I’m having some computer problems, and I’m trying to determine what the real issue is, and if it’s worth fixing. Would anyone be kind enough to help give some advice?
Problems:
- Biggest issue now is the computer freezes so much it is unusable. It makes it past the post screen, then shows temps which all look ok (CPU is usually around 34-36, definitely not overheating), then it starts to boot XP. Usually it freezes while Windows is loading, before login screen. Sometimes it starts Windows and then freezes up while I’m in the middle of something, like virus scanning. The issue is not software, hard drive, or video card (pulled those out and used alternates, with same results). My guess is it’s the mobo, but I guess it could be the CPU, RAM, or PSU too. I have a backup AMD 64 3500+ to swap to test the CPU if that’s likely. What do you think?
- Video card fan is dying, video drivers conflicting with things and making programs crash and games not loading. Have to reinstall Catalyst now and then to smooth things out. This was the first and last time I go for ATI.
- Have to press the power button multiple times for any power to come on at all. There’s no lights or fans or activity for sometimes 3-9 presses. (It’s not the case switch. I tested another switch and using an on-board switch on the mobo, and same issues occur. So it’s the mobo or PSU.)
Current rig that doesn't work:
Case: SILVERSTONE SST-TJ08 MicroATX Mid Tower
Mobo: BIOSTAR TForce6100 939 GeForce 6100 Micro ATX
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Toledo 2.3GHz 939 (mild OC w/ stock cooler)
RAM: Corsair TWIN2048-3200C2 Pro 2GB 184-Pin DDR400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel
GPU: Powercolor Radeon X800 GTO 128MB 256-bit
Audio: Onboard
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
PSU: Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-480 ATX12V 2.01 480W
Windows XP
Looking at if trying to fix:
Mobo: Foxconn 6150BK8MC-KRSH 939 NVIDIA GeForce 6150B(PV) Micro ATX
GPU: EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0
~$295
1. Think this would fix my computer problems?
2. I’ve seen some people with 939 mobos that say the 8800GT works with it, and some that say it doesn’t. What are the chances that it would work with this one?
Looking at if buying new:
Case: SILVERSTONE SST-TJ05B ATX Mid Tower
Mobo: MSI P35 Neo2-FR LGA 775 ATX
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 (with OC’ing)
CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS 9700
RAM: GeIL Esoteria 4GB 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel
GPU: 1x EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0
Audio: Onboard
HDD: same as now
PSU: same as now
Windows Vista to get DX10?
~$1025
3. How do all these parts look for building a stable and OC’d system? Is the RAM good for overclocking with the CPU? I have a lot of experience building computers, but limited with OCs. Please suggest parts that don't amke this more expensive.
4. It looks like people are already running the 8800GT on smaller PSUs than mine, but would all this possibly be too much for the 480W Antec?
5. Is it worth putting $300 into fixing the 2-year-old system, or just put it toward the C2D upgrade?
For some background, I generally keep computers 4 years, and my computer IS FAST enough for what I do now (except maybe the video card). Of course, I haven’t played with or built Core 2 Duo systems (my last Intel build was a Pentium D), so I don’t know how much faster this upgrade would be. I do large photo editing and processing, watch video, and basic Word / web work. I am NOT a big gamer, but I'd like to play Bioshock or Jericho (which the x800 won’t do cause of its old SM) or StarCraft 2 when it comes. I will probably not SLI or RAID my system, and I don’t need the newest hardware. That said, the full upgrade is more power than I need now, but it would be putting money into not having to deal with buying computer parts for longer, future-proofing.
…sorry for the monster question, and thanks for any advice.
Problems:
- Biggest issue now is the computer freezes so much it is unusable. It makes it past the post screen, then shows temps which all look ok (CPU is usually around 34-36, definitely not overheating), then it starts to boot XP. Usually it freezes while Windows is loading, before login screen. Sometimes it starts Windows and then freezes up while I’m in the middle of something, like virus scanning. The issue is not software, hard drive, or video card (pulled those out and used alternates, with same results). My guess is it’s the mobo, but I guess it could be the CPU, RAM, or PSU too. I have a backup AMD 64 3500+ to swap to test the CPU if that’s likely. What do you think?
- Video card fan is dying, video drivers conflicting with things and making programs crash and games not loading. Have to reinstall Catalyst now and then to smooth things out. This was the first and last time I go for ATI.
- Have to press the power button multiple times for any power to come on at all. There’s no lights or fans or activity for sometimes 3-9 presses. (It’s not the case switch. I tested another switch and using an on-board switch on the mobo, and same issues occur. So it’s the mobo or PSU.)
Current rig that doesn't work:
Case: SILVERSTONE SST-TJ08 MicroATX Mid Tower
Mobo: BIOSTAR TForce6100 939 GeForce 6100 Micro ATX
CPU: AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ Toledo 2.3GHz 939 (mild OC w/ stock cooler)
RAM: Corsair TWIN2048-3200C2 Pro 2GB 184-Pin DDR400 (PC 3200) Dual Channel
GPU: Powercolor Radeon X800 GTO 128MB 256-bit
Audio: Onboard
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 (Perpendicular Recording) 320GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s
PSU: Antec TRUEPOWERII TPII-480 ATX12V 2.01 480W
Windows XP
Looking at if trying to fix:
Mobo: Foxconn 6150BK8MC-KRSH 939 NVIDIA GeForce 6150B(PV) Micro ATX
GPU: EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0
~$295
1. Think this would fix my computer problems?
2. I’ve seen some people with 939 mobos that say the 8800GT works with it, and some that say it doesn’t. What are the chances that it would work with this one?
Looking at if buying new:
Case: SILVERSTONE SST-TJ05B ATX Mid Tower
Mobo: MSI P35 Neo2-FR LGA 775 ATX
CPU: Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 Kentsfield 2.4GHz LGA 775 (with OC’ing)
CPU Cooler: ZALMAN CNPS 9700
RAM: GeIL Esoteria 4GB 240-Pin DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) Dual Channel
GPU: 1x EVGA 512-P3-N801-AR GeForce 8800GT 512MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express 2.0
Audio: Onboard
HDD: same as now
PSU: same as now
Windows Vista to get DX10?
~$1025
3. How do all these parts look for building a stable and OC’d system? Is the RAM good for overclocking with the CPU? I have a lot of experience building computers, but limited with OCs. Please suggest parts that don't amke this more expensive.
4. It looks like people are already running the 8800GT on smaller PSUs than mine, but would all this possibly be too much for the 480W Antec?
5. Is it worth putting $300 into fixing the 2-year-old system, or just put it toward the C2D upgrade?
For some background, I generally keep computers 4 years, and my computer IS FAST enough for what I do now (except maybe the video card). Of course, I haven’t played with or built Core 2 Duo systems (my last Intel build was a Pentium D), so I don’t know how much faster this upgrade would be. I do large photo editing and processing, watch video, and basic Word / web work. I am NOT a big gamer, but I'd like to play Bioshock or Jericho (which the x800 won’t do cause of its old SM) or StarCraft 2 when it comes. I will probably not SLI or RAID my system, and I don’t need the newest hardware. That said, the full upgrade is more power than I need now, but it would be putting money into not having to deal with buying computer parts for longer, future-proofing.
…sorry for the monster question, and thanks for any advice.