Some RAM I don't know what they are.

[ResidentWeevil2077]

...And rob_b, you're really doing more harm than good. PC2-3200 is DDR2 memory --- PC-3200 is the DDR memory standard with equivalent bandwidth. I wouldn't recommend a Pentium 4 to anyone. Core 1 processors are for notebooks. New memory placed in an old mainboard won't cause the system to overheat. Please, only give hardware advice in areas that you're familiar with.

Oh, sorry... I thought I'd be of some help, but I guess not... :( Yet ANOTHER obvious hint to take about my complete brainlessness and brashness... :wacko: I'm startin' to wonder if I might end up being the all-time dumb@$$ on the entire site... o_O

 

...But I have to ask, why wouldn't you recommend a Pentium 4 to anyone? Just so you can clarify to me something I don't know (not that I'd give your advice to anyone else, but it doesn't hurt to ask).

[Marxist ßastard]

Intel used the same P6 microarchitecture from the Pentium Pro in 1995 up to the Pentium III in 2003, making only small revisions along the way. During this time, AMD, which was following Intel generation-by-generation up to this point with generally unremarkable processors, put out their first entirely in-house processor --- the K5 --- in 1995. They then bought NexGen and produced the K6, K6-2, and K6-III processors for Socket 7 mainboards, which were cheaper than their Intel counterparts, and, clock-for clock, better performing (starting with the K6-2; the K6 achieved about the same performance as a Pentium II running at the same clock speed). Intel noticed this and moved to proprietary slot/socket configurations instead of Socket 7 --- so that AMD processors could no longer serve as drop-in replacements for Intel processors --- and released the deceptively-named Pentium III, which was, in fact, just a Pentium II with very minor changes.

 

AMD stepped up in 1999 and released the first actual seventh-generation PC processor, the Athlon. AMD produced the Athlon at speeds up to 1000 MHz, winning the gigahertz race, and then followed it up with the Thunderbird and the Athlon XP. With AMD absolutely trouncing their Pentium III with these new processors, Intel was being hard-pressed to innovate --- however, they didn't... Which brings us to the Pentium 4. In short, Intel had any halfway-competent engineers turn the other cheek and basically had their marketing department design an entire microarchitecture, dubbed "NetBurst." NetBurst as it appeared in the Pentium 4 performed horribly, had poor memory throughput, and had power efficiency roughly comparable to an incandescent lightbulb. However, none of that mattered because as long as it was the processor with "more megahurtses and hypurtreading," Intel's near-monopoly marketing muscle could make it profitable. Meanwhile, AMD introduced DDR to PCs, produced HyperTransport and DCA, integrated a memory controller and power management features into their chips, and manufactured the first backwards-compatible 64-bit PC processor.

 

Intel continued their Pentium 4 "this one goes to 11!" marketing hijinks on the desktop until 2006, when they finally ditched NetBus and introduced their Core 2 processors, based upon the microarchitecture that they had been using in notebooks since the Pentium M. As it turned out, NetBurst's power efficiency was so absolutely abysmal that anything resembling a Pentium 4 just couldn't continue to be used in notebooks, so Intel told its branch in Israel to come up with a processor that could be used in notebooks without the mainboard catching fire. They took a page from previous Intel strategies and just rebranded a Pentium II for the process, calling it a Pentium M and eventually rebranding the P6 microarchitecture as the Core microarchitecture. Yes, that's right. Intel's top-of-the-line processor offering today is a Pentium Pro. However, truth be told, Core 2 actually performs somewhat well. In fact, Intel has once again surpassed AMD in performance, and even in price --- which just goes to reiterate one of the most valuable lessons that an engineer can ever learn: if you've done it before, chances are you've done it better.

[Vagrant0]

Anyway, I can understand how you feel. As for buying a new anything, for $100 you aren't going to get anything useful. It isn't just the motherboard, it's the processor, ram, software, videocard (most the ones that come with motherboards suck), and probably a new powersupply/case if you're upgrading from ancient technology. My old computer was a 500mhz 128mb ram wonder that lasted me a good 5 years after the right tweaking, when I went for something more, the only parts that were usable were the hard drive (5gb, was C:, became pagefile) and the floppy drive (only recently started acting up). Everything else I had to buy new (just hardware was around $500). Then there's software as the bundled stuff that comes with bought PCs doesn't work on newly built ones. All in all, (unless you're savy with linux) I would probably figure in spending a good $800-$1000 for a reasonably good system that'll last you a few years (provided nothing breaks on you, or you screw up with installing components). All in all, if you don't have a good idea what you're doing, and don't have anyone you can contact for when things go wrong, you're probably better off buying a Dell or similar. It's slightly cheaper, (as the software is bundled) and less hassle.

 

Until then, there are more than a few low resource games that you could tinker around with and not be totally bored. Heck, I even still play some of the ones I found when I was at your point. Summer's coming, if you don't mind busting your ass for next to nothing, you could probably look for work as a caddy, or mow lawns. Your best bet though would probably be trying to convince your parents to take the money they would have been spending on your birthday/christmas presents, and a portion of any allowance you may get for the next two years, and stick it in the bank so that you can get a new computer. You're in those angsty teenage years, if you play the good boy, and show that you're disciplined, they may look in your favor.

[tmx]

what you are having is 168 pins DIMM SDRAM, they are not similar with newer technolody ddr rams, you motherboard is compatible with sdram 133mhz at most. so you cannot install ddr and ddr2 rams to it, even if you try it wont fit.

 

the ddr pc3200 ram you mention are good for the recent AMD 939 socket and intel socket 472 (P4). i dont reccommend buying a computer with this anymore, since now the newest processors (generally dual core) use motherboard with ddr2 rams.

[Marxist ßastard]

...You're probably better off buying a Dell or similar. It's slightly cheaper...

Assuming your $US300 rebate doesn't fall through (it always does), assuming that you want the exact same software load that's on that Dell, assuming that you don't care about warranties, and disregarding the fact that you'll have to buy a completely new one in a year or so since Dells explode if you try to upgrade them.

[ResidentWeevil2077]

I may not know anythng about PC hardware and whatnot, but I at least know that Dells aren't much to get out of the box. The school I used to attend had an entire line of Dells (20 I think), and they kept needing repairs like there's no tomorrow. So, my school ended up buying all brand new ones with XP Pro (not Win 2000 or Win 98), and wated pretty much the entire school's budget in one year :wacko: .

 

If you need a new PC, go to a store that specializes in PCs and the like, and have one custom built for you. Most stores will even transfer your HD to the new comp so you won't lose all the data you've managed to acquire over the years. But don't buy a Dell for pity's sake (unless you're desperate enough), and try to find a job or something that can give you at least a bit of extra spending money.

 

Things nowadays aren't cheap, and you'll need to work a little in order to earn them. Swallow your pride and tough it out over the summer (by that I mean not going out everyday with friends, or doing nothing at all), and before you know it, you should have enough cash saved up to buy something a little more decent than that "clunker" you have now :D . And in the meantime, you'll have acquired some valuable life skills (something everybody needs).

[IamBatosai]

Here's a gaming system for a local store:

Antec Sonata 2 Case $115 $100 at Newegg

Antec 450w Power Supply included with case

ASUS P5N-E SLI Motherboard $145 $127 at Newegg

2GB DDR2 667Mhz (2x1GB) $69x2 $138 total $115 total at Newegg

NVidia 8800GTS 320MB PCX Video Card $329 $273 at Newegg

WD 250 GB Serial II ATA Hard Drive $78 $70 at Newegg

Samsung 18x DVD+/-RW $45 $31 at Newegg

HD Audio Codec couldn't find price

Logitech X-230 Speakers $43 $34 at Newegg

Logitech Multimedia Keyboard $24 $15 at Newegg

Logitech Optical Mouse $15 $5 at Newegg

Window Vista Home Premium I'm not getting vista

XP is still available Friend has own disk

 

Intel E6300 $1335 1.86 ghz core 2 duo

Intel E6600 $1475 2.4 ghz core 2 duo

Intel QX6700 $2225 Quadcore 2.66 ghz (US Dollars)

 

Copy and pasted from they're site. I would probably get the E6600 what do you think? Also I have a friend who's been putting together computer's for years and he said if I got the components he would put it together. If I buy the components and put it together I will pay: $1281 At Newegg I would pay: $1083 Plus Shiping and handling. Almost $200 dollars difference. Should I get the things from Newegg?

[Vagrant0]

XP is still available Friend has own disk

Just because he has a disk doesn't mean you can install it on your computer. It's one of those legal things, trying to pirate the main OS is usually a BAD idea as the OS needs to work properly, and (atleast with windows) be updated constantly. Since windows has a tool that you have to run to update that checks your key against bad ones, it just isn't recommended. You can still however purchase XP... regardless, you'd still be spending $1000 more than you currently have.

[IamBatosai]

Huh? He has the actual XP disk. Yeah I got $54, I feel some back breaking work coming this summer. :dry:

 

 

Hmmm, I just hope that when I get the money the parts won't be too out dated.

[Vagrant0]

Huh? He has the actual XP disk. Yeah I got $54, I feel some back breaking work coming this summer. :dry:

 

 

Hmmm, I just hope that when I get the money the parts won't be too out dated.

They probably will be, but reasonable hardware is always about the same price. as for XP, the disk is useless without a valid, and legal CD key. By the time you get to that point, you'll probably be forced to use vista anyway.