Processors

[Sauron]

Hi,
To start with, I am very happy to be here...been looking for a computer troubleshooting forum for months. *grin* Anyway, congrats.

I wanna install a new processor to my computer, also probably a new hard drive. My comp is old, Megatron '97 or '98 I think. Its a 166MHZ. I was wondering if I can install a Intel or Gateway processor (300MHZ to 400MHZ) Will I also need to install a new motherboard? Will I have any major problems..like my computer won't accept it? The way I see it, the processor makes the whole comp run...so if my comp doesn't start up...I think I got a problem. *laugh* Do you think this will work? Thanx.

James

[HAL9000]

If your system is a 166Mhz now, depending on whether it is a proprietary board or not, it may go to an Intel 233 (Gateway doesn't make processors). If you can find out what kind of motherboard it is, it is possible that it will go into the higher Mhz range with an AMD k6, k6-2 CPU. Other than that, you will be looking at getting a new motherboard, CPU, most likely a different case, possibly different RAM, and while you're at it, you might as well replace almost everything else and build yourself a new system

If you can find out what kind of motherboard it is, we can most likely give you better details on what processor you can (if possible) upgrade to.

[Sauron]

Ok..I will look at my motherboard and so on...any chance of some umm notepad or something like that telling what I have?? Thanx. I wish I had gotten a manual with my comp. LOL...damn presents Woulda been useful. Take care.

James

[Sauron]

Sorry if I accidently missed it...have a good one

James

[Cricket]

Thank you Sauron. Are you eagerly awaiting the new "The Lord of the Rings" movie? I read the books about 20 years ago and was spellbound. I hope this movie does the books justice.

Anyway, like HAL9000 said...you may be limited in how fast you can take your present system. Your motherboard may be able to go as high as 500MHz with the AMD K6-2 CPU or it may be limited to a Intel Pentium 233MHz (I'm using one right now in...it's okay for web browsing, word processing and mild photo editing). If you want to play 3D games and such, you may want to consider something with a lot more juice...like the AMD Athlon T-Bird, Athlon XP, Intel Pentium III or Pentium 4.

The cost of building yourself a new computer now is really good now as the price for most parts is really low. Memory prices are low but currently on the rise. You could build a 1GHz PC for way less than $800 easily.

Take a look at the "Build Your Own PC" article on this website and see if you'd be interested: http://www.pcmech.com/byopc/index.htm

Cricket

[Confused]

Belarc advisor is pretty good at inventorying and documentating PC's, parts and software. www.belarc.com
Chas

[Sauron]

Folks.........your really really not going to believe this....believe you aren't. Anyway, I took apart my comp like the trusting little fool I am...(know-it-all...everythings going to be fine) So I spent a good hour pulling my comp apart...finally got all those damn wires apart. Got the motherboard off...(another half hour) and I found I didn't need to have gone to all the trouble...taking off the case would have been fine. (the cursing that came out at that time) Now I need to put everything back in...well the processor wires that hook into the motherboard didn't want to go in...oh boy...finally I got it in...turned on my comp and........but my comp wouldn't start! So I had to take everything apart again...after another hour...my comp starts..I now have a master and a slave...where before I had two masters...I then log on to this and see the Belarc...(loud sounds...) LOL Anyway, I got the page...thanx all

Computer Profile Summary
Computer Name: Jamescam
Profile Date: Saturday, November 15, 1997 04:22:47
Advisor Version: 5.0f
Windows Logon: Sauron


Click here for Belarc's PC Management products, for large and small companies.

Operating System System Model
Windows 95 B (OSR2) No details available
Processor a Main Circuit Board
166 megahertz Intel Pentium w/MMX
16 kilobyte primary memory cache
512 kilobyte secondary memory cache Bus Clock: 66 megahertz
BIOS: Award Software International, Inc. 4.51 PG 09/05/97
Drives Memory Modules
2.15 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
53 Megabytes Hard Drive Free Space

ATAPI CDROM [CD-ROM drive]
Generic floppy disk drive (3.5")
Generic floppy disk drive (5.25")

SAMSUNG WA32162A (2.16 GB) [Hard drive] -- drive 0 64 Megabytes Installed Memory
32 Megabyte Module Size - 2 Installed
4 Memory Sockets are Empty
Local Drive Volumes

c: (on drive 0) 1.44 GB 1 MB free
d: (on drive 0) 259 MB 52 MB free
e: (on drive 0) 454 MB 0 MB free

Network Drives


Controllers Printers
Standard Floppy Disk Controller
Primary IDE controller (single fifo)
Secondary IDE controller (single fifo)
Standard Dual PCI IDE Controller
Standard IDE/ESDI Hard Disk Controller None detected
Display
AOpen SiS6326 [Display adapter]
Plug and Play Monitor
Bus Adapters Multimedia
HP EPST Parallel SCSI Adapter ASOUND EXPRESS External Midi (MPU401) Device
ASOUND EXPRESS Internal Midi (OPL3) Device
ASOUND EXPRESS Joystick Device
ASOUND EXPRESS PCI Audio Device
ASOUND EXPRESS Wave Audio Device
Modem Blaster PCI Serial Wave Device
Wave Device for Voice Modem
Communications Other Devices
Creative Modem Blaster Flash56 PCI DI5630-4 #2 Creative PCI Modem Enumerator
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
Standard Serial Mouse
Software Licenses

Microsoft - Internet Explorer 52974-339-0840295-04729
Microsoft - Windows 95 B (OSR2) 00195-OEM-0211111-11111

Software Versions
Activeworlds Corp. - Active Worlds Version 3.2.0.392*
Adobe Acrobat Version 4.05*
America Online, Inc. - AOL Instant Messenger (SM) Version 4.3.2229*
America Online, Inc. - AOL Instant Messenger (SM) Version 4.7.2480*
America Online, Inc. - Netscape AOL Instant Messenger (TM) Version 1.0.414*
Angel *
Belarc Advisor and BelLive - Belarc's Content Personalization with Privacy Version 5.0f*
DBConvert Application Version 1, 0, 0, 1*
Dink Smallwood (MAIN GAME) *
DinkEdit (for making DMODs) *
e-merge GmbH - BestellWizard Version 1.2.0.0*
e-merge GmbH - WinAce Archiver Version 2.0.0.0*
Expert Software - autorun Version 1.00*
Expert Software, Inc - Project1 Version 1.00*
Fishbone Designs - NAB Conduit Install Application Version 1, 0, 0, 1*
Full Circle Software, Inc. - Talkback Version 1.0*
Headlight Software, Inc. - GetRight Version 4.5*
ICQ NetDetect Agent *
ICQ Version 2000b Alpha*
Icqrun.exe*
ICQUninstall Application Version 1, 0, 0, 1*
Microsoft (r) Windows Script Host Version 5.1.0.4615*
Microsoft Age of Empires Version 0.4.1.828*
Microsoft Backup Version 4.0.952*
Microsoft Corporation - Age of Empires II Version 2.0a*
Microsoft Corporation - Age of Empires Version 1.0c*
Microsoft Corporation - Age of Empires, the Rise of Rome Version 1.0a* Microsoft Corporation - DirectShow Version 6.4.07.1112*
Microsoft Corporation - Internet Explorer Version 5.50.4522.1800*
Microsoft Corporation - Messenger Version 4.5*
Microsoft Corporation - MSN(tm) Messenger Service Version 3.6*
Microsoft® Plus! for Windows® 95 Version 4.70.1085*
Microsoft® NetMeeting(TM) Version 1.0.*
Midi Harvester Version 1.00*
Modem Booster Application Version 2, 5, 0, 1*
My Comet Cursor Version 1, 5, 1, 193*
Netscape Communications nsnotify Version 4.5*
NETSCAPE Version 4.5*
Nullsoft - Winamp Version 2.75*
Patchou - msmsgs.exe Version 3.6*
Patchou - MSN(tm) Messenger Service Version 3.6*
QuickFlicks, Inc. - SVA Player Plugin Version 2.0.2113*
RealNetworks, Inc. - RealPlayer (32-bit) Version 5.0.0.102*
RealNetworks, Inc. - RealPlayer (32-bit) Version 6.0.9.584*
Silicon Integrated Systems Corporation - SIS(R) Center Screen for Windows 3.1,95,98 Version 1.25.0000*
SiS MMPlay Version 1.02*
The Microsoft® Network Version 1.60.0*
The Urban Jungle - DinkFrontEnd (To play DMODs) Version 2.0*
Vadim Eremeev - ICQ Plus Version 3.0*
WhenU.com, Inc. - SaveNow Version 1, 4, 0, 143*
WinampAgent *
WinZip Version 8.0 (3105)*
Yahoo! Messenger Version 4, 1, 0, 998*

[Sauron]

So.......what do you guys think? How high can I update my computer?

[seawartom]

you can probably donate the whole thing to a church or school or something, or you can re-use the floppy, cd-rom (it is probably too slow), and the case (if it is atx..i doubt it) when you build yourself a new computer or you can put it out on your garage this saturday and hoped that another guy will buy it.

[Sauron]

Ok..ok I will get myself a whole new system! The CD-ROM is 11x. Any good ideas on where to buy the parts? Might as well build it myself. Give myself some experience, and have some fun also.

[Xayd]

www.mwave.com

Just tell them you're the Dark Lord, they'll take care of you .

[Confused]

I've been price checking for the last month and find for the components I'm considering that www,newegg.com is cheaper. Doesn't cost anything to compare.
Chas

[morriswindgate]

I like newegg also. For a new case I am impressed with the products and prices from the site below.

http://electroseller.com/Merchant2/m...=electroseller

[Sauron]

Ok will do...Dark Lord eh....hehe...Well I am lord and master of Mordor and Moria...ppl dread my footsteps Ok thanx