Old Computer needs a mother

[hunter387]

Alright I made a thread the other day about my computer having hardrive problems. I fixed that with some help. Now I have realized the problem is bigger. The mother board needs to be replaced. Which one shall I get?

Specs (here we go lol)

450 wat power supply
Intel Pentium 4 3.0ghz
Nvidia 7600 agp*
2.5 gb of ram

My motherboard is a Intel 1bit as8. I Beleive that is the problem. My computer turns on for about 3 seconds and shuts off. Everything else is in good shape I beleive. Its about 5-6 years OLD. Anybody have any suggestions on what Motherboard to buy?

edit: can someone move this into the right forum section? thanks

 

[buzznut]

How do you know its the motherboard?

I see old pentium 4 machines all the time at thrift stores and garage sales. You can pick up a beige box anywhere for about $20, spending any more on an old motherboard is silly.
gl

 

[hunter387]

Well I wouldnt spend anything over 30$ thats for sure. But I want a new one if possible. Whats the best Intel AGP Motherboard?

 

[tinmann]

Pentium 4, Now that's a challenge. Is this your motherboard?
http://www.newegg.com/product/product.aspx?Item=N82E16813127203

I found this but I don't now what size case you have but since your motherboard is ATX it will probably work.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121017

Also this has a lot more features like 3 PCI-E slots and 8 channel audio. The extra Pci-e slot run @ 16X8X8 and pci slot @4 so if you upgraded you psu to 650 watt or above, got a new case and a new video card you'd have a decent gaming rig.

Let say a Coolermaster 912
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119233&Tpk=coolermaster%20912

2 PNY Geforce 9600 1gb video cards in sli
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133334&Tpk=geforce%209600gt
And a good 500watt psu should power 2 9600's
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814133334&Tpk=geforce%209600gt

This is just an idea of the options you'd have with that motherboard. You WOULD however have to upgrade you video card and possibly ram. But you'd have options for further upgrades. It might be wise to just start from scratch because your cpu will limit the amount of things you'll be able to do but hey, it's a start.

You could get 4gbs of this memory

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820178296
And bring it all home for around $350.00

Motherboard, 1 card and memory around $180.00

 

[tinmann]

Just so you know 2 9600's in SLI would be equal to or possibly out perform a 8800 GTX or a 8800 ultra so you'd actually be able to run most of the modern games at a good frame rate with modest settings.

 

[4745454b]

A P4 can barely drive one GPU, let alone two. I don't think he'll see the performance you think he will.

 

[buzznut]

Well I wouldnt spend anything over 30$ thats for sure. But I want a new one if possible. Whats the best Intel AGP Motherboard?

A free one.

 

[tinmann]

A P4 can barely drive one GPU, let alone two. I don't think he'll see the performance you think he will.

I was a little optimistic wasn't I ? I was just trying to a brother hope.

 

[clarkjd]

You could only need a new PSU. A 6 year old, no-name PSU is always suspect with those symptoms.

 

[hunter387]

I was a little optimistic wasn't I ? I was just trying to a brother hope.

Thats what I was wondering. Hey mabye its the P4 thats the problem. Maybe I should just build a new computer and loose my money lol

 

[4745454b]

I guess sometimes lying to people is the OK thing to do. Make a cheap build around it sure. But I wouldn't bother with crazy things like RAID or CF/SLI.

 

[tinmann]

I wasn't lying I just got caught up in the moment. How is building a new computer loosing your money? Loosing your money would mean not having anything to show for it. The geforce 9600 GSO will run fine with a pentium 4 and the benefit of upgraded ram will only help to improve his gaming experience. I still feel it would be $180.00 well spent coming from a motherboard that supports one agp slot and 184 pin DDR 400. For around $300.00 ( that means one GPU) he would have a half way decent PC. Some guys spend that much on one GPU. If he starts from scratch he's gonna spend at least $500- $600 and still not have a really competent system by enthusiast standards. PC's are like race cars, How fast you go is in direct proportion to how much money you spend. So "YOU" have to ask yourself 3 questions: Do you want to buy a new Corvette, Put a Mopar in a Dodge Dart or just change the oil and put on a new muffler ?

 

[ScrewySqrl]

my brain sorta twitches at throwing any money at a 6-year old Pentium 4, given the P4 itself is now decade old technology.

you can get a system that blows away a P4 for $350, easily, and will do modern games at medium settings.

 

[tinmann]

Well, I'm on pins and needles to see what Miiiister Twitchy waited so long to come up with.

Let's do some math. This is Math .001 , The math they teach in the Boom Boom Room in High School. You know the room. Let's just say there are 8 components to you basic Desktop computer.
CPU
MOBO
PSU
GPU
RAM
CPU Cooler ( we can even eliminate this if using stock)
DVD rom
Case
Okay, let's say Seven components. So to get it done for $350.00 you'd have to either average $50.00 per part, buy it used on Craigslist, or the Red light sale behind the Quicky mart.
Let's delve a little deeper into the twitchy... I mean twilight Zone. What sub $100.00 Motherboard and sub $100.00 CPU are you going use? Because if you spend $100.00 on one or both then it's not going to happen. But of course you knew that and your just here trolling. Come on buy anytime I'll be more than happy to oblige. Trolls Welcome

 

[ScrewySqrl]

you want the $350 build? here you go:

ASRock 760G Motherboard: $47.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813157215

AMD Athlon II X3 445 $74.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103872

Crucial 4GB DDR3-1333 $24.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820148418

Seagate 500 GB HDD: $39.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148701

Rosewill R102 case $29.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811147111

Rosewill 120mm Blue LED fan: $7.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835200049

Masscool 80mm fan: $2.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835150007

Xigmatek PC402 400W 80+ Bronze PSU: $34.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817815007

Sapphire HD5670: $64.95
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102930

$328.79

yes there is a limited upgrade path here, but its under $350, And far, far more powerful than any Pentium 4 build..

 

[tinmann]

Not bad at all. But i wouldn't go as far as using the phrase blowing away. It may just eek by but that is an ugly case (was that a Micro), a psu I wouldn't recommend and neither would you, and a weak processor that in that is on the verge of extinction just as the P4 is.
I still like my P4 build better, At least mine had "GOOD" parts not just the cheapest hodge podge of parts I could put together to make a PC under $350.00. You should be ashamed.

 

[ScrewySqrl]

Not bad at all. But i wouldn't go as far as using the phrase blowing away. It may just eek by but that is an ugly case (was that a Micro), a psu I wouldn't recommend and neither would you, and a weak processor that in that is on the verge of extinction just as the P4 is.
I still like my P4 build better, At least mine had "GOOD" parts not just the cheapest hodge podge of parts I could put together to make a PC under $350.00. You should be ashamed.

Actually I do recommend that PSU, It got a very favorable review here on Toms, and the only reason I'm using the Corsair CX 430 in my own PC instead of it was the prices were reversed when I bought mine. The Athlon II X3 is easily much, much more powerful than a single core pentium 4. Moores law suggests at least 8 times better.

Yes, the athlon II is near the end of its service life, but such a cheap computer will still run the latest software at decent resolutions for a couple years at least.

 

[tinmann]

Let's just say what we both know to be true and be done with . The guy just needs to hitch up his britches and start saving for a new computer. Lets try to set him on the right future path. It's not like you have to go out and buy everything at one time buy the parts as you can afford them and always be on the look out for a good deal. First of all CPU and Motherboard.
Sandy Bridge will get you the best price per performance value
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115072
The Asus P8P67 is a good value
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131706
The Corsair TX750 v2 is a really good deal too and battle tested
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139021&cm_sp=Cat_Power_Supplies-_-Spotlight-_-17-139-021

$459.97 and your looking at a really good foundation. There are always deals to be found on cases, memory, graphics and Hard drives but you don't want to skimp on the big three, Power, Processing and Platform. There are cheaper alternatives to my recommendations but if you go with the sandy bridge processor you'll be assured of years of continued reliable performance.

Pentium & Geforce 9600 running Fear Combat Multi-player

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEzmPU5go3U

running Battlefield Bad Company 2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jp8uSDiMpWY