Need Computer Help -- Trying to Decide if I Want to Upgrade CPU

[NYC GOP Chick]

OK, I have a computer that's about 3 years old and I'm very attached to it. I've done lots of upgrades and improvements over the past year or so and instead of getting a new one, I'd like to do one more upgrade.

Having put in a Network Interface Card, doubled the RAM to 256K, installed a CD-RW drive and replaced the hard drive in my IBM Aptiva, I'm giving serious thought to updating the processor from a Pentium III 600 MHz to something like a P4 2G or something, and I have a few questions:

1) Do I need a new motherboard to do this?

2) How difficult is this to do? Will it become one of those "more trouble than its worth" things?

3) What issues and potential problems should I consider?

Here are some of the specs:

Pentium III 600
system board: V66M
system board chipset: Intel 82443ZX
system board form factor: micro-ATX
front-side bus speed: 100 MHz

[Revel]

I have my eye on the new Soyo dragon Plus. I have had bad luck with Asus recently. If you read the forums at amdmb.com then you can see that these newer boards have lots of problems. The Soyo seems to come out on top. But at around $175.00 (Not including updating to DDR)it is still on my wish list. So you think those Dragon boards are great? I like all the extras that come with them too. Of course for those who don't want all the bells and whistles then there are cheaper dragon boards.

[Revel]

Do you have built in video or is it on a seperate video card that plugs into the mother board ?

[CFC__VRWC]

Thanks for the tip. I installed my desktop copy of XP on my laptop, and of course had to go through the activation process. Microsoft didn't charge me for that, but who knows what they'll do in the future?

If they get too greedy, I'll give it a try.

[krizzy]

if you are after a little more speed but dont want to spend the money, the first thing you should try is to clean up your hard drive. Regardless of how fast the Cpu is, a full hard drive will make your computer dog slow.

partition your hard drive as 4 small drives not 1 large drive, and leave your old drive in and move the swap file to that drive.

256 megs should be enough memory you might see a small boost with another 256.

16 megs on your video card is a bit low for graphic intensive programs.

if you want to build a new system for the fun of it, or so you can do it slowly over time start at Toms hardware
http://www.tomshardware.com/

[CFC__VRWC]

Damn, I was thinking about buying an Asus. I had heard they were pretty good boards. My local dealer stocks the Asus and the Biostar boards -have you had any experience with the Biostars?

[John Lenin]

The Dragon is a nice board, I have it, no problems with at all.

[krizzy]

I had a Biostar back in the days of 486's the board ran forever, at least 6 years 24/7, and never gave me a problem but the manual was useless.

check out toms hardware http://www.tomshardware.com

[boris]

Well I got a P-III 933 MHz and I simply cannot find a reason to buy a new one. I upgrade peripherals all the time. But I'm not a gamer (games are the forcing technology; they are the things that drive PCs to their knees and keep video boards etc advancing).

My PIII is plenty for web surfing, MP3 downloading and playing.

So I asked myself why I needed a faster PC and the answer came back: "buy some new GUNS instead!"

--Boris

[CFC__VRWC]

...but the manual was useless.

An "All Your Base Are Belong To Us" situation, I take it?

[krizzy]

exactly

[NYC GOP Chick]

I *think* it's separate. In the manual, there's a diagram and key for identifying system components, and one of them is "AGP video card connector."

[CFC__VRWC]

Again, thanks for the tip. I'm off to bed.

[NYC GOP Chick]

It's not the money so much as the hassle and fearing that I'd be getting in over my head.

Where can I find out how to partition the hard drive?

[NYC GOP Chick]

I'd *LOVE* to buy guns, but no can do in this city. :( It's one of the very few things I dislike about living here...

[Action-America]

I must agree with most of the other posters on this thread.  I have used nothing but AMD processors in my PC's, going all the way back to the old K2 processor, running Win95 and can strongly attest to both their reliability and compatibility.

One major reason for buying AMD is that the AMD processor is faster than an Intel of the same clock speed and vastly faster than the Intel on 3D applications.  Don't worry about compatibility either.  I use Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Brice 3D and Corel Draw, often all at the same time and I have never had a problem with any of those apps relating to any of my AMD processors.

I currently have three AMD based systems - one running NT4.0 and the other two running XP-Pro.  I work on client systems based on Intel chips all the time and I can assure you that the only system that I have seen that is any more stable than an AMD based PC is the G4 Mac that I use for my mission critical work.

In fact, the only reason that I have any PC's at all, is because that's how I make my living.  After all, I couldn't make a living consulting on Macs, since they are so easy to use that nobody needs outside help and Macs never break.  Just don't tell any of my consulting clients.  :-)

For the record, all of the above mentioned apps run faster on the 867MHz Mac, than on the 2.0GHz PC.  The only common thing that you can't do native on a Mac is run MS-Access, which requires Virtual PC (about $260).  On the other hand, you can do a lot of things on the Mac, in apps like Photoshop, that you can't do on a PC.

If you feel tied to a PC, then the AMD is the way to go and you can get the best AMD/Motherboard packages at Tiger Direct:

    http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_tlc.asp?id=14

But, if you have a few more bucks, the Mac is well worth the cost to upgrade.  You can get a G4 iMac (flat panel display) with a CD-RW for as little as $1199 (retail) and for $1699, you can get one with a faster processor and a DVD-R/CD-RW.  You can get a DVD-R drive for a PC, but you'll have to spend an arm and a leg for just the basic software that is not even as good as what's included on the Mac.  Also, the best DVD editing software for PC's is kindergarten work when compared to the best DVD editing software on Mac.

Just a little food for thought.  But, if you stay with a PC, the AMD is the way to go.

 

[XBob]

Sorry, it has been a while since I have used 98, so please forgive me, as my memory is not as good as the computer.

with 98SE, you have a problem. There is a bug in it. You need to take out some of your 256 memory.

It slows down dramatically when you boost the memory over (now challenging my memory - I think it is 180, though it might be 128). This is not widely publicized, but I found out the hard way myself and bought a clone.

Also, as someone mentioned above, I don't think your motherboard is upgradable. Major manufacturers have purposely built in in-compatabilites so that you can only use their parts, and IBM quite making your computer a couple of years ago.

If you get a 2gb processor, make sure you get an expensive box and GOOD cooling, and learn how to cool the processor, especially the AMD. Mine has 2 fans in the case plus one over the processor chip. Also make sure your heat sink is secured properly and you use the special paste to transfer the heat.

2 things really improve your graphics speed - memory on motherboard and memory on graphics card. 98 doesnt support the latest variations.

One other thing, all kinds of software and web sites install TSR (terminate stay resident) programs which run in the background, hogging memory and slowing every thing down. When you have no other programs running, his [ctrl]+[alt]+[delete], once only, and this will bring up a list of all the programs running, when you think you have nothing but windows running. If you are normal, you will have many running, while only 3 are necessary. (which 3, now I can't remember)

win 95, keeps only one registry as backup, win98 keeps 5 registries in backup. If you lose your registry, you are in deep trouble. Make an "emergency" disk.

open windows in dos mode (repeatedly click F8) when powering on the computer.
I think the program is called 'regfix'. do an inquiry in the following manner

type exactly at the right arrow prompt

DIR REGFIX /?

I think this is the right file, and it is usually in the Windows directory or in the main directory.

To get to the windows directory type at the C prompt arrow

CD WINDOWS

and then type look for the regfix.

the qestion mark in regfix doesnt run anything, but is a help file, which lists the various ways the program can be run.

Running it properly will clean up registry problems in Win98, which will also help make it run faster.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Thanks for all the info!

How would adding memory slow it down? I seem to remember things running faster when I added it (from 128 to 256).

2 things really improve your graphics speed - memory on motherboard and memory on graphics card. 98 doesnt support the latest variations.98 doesn't support the latest variations on what -- the motherboard or the graphics card, or both?!

[TheLurkerX]

Buy an AMD XP/Soyo-tek Dragon + motherboard combo, and get the RAM to match. Should run you a little over 300.00. Check out www.pricewatch.com for the best prices, but be sure to check up on the vendors. Some seem like the best deal, but they'll kill you with restocking fees or shipping.

[krizzy]

the best way to be sure is to open the case, look inside. If there is a card that plugs into that slot(the brown agp slot) then you have a seperate agp video card.

If there is only a ribbon wire that connects the monitor on one side and plugs into the motherboard, or the video connector is on the motherboard itself, then you have on board video.

[XBob]

73 - "It's not the money so much as the hassle and fearing that I'd be getting in over my head.

Where can I find out how to partition the hard drive?"
\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\
If you are doing serious work on this machine, you better spend the money. If you are playing around, have fun.

Nothing wrong with the question, but if you don't know how to format a drive, you are playing in dangerous territory.

Get a new system, and get it up and running satisfactorily, then play around with this old one, so that if you do any damage you won't hurt anything important, and you can have a wonderful learning experience, and apply it to your next upgrade.