MizK
Member
Reged: 11/12/05
Posts: 179
Loc: East Allen, TX. USA
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Our kids computer is very old, but we've been updating it w/ new software and components as needed. Now, the problem is that it's very, very slow and hangs up or crashes periodically. The HDD is new and the software is newly reloaded (within the past several months). I added a wireless adapter card the other day and it seems to have put alot of additional kinks into this already messed up machine. As I was poking around inside I realized that everything inside is fairly new (in an effort to keep the machine up and running w/o having to buy a new computer) within the last year except the motherboard and the processor. So, my question is: Do you think maybe we've just outgrown or overloaded the motherboard or processor? It is a Pentium 4, but the processor is only a 1.6 GHz. Can we just replace those? Would you recommend replacing both or just one or the other? And, if we do replace either is it as simple as installing it in the computer and turning the computer on like most other hardware? Or, will the configuration be complicated, etc.?
Or, should we just bite the bullet and buy a new computer? I can get a decent mobo and processor combo online for less than $200.
Any help and/or advice would be appreciated.
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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. -- Aristotle
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allen
New Member
Reged: 12/02/05
Posts: 29
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get a dell refurbished for $300
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MizK
Member
Reged: 11/12/05
Posts: 179
Loc: East Allen, TX. USA
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OK, here's my real question.... I've never installed a mother board. If I purchase and install a mother board, is it as simple as hooking it up and turning the computer on? Or, will I have to reconfigure every blasted component and software in the computer? What should I expect?
Thanks,
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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. -- Aristotle
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civicminded
Member
Reged: 04/24/02
Posts: 4084
Loc: Lone Star State
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This guy isn't aware of these things, but number one son always does all the family computers. I'll ask him, though others in here will likely know.
And since we do sometimes think of these blasted things...I bought some stick-on bullet holes on ebay. So one can apply these to any blasted non-working thing around the house, haha. Hmmm, if I can waterproof 'em. I'll stick them on the plumbing!
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LowGear
New Member
Reged: 01/12/06
Posts: 16
Loc: Allen, TX
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Replacing a motherboard is not a difficult task. It is not simply removing the old motherboard, installing the new motherboard, connecting the cables, powering up and immediately resume using Windows.
You will need to perform some additional "tweaks" that will allow the new hardware to operate correctly with Windows. This will require checking the chipset and device drivers. Some drivers might need to be upgraded or new drivers installed. The drivers are for devices such as video cards, sound cards, drive controllers, printers and scanners. You will need the original Windows CD to perform this task.
Before purchasing a new motherboard, make sure it is a good replacement for the existing board. Will it physically fit in the space occupied by the exiting board? Does the new board have the correct type and number of slots and connectors? Does the new board use the same type of RAM?
I would think a P4 1.4Mhz PC is sufficient for the kids. Additional memory can make a big improvement with system performance. Memory is cheap and easy to add. Check the PC owner's manual to see what the maximum memory capacity is and the specific type of supported RAM chips.
If the PC is getting sluggish, I would clean all the "junk" off the hard drive. This includes temp and dmp files. Also remove or archive any programs or games that are never used because they consume space. Defrag the hard drive. Defrag a couple of times if necessary. Update all antivirus software and virus definition files. Perform a full system virus scan.
Performing maintenance such as this on a regular basis (weekly or monthly) will help keep the PC operating effectively. This maintenance might improve the PC's performance and eliminate the need to consider replacing the motherboard.
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RWK
Member
Reged: 09/18/03
Posts: 124
Loc: Allen
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If you go ahead and replace the mother board make sure you ground everything including yourself while doing the acutal installation. Static electricity can kill and electronic component. After you put your new motherboard in read the manual that comes with it and it will tell you what you need to do to set it up. Put in as much memory as you can while you are doing this since it is really easy and wil make a big difference on how the computer will run. When you reinstall Windows most of your drivers will be found by Windows but you might need your driver CD's in case it doesnt. It might be just as easy to buy another computer as they are really getting cheaper compared to years ago. You can always buy a Bare Bones computer and put some of your old components into it. A Bare Bones has the Tower with Mother Board, Chip, Power Supply, and Hard Drive and then you add what ever else you need. These can be bought at Fry's for as little as $200.00.
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Maurice
Member
Reged: 12/03/01
Posts: 786
Loc: Allen, TX
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Is this a Dell? Before you go buying a MB/Processor upgrade, if it's a Dell you're going to have problems. Being Dell is following the paranoid Steve Jobs business model of propietary is king, you can't upgrade without using a Dell motherboard. They've changed the power connections so they're backwards and you'll burn the MB up, unless they've gotten away from this business practice as of late. So you can't go buy a cheaper priced motherboard elsewhere and upgrade your machine. You need to buy a Dell MB from Dell if you're going to upgrade. Another reason why I build my own rather than buy from Dell, they used to be on my favorites list but after that and the way their tech support has gotten horrific the past couple of years I'd avoid them.
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Nando
Member
Reged: 02/20/01
Posts: 463
Loc: West Allen
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That is what Acer and Packard Bell was doing. Bleh!
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Censored. Do not speak freely, your opinion is not appreciated. Bug off.
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MizK
Member
Reged: 11/12/05
Posts: 179
Loc: East Allen, TX. USA
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Nope, not a Dell. It's a Cow-in-the-box. (Gateway). Do ya'll know anything about Gateway that will make this more difficult than it needs to be?
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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. -- Aristotle
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LowGear
New Member
Reged: 01/12/06
Posts: 16
Loc: Allen, TX
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This all depends on the model of the motherboard. You can determine the model by entering your PC's serial number at the following page.
Gateway Support
The major PC manufacturers customize their motherboards by making the boards a non-standard shape, position the I/O ports so they only line up in their case or have a proprietary connector on the board. These issues make it difficult or impossible to use any other motherboard. This is why I build my own systems.
If you are determined to replace this PC, you could build your own or buy a bare bones PC and move the hard drive. That will allow you to access all your existing programs and files.
I still think performing some system maintenance would make a big difference in the PC's performance. Make sure the lastest operating system updates are installed, all virus software is up to date, scan for viruses/spyware/adware, defrag the drive and perform a system diagnostic check.
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MizK
Member
Reged: 11/12/05
Posts: 179
Loc: East Allen, TX. USA
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I've already done all the PC maintenance I can do: updates, defrag, cleaning out old files and unused programs, HDD scan, etc. It has 512mg of RAM, which I think is sufficient, and the HDD is new. So, the only other thing I can think of is that, at 1.6 MHz, the processor is just too bogged down with all the extra peripheral stuff we have on there.
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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit. -- Aristotle
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nomoon
newbie
Reged: 05/31/06
Posts: 19
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I could be wrong, but I thought that Dell stopped selling proprietary motherboards and power supplies several years ago.
Jason
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http://nomoon.org/
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bsnelson
New Member
Reged: 10/14/05
Posts: 50
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
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I can't imagine that a 1.6GHz CPU would be unacceptably slow with typical "kid stuff", save possibly watching high resolution videos with newer codecs such as H.264. On the other hand, 512MB of RAM is toward the lower end of what I'd configure for any machine. RAM is a (relatively) cheap and easy upgrade, and I'd definitely try that before a motherboard upgrade.
If you do decide to upgrade the motherboard, you'd be better off starting over with the OS and application installs; Windows can have issues with motherboard changes.
I'll also ask the obvious: You've scanned for viruses/adware/malware, right?
Brad
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bsnelson
New Member
Reged: 10/14/05
Posts: 50
Loc: Allen, TX 75013
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I'd also add that hangs or crashes can be symptoms of bad RAM; there's a very good free utility that you can download to test your RAM here: http://www.memtest.org/
Brad
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