PC Dead - Rebuild or start again?

[nowthen]

Could do with a bit of advice off one of the clever pc bods!

Months ago my PC was switched on as usual while I was away doin somat an when I got back to it it was showing the 'no signal' on the monitor. So I tried to re-boot it an it was still dead as a dodo.I've had it open an checked all the connections etc.The power lights on,light on the HD on (spinning quietly I think but not whirring like it does when it worked),fan spinning but still not booting up.

I've come to the (uninformed!) conclusion that its either the Mobo,CPU or both.

I want to try an upgrade while I'm fixing it but I aint really got a clue what I'm doin.

Is it worth buyin just a new CPU an tryin that first dya think?

somat like this?

Then if that still don't do the trick, try a new mobo.

Also,probs sound a silly question this, but can I just stick a 2400 processor in my old PC (amd duron 700) without upgradin anything else.

Or dya think I'm best just buyin a bare bones tower an beefin it up with the best bits that are still workin out me old one? (DVD drive etc)

Either way,can anyone recomend a cheap place to get the parts, or even a gaff that would take me fooked one and upgrade/fix it for me without takin the piss with the bill! (pref in the North West)

Bloody hell, longest post I've ever done!

Any help/advice would be bonzer.

Cheers.

Lee.

 

[sirius]

Mine died a few months back, but cos I wanted to get a beast asap I decided to just replace it rather than fumble about trying to figure out what was exactly wrong.....but maybe somebody can help your situation and get it going.

I got a new load of bits as a self build cos I have specific requirements, but there is some good prebuilt units out there - it depends what you wanna spend if you want a new one. I robbed the CDRom off my old PC and a few bits and bobs too, but they arent expensive as they were when I got my first one anyway!.

I got stuff from both Scan and Microdirect, who are both Northwest based, and both delivered promtly and there was no hassle.

Try a look at the new microdirect 'systems' whilst you wait for somebody more pro to answer your questions!

eg http://www.microdirect.co.uk/productinfo.aspx?ProductID=6278

http://www.microdirect.co.uk/systems.aspx


Sirius.

 

[Myk]

OK a couple of questions Lee. Firstly have you ruled out the video card ? Secondly does the PC make any kind of beeping noise ?

If the answer to the second question is yes, tell me what/hom many beeps it is making.

If the answer is to the second question is no, then you can more or less rule out the CPU and Vid Card and go with the mobo.


Finally can you tell me exactly which mobo you have, make/model ?


Myk.


P.S I can throw an estimate together for you on a new PC fella. I can assure you it will be as cheap as anyone and you would have peice of mind that what we sell is quality and well thought out. We now have special international secure shipping available too. Others on the board already have Euro Computers PC´s and I think youll find everyone has been more than happy with us.

 

[sirius]

Myks a star, helped me out with loads and loads of computer advice He knows his stuff!


Sirius.

 

[nowthen]

Cheers fellas.

Myk, I had to try an find out the make an model of the Mobo months ago an struggled findin any name on it in the end I had to use a benchmark program an it told me that way, but obviously I can't do that now cos its gone tits up!

For the life of me i can't remember the model,although I remember the make was MicroStar.(not much good on its own I know!)

I'll probably just buy somat like

this an stick my old drives in it.I'd love to buy a somat a bit better but I've just bought a new car last month an goin on hols tommorow, so a bit short of reddies at the mo.

It seems quiet a good price that above but your welcome to give me a few quotes on somat similar tho Myk cos I'd always rather buy off someone I trust.

Ta.

Lee.

 

[Myk]

That PC you linked to is forgive my french, absolutely shite m8. Theyre only offering you a Case, Mobo and CPU. That wouldnt be so bad if it wasnt for the fact that the case is crap as is the PSU, the CPU is even more crap, I mean you don´t won´t a Duron at all and as for the Mobo, ffs it is a Mercury

Mercury KOB KM266 motherboard with DURON 1800 cpu and fan

that is a weak company and to top it off it is using and already very dated chipset (KM266). I am sure I can do something much better than that. Infact I´m sure you can do much better than that from almost any retailer in the UK too.

I´ll look into it on Tuesday when I am back in work fella.

 

[nowthen]

Cheers for the heads up mate, suppose its easy to just go off the price when I aint got a clue what I'm doin,but also sayin that, we're only goin to be using it for light/meidum internet use an playin a few tunes. No need for anything state of the art really.

I'm defo gonna get somat similar to that package sorted out in the next couple of weeks so if you could come up with something similar that would be sound.Wouldn't the shipping from Spain be a fortune tho?

I only really need barebones cos I don't think theres anything wrong with my HD,dvd drive an floppy(least I hope not!)

Cheers.

Lee.

 

[JAZ]

Yeah thats a big rip off that E-bay system but to be honest for what you want to use it for its the sort of spec that would do.
However, its over priced & as Myk says most UK stores can match the spec for a lower price..
For example a similar system off http://www.ebuyer.com is £101.76 & while its not cutting edge by a long shot at least the parts are decent brands.

Casecom KG-600 Silver 300watt Atx Case with USB and Audio
055813 668 £9.99 £9.99
Kingston 128MB DDR PC2100 266MHz Dimm CL2 043766 19 £14.01 £14.01
AMD Duron 1800 266FSB CPU - OEM 055333 587 £25.10 £25.10
MSI KM2M Combo-L SKT A KM266 MATX DDR/SDR Video/Sound/lAN & USB 2.0 Motherboard Retail Box 046609 295 £31.99 £31.99
Cart Total: £81.09
Shipping Band: £5.49
Approx Cart Weight: 9.57Kg
Shipping Surcharge: £0.00
SubTotal: £86.58
VAT: £15.18
Total: £101.76

If you wanted to pay a bit more you could improve the spec for not much money but if its just for the net & mp3 its more than enough + its cheap.
Just realise that with that you will have to assemble it & format the hard drive so you have to have a small amount of expertise (or better a friend who has who can help).

 

[nowthen]

Aye,I see what yer mean. I've had a little look about an found this one http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?BB-XP20UBB

A little more money but not a duron. I can see it would probably be cheaper to build my own from scratch, but frankly I haven't got the knowledge (or time!) to do it myself. Whereas I think I could defo manage to just stick the drives in one like above (cos I've done this before).

I'm gonna keep looking an also wait to see what Myk could do for me.

cheers.

 

[Myk]

A couple of options :

A.
Semi Tower Delux with 350W (Matrix) ATX PSU
CPU AMD XP2600+ Barton FSB333
Thermaltake copper base Heatsink/Fan
256MB S3+ DDR@400MHZ (PC3200)
Mobo ASUS A7V600-X (KT600)


Total = 166 GBP (sterling)


B.
Semi Tower Delux with 350W (Matrix) ATX PSU
CPU AMD XP2000+ Thunderbird FSB266
Thermaltake copper base Heatsink/Fan
256MB S3+ DDR@400MHZ (PC3200)
Mobo ASUS A7V8X-X (KT400A)

Total = 148 BGP (Sterling)

Theyre the sort of thing you want to be looking for fella. Make sure wherever you get a quote from they specify make/model of each component, above all mobo and memory.

I doubt it would be worth your while purchasing them from us afterall as the shipping is about 35 Euros and would bump up the price too much on such a small setup.

Myk.

 

[nowthen]

Cheers for that Myk.

Gonna have a good look about,probs won't be buyin one for a few weeks anyway so got plenty of time to shop about.

 

[Myk]

No worries fella. I'll keep my eyes open for ya and give you a shout if I see anything interesting from any UK companies.

 

[nowthen]

Ta