What happened to the guy who helped build computers?

H

Haggis

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Oct 21, 2007
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567
Hi all,

There used to be a sticky about a guy who would help build computers if you kicked a few dollars his way. I wonder what happened to him? I will just type in my basic information and if anyone would like to comment that would be great, if not, it is all good.

I have a computer and have upgraded almost everything I can think of (video+sound card, power supply, and RAM) I am at the point now that I think the next step is to get a new motherboard. Now I know the route I am taking to upgrade is not the best one (I should have just bought a better computer in the first place), but I am just curious what it will cost to continue upgrading and whether or not it is worth it. I am not going to scrap this computer and start over because the benefits are not worth it to me.

Here is what I have:
COMPUTER SPECS: HP Pavillion a1640n
Operating System: XP
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo E6300 / 1.86 GHz Multi-Core processor technology Dual-Core
Motherboard: Intel G965 Express Data bus speed 800 MHz
RAM: 3GB (upgrade from 1 or 2 GB) DDR II SDRAM Memory speed 533 MHz Memory specification compliance PC2-4200 RAM form factor DIMM 240-pin
Video Card: Upgraded to 8800 eVGA e-GeForce 8800GT (I also bought a high end 450W power supply)
Sound Card: Upgraded to the second most expensive sound card I could find: Creative Soundblaster XtremeGamer

Hard drive:250 GB - Standard - Serial ATA-300 - 7200 rpm


So my questions are........ Is there anywhere to go from here? Can I get a new motherboard and shove it in this case with most of this equipment? The reason I ask is because I only have one PCIe slot, so SLI is out and I bet that there is something else in the system that would probably be holding me back.

I am able to physically build a new computer, but when it comes to intense reinstalling of operating systems and messing with BIOS settings, it better be self explanatory or I need excellent directions.

If you want to comment ......great. If not, cool as well.
 
you need a better power supply. seriously. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817341002
this is the one I have, probably the best purchase I have made in a long while. it is THE MOST important part of ANY computer.

what you have now is actually pretty good.

save up for the new processors from intel if you want to update soon or later. a e8400 is supposed to be amazing, and it is roughly 250 I think it was.

EDIT:

http://www.tomshardware.com

go there. I use this site, and have learned a lot about computers and what to do/not to do. join their forums, they have a lot of good help there, and it seems very friendly. I have been recommending people to that site (not mine) for a while now, only positive results. you can check on the rankings of components too.
 
I had two choices - make a crappy post now and swaer up and down that i will make a better post later , which, I am notorious for forgetting to actually do - or, wait untill tomarrow when i have more time.

Everlast has thanksfully (maybe?) forced me to respond now. If I could slap you over the internet consider your face hurting. Before going arround telling people that their 450 watt PS is garbage try reading this first:
http://www.edgegamers.us/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?148008.post

That having been said allow me to address Haggis,
Wait are people getting paid for this? Crap, people must owe me like a million dollars in back payments :p
Anyways, Honestly the first thing I would want to do is sit down and have a chat in person... well, over live chat that is, to figure out where you want to go and what capabilities you have to get their finantially, and how important that is for you.

Many people I help are running with computers that looks like calculators compared to some of your specs (not that yours are the best either) but you seem unhappy with what you have for the short future.

It seems more important to me to get a feel of what your goals are than to just nitpick at a few specs and make reccomendations. If I did, I would mention that your RAM is running too slow for me to consider makign the jump to SLI. It's true that your motherboard is enharently bad due to being a pavillion - 90% chance it's an ECS brand with shiny hp lables and lack of bios support. Howver that being said, you do already have a core2 processor, granted not the fastest, but again it depends on your reasons and goals.

So you upgrade to sli motherboard an dnow what? intell releases a new socket and your boned in 2 months? I'm not saying I think it will happen but all the same i find completely too much ambiguity in this question to give a solid answer, and not enough time to answer in full.

However, if you wanted to go the route of SLI you will need to get a new power supply. I just didnt liek everlast making it sound as if yours isnt enough to run your current system which it is.

Also, sorry to hear about the extreme gamer - if you told me I would have sold you mine for like half price - the thing sucks something awfull.

setting up a bios and configuring a windows installation really isnt that hard so dont be afraid of it. Also, while tlaking about motherboard have you considered switching to a raid setup? I have raid 5 going right now and its true what they say - once you go raid your never afraid (haha i just made that up).

and one last note - tomehardware.com is just about the best resource you will find on selecting the best hardware and providing reliable benchmarks on this serries of tubes we call the interwebs.

and YES, contemplating hwo much I would write had I not be rushed for time DOES boggle your mind.
 
Green,
Thanks for your reply, I was hoping you would. I have to run to work, so I will keep this short. I would love to talk in person, do you hang out in Vent? I will be on all weekend, usually in the Sewer Ratz channel.
Basically, I don't NEED anything. I just feel like my stock HP Pavillion is holding me back and wondering if there is a logical path in front of me that I am not aware of. Better RAM, I could look into that, but I suppose I would have to scrap all 3GBs I have now. I just bought this power supply. Guess I could return it and buy a better one, but I just read your link (it is great). I could upgrade to the slightly better 8800 as well. I think I am at where I need (want to be). I guess I am just looking for the next upgrade, but it is just diminishing returns.

Break Break ... I am editing my post.

OK so I do not need SLI and am not going to worry about it. The real answer is that I have no common sense and I am just trying to see how much money I can dump into my computer for marginal returns. I really only play DoDs and I bet there are easier ways to increase perfomance, but hey this stuff is cool. Here are my NEW two plans:
1. The company I bought the video card from just emailed me and asked me if I am satisfied. I am going to contact them back and say yes, but I would like to return it and buy this one: EVGA GeForce 8800 GTX Video Card - 768MB GDDR3, PCI Express.
2. I am going to check out the RAM thing. I guess I must not be running the fastest speed.
 
just saying is that 450 is close to what would be real bad for a system with those specs. I understand amperage and all that matters as well, its just I have seen people crash and burn with those low wattages. Especially with that, I (just me, my opinion) would go with a 5/550 setup, name brand psu with high efficiency. and I never said his psu is/was garbage ;) just really was thinking it should be updated.

and thanks for saying you would slap me as well ?
 
Hey no problem Everlast, I appreciate the comments. My only thing is that I bought an EXPENSIVE 450W, maybe I should have bought a less expensive higher W one. I just ordered the new video card so here is my new stupid question...... What type of RAM should I buy? I do not see in my computer specifications that there is any limit or compatability issues so can I just buy the fastest stuff available? Can I just buy PC6400, that stuff looks pretty cheap. I ain't gonna buy any RAM until I am sure it will work, thanks.
 
OK I bought 4GB of 6400 RAM compatible with my system. I guess I have wasted as much money as I need too. Hopefully it all works wonderfully.
 
Everlast, its not about amperage its about pwer - which if you read my terribly long drawn out but easy to follow post I linked to you would understand that. I think a simple trip to the calculator will show that he has ample power to run the system as is and thus would not 'crash and burn' as you say your firends have done. Specs that sound the same to put it bluntly, are not even close to the same and small changes that seem meaningless to some people can make big changes.

But the real point here is that haggis is trying to find the absolute most costly way to buy things which will make little difference as is. You apparently alreayd bought the ram but had i seen this in time I would have said: the ram speed you can get depends on your FSB - which is determined by the ram itself, the cpu abilities (compatibility) and the chipset in the motherboard. ... along with bios setitngs that you have no chance in gettnig at but your ok because they are probably set to "auto" - but sometimes companies liek dell and hp say screw you an dhardcode speeds in which is ghey liek hay.

Anyways, from the sounds of it had you asked my opinion earlier today I would have asked you why you dont sell the computer you have no take that money and then put together a computer from scratch starting from the bottom up with all nice components instead of trying to fix the mistake known as HP. Just make sure you are carefull where you go from here because now that I defended your "current setup" it wont tak emuch to over exurt your power supply. It was fine for the system you had, but not for going anyplace beyond where you are now. I would consider that as yuou think about moving forward with this money pit as youve already just spent how much money just to get a pinch of performance? For a system that - in the future, in order to upgrade will have to replace your PSU, if you get a chance of motherboard, you might as well upgrade the processor to a quad core otherwise why bother waking up those sleeping dogs just to put back the original processor? Sure, motherboard play a big roll but swapping out just a mobo wont quite make that big a difference alone.


In reality building a computer is easy, picking the parts is the hardest part. The trick to it all is getting balanced parts - that is, dont pair up cellerons with 800gts's. That might seem obviouse, but what about that grey area of pairup your current system specs? You currently have parts which range all over that grey area so replacing one make less of a difference because you still have odd matchups. Most people dont into fine tuning an HP - they onyl get stuck with basic bottleneck parts of lack of parts.
 
GreenMonkey... I appreciate your help and you are right on one thing - I am just throwing money at a current system.
Maybe none of the junk I bought will help that much, but it is my money to waste and I just hope others can learn from it, which I think is your main point. As you can see I am not that smart in the realm of computer upgrades, I am impatient, and I have money to burn - guess that about answers it all.
I really do appreciate everyone's help though. I think GreenMonkey is doing a GREAT job helping everyone out. Maybe some of you will listen, unlike me :(.

PS .. One LAST question and this time I am NOT buying it yet! I bought a video card that has a minimum power supply of 450W. My power supply is 450W, should I return it and get a higher one?
 
The guy who used to make the computers and helped you was Shane-HD don't really know what happened to him. Good luck with your compooper!
 
Cards over the 6800 serries reccomend 480 watts for aPSU. Howeve,r they dont need it they reccomend it because for all they know you have 7 hard drives and power 10 usb devices. Ther eis no easy answer other than to say read my post about power supply watts which i linked to in my first post. I basically typed that so people could help themselves :p

There is a link in that article to one of many power supply calculators availible and if you typed in your system specs it will help you decide what your needs are.

Also, i'm happy to debate things, i dont mean to come accross as "i'm right your wrong", i just dont like people making comments where their main fact its based upon includes "ftw" or "because it sux".
 
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