how cheap can I solve my problem

[johnoh]

I have a win98 1.4g AMD T-bird, Inno3d Ti4200 (not oc'd), 40mb ibm 7200rpm drive, piece of crap ecs k7vta3 v1 mobo, cd-rom, floppy. The system has never been stable at fsb 133, only at 100. I have swapped out everything and see a difference with different power supplies, but its never totally stable. I have concluded that a better psu would get me stable. The three 300w psu's I've swapped in/out are Allied and Powerup. I am asking for advice as to the cheapest psu solution that will work. System lock ups are unpredictable and always result in a screen freeze requiring power off/on. I realize an antec or enermax 300w will likely solve my problem, but maybe a cheap 400w or 500w from someone else would to the job as well. ejsmith2 has been so good as to advise how to tweak an existing supply, but I am not confident of going down that path yet. Thanks.

John A

 

[btvillarin]

One purchase of a more expensive quality PSU will save you money in the long run, IMHO. If you need to save up, then save up. I had a Hivision piece of garbage, and it poofed into a ball of smoke after a year. I'll never get a cheap power supply again. I now have an Enermax, and haven't looked back.

Have you tested your memory? <A HREF="http://www.memtest86.com[/url" target="_new">Memtest86</A>

If your motherboard is retarded, that might be another problem, too. But, I'd first try to get a quality PSU.

Just my opinion, though...I only wanna help ya out.

Bryan
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[johnoh]

I am okay spending money on a psu, I just don't want to overspend. Do you have a recommendation?

I have swapped out the memory and the mobo was extensively tested by the place that sold me the machine, when I returned it due to my lock ups. They were unable to reproduce any lockups and my mistake was in not sending them my video card, so they did their tests with a low function, low power card.

John A

 

[btvillarin]

Hmm, alrighty. I think with that system, perhaps an Enermax 350W would suffice.

Bryan
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[upec]

I also have good experience with my Enermax PSU.

 

[johnoh]

350 seems like a good recommendation. I do not see myself adding hard drives, but may upgrade the mobo/cpu to a P4. I bet 300w would suffice but better to err on the high side. I checked on newegg and there are multiple enermax supplies at 350W. Do I need the extra features? Seems like quietness/fan control is one thing you can get, but I'm pretty sure my cpu fan is the loudest thing in my system so I doubt a quieter psu would be noticed. If I got an EG365P, any input on the value of the VE(FM) vs VE(FC) vs VE(FMA) vs VE(FCA)?

John A

 

[btvillarin]

The only difference I see is that the first two have automatic motherboard control, while the latter allow you to adjust the speed manually. Wait for someone else to post though, who actually knows what they're talking about... :lol: (j/k)

Bryan
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[lhgpoobaa]

Yeah. Don't listen to Mr BT. He knows nothing

350W enermax is a good start, or a 350W toptower or antec if your short on funds. A 400W PSU if you plan some big upgrades in the future.

<b>And if you gaze for long into Toms Hardware Forums, The Forum gazes also into you! </b>

 

[btvillarin]

Okay, that's cool! :lol:

(No more extraneous posts from me, then... )

 

[lhgpoobaa]

<b>NOOOOOOOOOOooooooooooo</b>
DON'T GO! *holds onto your leg hammie style*
:lol:

<b>And if you gaze for long into Toms Hardware Forums, The Forum gazes also into you! </b>

 

[btvillarin]

*Shakes my leg profusely*

Stop it...I can't be another lame post-a-holic! :lol:

 

[lhgpoobaa]

cant.....let......go.....

P.S. Love ya sig. You ARE a postaholic. Admit it man... come out the closet!

<b>And if you gaze for long into Toms Hardware Forums, The Forum gazes also into you! </b>

 

[btvillarin]

That wasn't my sig...I was telling you that!!! *ROFL*

 

[lhgpoobaa]

Yet you can't stop posting.
And i bet you are just itching to reply to this one too aintcha? :lol:

<b>And if you gaze for long into Toms Hardware Forums, The Forum gazes also into you! </b>

 

[namek0]

Ah man, I used to have one of those ecs motherboards. It was almost ok, until somehow my $14 tv tuner messed up (long, painful story) and killed it. In a nutshell, I smelled smoke, looked in and saw a loose wire touching up against a spot on the motherboard, near a pci connector. My computer locked up, and ended up frying the board. That's all that was damaged thank god. (I later stomped the crap out of the tv tuner) I then bought a nice IWill motherboard. I've heard a lot of bad stuff abotu them, but I was almost broke at the time and found one on ebay for 30 bucks. It's a wonderful piece of hardware. I love the features, and overall layout of the board itself.

I'm sure I've answered nothing here, but just rambled on about my damn tv tuner. Hah, best of luck to you ^_^