

Also, I'll need at least 2gb RAM, so some suggestions for that would be nice.

Not planning on spending lots on this computer, just enough to keep it playing at least SOME games whilst I save up for a new computer. If someone suggests that I don't spend any money on this computer and just save up all my money, I will seriously think about throwing myself out of a window and seeing what happens when I hit the ground... Even if the window is on the ground floor

I have thought about this (my brain is still aching... about 3 days after I started) and I thought it might be nice to be able to play AoE without anything blowing up in my face, and be able to actually compete with the... idiot... down the road on some games which my current (12-yrs old) computer isn't able to handle..

[scruffy]

Will need to know what board it's got first of all, if it's a core compatible board you're laughing.

For &#163;50 you'll be wanting an e2**0 processor, I can vouch for the e2160. Got it at 2.8 on the stock cooler, very impressed.

Overclockers have some ridiculously cheap RAM on this week only as well. &#163;25 for 2GB of OCZ DDR2800.

That'll tide you over. If it's a DDR1 board though you're gonna pay well over the odds to 2GB, and you'll probably have to go to eBay for a CPU.

[mediaboy]

Will need to know what board it's got first of all, if it's a core compatible board you're laughing.

What does that mean???

If it AMD board what will I be looking at then? I did ask originally

[scruffy]

What motherboard has it got?

Same really applies with an AMD board, if it's a new DDR2 board then you can get an X2 for not much bucks and use the same RAM mentioned in my first post.

If it's an older board, you'll be limited to DDR1 although you might have more luck finding a CPU from an etailer. Unless it's socket 754.

[mediaboy]

Unforntunately I haven't had the chance to get him to dissemble it yet (I doubt I would want him to dissemble it... he hasn't got the slighest clue what a mobo is, let alone a CPU... or a GPU...)

Just been looking at the E2160... It's &#163;43.65 from Scan (with free postage somehow... just hit 25+ posts !!! anyone know how to get this, or is it trial and error )

X2? What's that?

Anyone recommend a 4400+ for a <&#163;50 processor? going for about &#163;5 more than that the E2160 on Scan...

[scruffy]

I wouldn't set your hopes on anything just yet, wait and see what board it is first then base it on that.

What does he use the PC for normally? Did he give you any clue as to how old it is?

[mediaboy]

It's at least 2 years old, but it's not that rubbish that it's stopping stuff from working properly...


Windows XP 32 bit
Guessing 512mb RAM (won't be higher than 1GB atm)
Normally used for playing Runescape (can you believe it?) which it plays without lag on high-detail... for those that know what that means...
Occasionally used for doing his coursework.

First things I'm doing when I get it is wiping the HDD (40gb+) down to the basic OS and other applications that I'll actually use, defragging it, virus scanning it, spyware and adware killing then hoovering out the inside of the case. Anything else that might need doing? Shout them out and I'll do them the moment I get my hands on the computer

Having met his family I can say with some confidence that there won't have been any hardware updates since they got it, and stuff like defragging and virus-scanning won't have been done, unless the computer automatically cleans up the mess he makes on his computer... all in all - unlikely.

If I also need a graphics card, what will you suggest... I KNOW it has at least one PCI Express and a few PCI slots spare (after his network card) so I can probably a few graphics cards onto it. Again... not more than about &#163;40-50...

[Hunain]

Knowing what board it uses will help.

[ajones]

Seriously mate.. you are not going to get any answer until we know what the motherboard is.

Don't waste you money buying anything at all until you know that, as you will probably buy a processor that won't fit onto the board. You could have anything from AM2+/AM2/S939/S754 (some S754 had PCI Ex I think although I could be wrong) and although there's fewer socket options for Intel, there's chipset compatibilities that dictate what type of processor you can buy.

Similarly RAM... DDR/DDR2

Graphics cards.. you've got PCIEx, so I guess it's really going to be down to the PSU in the PC and the size of your wallet... and forget about putting "a few graphics cards into it". You want 1 (single).

Best option in my opinion when you get it is format the hard disk and install from scratch, but that requires a Windows Install or repair disk... you getting one of them with the PC?

But as so many have already said (and I'm saying it twice for good measure), what's the motherboard?

[Salazaar]

get him to run a copy of CPUID on it, that should get the basic info out.

[mediaboy]

Getting it today...
Will post what it's got on it the moment I've dissembled it (about 20m after I got it probably )



EDIT
Oooh... never seen CPUZ before...
Will be using this...


2nd EDIT
He just rang... and I can't have the computer today... because he won't be in to give it to me... Oh well... will post specs ASAP.

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

Ask him to install the free version of Sisoft Sandra. It will tell him what motherboard,ram,cpu and gpu he has!! You will also need to check the rating of your power supply if you want to upgrade the graphics card as it will mean that system will need more power and also be stable enough to deliver it.

If you are looking for a graphics card around the &#163;50 mark the following should be fine:

Nvidia GeForce 7800GT 256MB DUAL DVI VIVO PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

Nvidia 8600GT 540M 256MB DDR3 Dual DVI TV Out PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

Gecube HD 2600XT 256MB DDR2 128bit ECO edition Dual DVI HDTV-Out PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

Ebuyer has free postage for items &#163;49.99 and over!

The last two do need additional power from a molex connector though!!

If this is till too much to spend the following alternative is under &#163;40 although you will need to add postage costs:

Innovision GeForce 7600GS 256MB DDR2 PCI-E Graphics Card - Ebuyer

PowerColor X1650PRO 512MB GDDR2 128Bit DVI PCI-E Graphics card - Ebuyer

[rabbid]

Thats a good deal on the 7800GT

One of the cheaper ones is a 7600GST, 2&#163; more than the GS. Only 128MB ram but its DDR3@1400. Or theres a full blown 7600GT@43.99

I would suggest the Palit 8600GT from Scan, still deliberating over one of those 78GTs tho

[CAT-THE-FIFTH]

The 7900GS and 7800GTX cost £60 on Ebuyer too!!

[Tumble]

If I also need a graphics card, what will you suggest... I KNOW it has at least one PCI Express and a few PCI slots spare (after his network card) so I can probably a few graphics cards onto it. Again... not more than about &#163;40-50...

if it's got PCI-e, then it should have onboard LAN too, so no need for a network card?

[mediaboy]

if it's got PCI-e, then it should have onboard LAN too, so no need for a network card?

Not relying on it... have had experience with expecting something to be there, and then it's not actually being there...

It took me 20 minutes to explain to him what a monitor was.. and what a computer was... So I wouldn't trust him if he told me it had a P1, was 20 years old and was stumbling and decrepit... I do however trust what I've seen, which is what I listed above...

Anyhow.. for under £200, I thought maybe these upgrades:

Processor:Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 processor - Misco.co.uk
Graphics: Misco Saver 8400GS 256Mb PCI-Express graphics card - Misco.co.uk
RAM: 2x1GB of this Corsair Valueselect 1GB PC5300 667MHz Dimm - Misco.co.uk
Motherboard (not sure if this is needed, but including what I would buy anyhow):Foxconn 45CMX socket LGA775 motherboard - Misco.co.uk

With a new mouse, it comes to £175.60


If I buy a 19" monitor it goes to around £250... but will not want to buy a monitor for the moment (having about 5 or 6 spares sitting around not doing much) but it's something I was thinking about.

Before you all go crazy and start going on about how I should be buying a Abit IP35 Dark Raider mobo for £80 from Scan, let me make this clear - I do not want to spend lots of money on this computer... but as long as the pricing (inc postage and VAT) is <£200 I don't mind too much... the monitor isn't included in this pricing of course (else I wouldn't be able to say its <£200) and shouldn't enter into your comments at all... unless you know of a cheaper 5ms response 19" monitor going for<£80 anywhere.