Topic: Upgrading Computer
started by: Neophyre
Posted by Neophyre on Dec. 26 2001,09:23
i'm going for:Geforce 2mx-200 64mb
AMD XP1600
Gigabyte - GA-7ZX-E
256mb SDRAM
New Case
I'm gonna use my existing hard drives, cdrom, floppy, monitor and sound card.
All adds up to be $723AU. which is about my budget, and i don't wanna go any higher than that.
buying all this from www.computersupermarket.com.au
comments?
Posted by ic0n0 on Dec. 26 2001,19:24
Tell us how the XP cpu does. I have heard good things but i need more evidense.
Posted by directhex on Dec. 26 2001,23:14
MORE RAM! MUAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!| Quote |
System Properties Computer: AMD Duron™ Processor 747 MHz 640 MB of RAM |
--directhex
Posted by Dark Knight Bob on Dec. 28 2001,03:10
wanna try a kyro II out. it'll last you longer and is about the price of an average gforce.
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Dec. 28 2001,03:40
make sure you get *lots* of cooling on that sucker. Word on the street is that AMD XP's are running *really* hot and killing themselves, and usually taking the mobo with them.
Posted by directhex on Dec. 28 2001,09:39
and make sure your PSU dosen't explode. damn annoying when that happens.and with your case, make sure the psu is mounted NEXT to the mobo not OVER it.
--directhex
Posted by Neophyre on Dec. 29 2001,06:20
PSU?this is the first time i've upgraded by myself. i've got a mate helping me out.
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Dec. 29 2001,09:01
PSU = power supply unit. Make sure you get a damn good one. It may run you $20-30 extra, but it's worth it.Another thing to do is to go down to Home Depot, pick up some Electrostatic Register Vent Filters (about $5 / pack of 12) and use them to cover your intake fans. Keeps the dust *way* down. Remember, a dusty heatsink is a worthless heatsink!
Also, make sure you mount your HDD(s) upside down, with at least 1" above the drive for adequate airflow. This allows heat from the PC board and drive motor to dissipate without heating up the platters or the electronics too much. If you can, direct a little air from your intake fans over your drives. It sounds weird, but it works... I have 5 IBM Deathstars, 3 of 'em over a year old. I've never had a drive go bad or even developed a bad sector
You'll notice that I am a *big* fan of good cooling... this is because the #1 component killer is HEAT.
Posted by directhex on Dec. 29 2001,16:10
/me likes a quiet system. i only have a cpu fan, and a load temperature of 49 degrees.my taisol 0wnz j00!
--directhex
Posted by ic0n0 on Dec. 30 2001,01:24
I figured out today most my comps issues have to do with power. I have a 310 watt power supply but all the other devices i have are pulling power off the same outlet so my comp hasn't getting enough power and was acting funny.
Posted by Neophyre on Dec. 30 2001,05:13
jeez, this is sounding more complicated and expensive than i thought :/how do i find out my CPU temp? i've checked my bios - not there.
im not picking up all this till the 7th, coz they don't reopen till then.
my 56k died on christmas day, so i'm stuck with a 14.4k till these damn stores decide to reopen.
Posted by directhex on Dec. 30 2001,20:24
motherboard monitor 5. try cnet. and if you get a load temp of above 60, you need more cooling.and really, spend the extra £20 to double that 256mb.
--directhex
Posted by Dark Knight Bob on Dec. 31 2001,02:43
front fans in, rear fans outpsu => 300watts preferably AMD approved
big case so more room for air to flow
fop 32 or fop 38 to REALLY keep the temps down
get some rounded ide cables
keep your room relatively cool
underclock you processor first in case the heat sink isnt on proper
make sure you use something like arctic silver and not the crappy pink chewing gum shit
use meths or something to clear off any grease on chip dont put you're finger marks on it as the grease off your finger is ebough to preven theat dissapation
HD's upside down
fans over HD's if possible
delta fans for REAL cooling
and you should be able to keep you amd from exploding for oh a few seconds
Posted by veistran on Jan. 07 2002,03:31
| Quote (damien_s_lucifer @ Dec. 28 2001,15:01) |
| PSU = power supply unit. Make sure you get a damn good one. It may run you $20-30 extra, but it's worth it. Another thing to do is to go down to Home Depot, pick up some Electrostatic Register Vent Filters (about $5 / pack of 12) and use them to cover your intake fans. Keeps the dust *way* down. Remember, a dusty heatsink is a worthless heatsink! Also, make sure you mount your HDD(s) upside down, with at least 1" above the drive for adequate airflow. This allows heat from the PC board and drive motor to dissipate without heating up the platters or the electronics too much. If you can, direct a little air from your intake fans over your drives. It sounds weird, but it works... I have 5 IBM Deathstars, 3 of 'em over a year old. I've never had a drive go bad or even developed a bad sector You'll notice that I am a *big* fan of good cooling... this is because the #1 component killer is HEAT. |
my deathstar has got a fan dedicated to cooling it... it's also a real deathstar. The problem is they just weren't manufactured properly.
Posted by damien_s_lucifer on Jan. 07 2002,05:37
| Quote (veistran @ Jan. 07 2002,03:31) |
| my deathstar has got a fan dedicated to cooling it... it's also a real deathstar. The problem is they just weren't manufactured properly. |
True, some Deathstars fail no matter what. But IBM has such a good track record (I have a 20MB IBM from 1985 that still works ffs!) that I'd say the bad Deskstars were a fluke.
Of course, for a *REALLY* rock-solid drive, I'd use a Fujitsu. They're slow but they almost never fail.
Note on 7200rpm drives : it's not just IBMs that should be mounted upside down and/or externally cooled. *ALL* 7200+ drives need this.
Posted by Dark Knight Bob on Jan. 07 2002,13:45
i find the quantum drives pretty reliable. i opened up an ancient p100 the other day it had a quantum pioneer in it ir something ran spinrite on it and it didnt come up with a single error on it at all.
Posted by DuSTman on Jan. 07 2002,14:24
Maxtor owns quantum now, don't they?
Posted by Spydir on Jan. 07 2002,19:43
yeah. they've been in a little trouble lately beause they've been shipping quantum drives in maxtor boxes. funny shit