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Author Topic:   Computer help?
EZscience
Member (Idle past 5154 days)
Posts: 961
From: A wheatfield in Kansas
Joined: 04-14-2005


Message 76 of 297 (351368)
09-22-2006 2:53 PM
Reply to: Message 69 by Taz
09-22-2006 2:12 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
All true.
I would just say that if you are going to buy a single core processor you need to be aware of its impending obsolesence... and you need to be getting a REALLY good deal on it!

This message is a reply to:
 Message 69 by Taz, posted 09-22-2006 2:12 PM Taz has not replied

EZscience
Member (Idle past 5154 days)
Posts: 961
From: A wheatfield in Kansas
Joined: 04-14-2005


Message 77 of 297 (351369)
09-22-2006 2:59 PM
Reply to: Message 71 by Faith
09-22-2006 2:15 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
Well the price will be affected by many other options beyond the processor. As others have said, you need to analyze your needs and customize a computer for yourself.
Generally, you get a better deal by buying something that is mid-to-high range in processor speed. The very fastest models are always sold for a premium price that price quickly drops as even faster models come out. And you won't notice processor speed in most of what you are probably doing. But I would say don't skimp on the cache size (has a direct effect on software performance) or on RAM. Newer programs are more and more demanding of RAM and VISTA requires a MINIMUM of 512 dram. This tells you you will probably need 1024 if you are wanting to run more than 2 or 3 programs at a time.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 71 by Faith, posted 09-22-2006 2:15 PM Faith has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 79 by Faith, posted 09-22-2006 3:14 PM EZscience has replied

Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


Message 78 of 297 (351370)
09-22-2006 3:07 PM
Reply to: Message 75 by Taz
09-22-2006 2:24 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
I've found that buying new computers don't have to involve getting all the necessary parts. You can pretty much canibalize from the old computer for all the parts you need.
IF you are a geek and know what you are doing.

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Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


Message 79 of 297 (351371)
09-22-2006 3:14 PM
Reply to: Message 77 by EZscience
09-22-2006 2:59 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
Generally, you get a better deal by buying something that is mid-to-high range in processor speed. The very fastest models are always sold for a premium price that price quickly drops as even faster models come out. And you won't notice processor speed in most of what you are probably doing. But I would say don't skimp on the cache size (has a direct effect on software performance) or on RAM. Newer programs are more and more demanding of RAM and VISTA requires a MINIMUM of 512 dram. This tells you you will probably need 1024 if you are wanting to run more than 2 or 3 programs at a time.
Good advice I'm sure, although I don't know what the "cache" is. I'm keeping track of all this however.
I always have at least two documents of Publisher, and sometimes many more, plus Word and the internet open at the same time, and sometimes a couple of windows of Excel as well, and may have half a dozen websites open too, minimized. And that's been fine on my system as is until recently. Now I can't even print something while I'm typing or opening or closing a document or the whole thing freezes up.
Edited by Faith, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 77 by EZscience, posted 09-22-2006 2:59 PM EZscience has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 80 by EZscience, posted 09-22-2006 3:30 PM Faith has replied

EZscience
Member (Idle past 5154 days)
Posts: 961
From: A wheatfield in Kansas
Joined: 04-14-2005


Message 80 of 297 (351373)
09-22-2006 3:30 PM
Reply to: Message 79 by Faith
09-22-2006 3:14 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
The cache can kind of act like a bottleneck for information flow in your computer, so a bigger one will help information flow faster. It also sounds like your computer habits would be quite demanding on RAM, so that is likely part of your problem.
Remember EVERY program has files (subroutines) it loads into your (limited) RAM space every time it is running. As all programs try repeatedly to access their own subroutines they can interfere with one another when RAM space is limited. Thus, for the meantime, you would likely have better performance running fewer programs at a time.
The number of browser windows minimized may or may not affect things. If they are entirely 'passive' windows, they won't affect much, but many will be trying to run java scripts you are not aware of, so try and reduce the number of windows you leave open as well.
ABE: It occurred to me you may have a damaged file in your operating system. Have you tried using 'system restore' to take your computer settings back to a date before you started having these problems?
Note: this will not be possible unless you are running XP.
Edited by EZscience, : No reason given.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 79 by Faith, posted 09-22-2006 3:14 PM Faith has replied

Replies to this message:
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Quetzal
Member (Idle past 5872 days)
Posts: 3228
Joined: 01-09-2002


Message 81 of 297 (351381)
09-22-2006 4:00 PM
Reply to: Message 75 by Taz
09-22-2006 2:24 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
I've found that buying new computers don't have to involve getting all the necessary parts. You can pretty much canibalize from the old computer for all the parts you need.
I just did the same thing... Question: Is it worth Faith's time to simply replace the motherboard? You can get Pentium D 2.5 GHz motherboards, with internal sound and graphics, and a handful of dram for well under $200. Do you think that might be an option for her? Keeps the same box, all the same drives, same software (without having to reload anything) etc.

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Replies to this message:
 Message 83 by Faith, posted 09-22-2006 4:14 PM Quetzal has not replied
 Message 89 by crashfrog, posted 09-22-2006 6:19 PM Quetzal has replied

Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


Message 82 of 297 (351385)
09-22-2006 4:11 PM
Reply to: Message 80 by EZscience
09-22-2006 3:30 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
ABE: It occurred to me you may have a damaged file in your operating system. Have you tried using 'system restore' to take your computer settings back to a date before you started having these problems?
Note: this will not be possible unless you are running XP.
Yes I have XP. I did do System Restore early on, I'm pretty sure. But if it's a damaged file, then reinstalling Windows XP would cure that. Maybe I'll yet do that.
I know the fewer programs open the better but I really do need to have two docs of Publisher plus Word open at all times, and I use the internet a lot so having that open too is necessary. I can do Excel docs as a separate operation with everything else closed, but that's about the only accommodation I can make without making my job unnecessarily difficult. Right now of course it's a difficult as possible since I only do one task at a time very carefully to avoid a crash.
Jazz's suggestion to shut off the msconfig startups was probably the best advice yet. Hardly any freezeups since I did that. But I still don't dare open a link.
But I get it: bigger cache, bigger RAM if I can manage it.

This message is a reply to:
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Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


Message 83 of 297 (351386)
09-22-2006 4:14 PM
Reply to: Message 81 by Quetzal
09-22-2006 4:00 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
I just did the same thing... Question: Is it worth Faith's time to simply replace the motherboard? You can get Pentium D 2.5 GHz motherboards, with internal sound and graphics, and a handful of dram for well under $200. Do you think that might be an option for her? Keeps the same box, all the same drives, same software (without having to reload anything) etc.
Problem is I wouldn't know how to install a motherboard and I'd end up paying someone, which is what I've been trying to avoid.

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DrJones*
Member
Posts: 2284
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Joined: 08-19-2004
Member Rating: 6.8


Message 84 of 297 (351390)
09-22-2006 4:21 PM
Reply to: Message 72 by Faith
09-22-2006 2:17 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
I use Zip disks
Is your Zip drive internal or external? cause you're not going to find a new computer with an internal Zip drive, cheap CD/DVD burners and the various thumb drives have rendered them obsolete.

Just a monkey in a long line of kings.
If "elitist" just means "not the dumbest motherfucker in the room", I'll be an elitist!
*not an actual doctor

This message is a reply to:
 Message 72 by Faith, posted 09-22-2006 2:17 PM Faith has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 85 by Faith, posted 09-22-2006 4:29 PM DrJones* has replied

Faith 
Suspended Member (Idle past 1444 days)
Posts: 35298
From: Nevada, USA
Joined: 10-06-2001


Message 85 of 297 (351392)
09-22-2006 4:29 PM
Reply to: Message 84 by DrJones*
09-22-2006 4:21 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
Is your Zip drive internal or external? cause you're not going to find a new computer with an internal Zip drive, cheap CD/DVD burners and the various thumb drives have rendered them obsolete.
Uh oh. Thanks VERY much for that reminder. That crossed my mind a few times but then I forgot it. It's internal. Problem there. I'm backing up everything onto Zip disks.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 84 by DrJones*, posted 09-22-2006 4:21 PM DrJones* has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 86 by DrJones*, posted 09-22-2006 4:36 PM Faith has not replied
 Message 87 by Jazzns, posted 09-22-2006 5:06 PM Faith has not replied

DrJones*
Member
Posts: 2284
From: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Joined: 08-19-2004
Member Rating: 6.8


Message 86 of 297 (351395)
09-22-2006 4:36 PM
Reply to: Message 85 by Faith
09-22-2006 4:29 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
So there's 2 options
1. Transplant your Zip drive into any new computer, which is about as hard as putting in a new hard drive.
2. If your computer has USB ports (any computer built in the last 7-8 years should have them, little rectangular ports about 1/2 inch tall) then you can get a USB thumb drive and transfer the data from the Zip disks. Any thumb drive out there will have more storage capacity than a Zip disk and the cheapest should be around $20-30.
Edited by DrJones*, : No reason given.

Just a monkey in a long line of kings.
If "elitist" just means "not the dumbest motherfucker in the room", I'll be an elitist!
*not an actual doctor

This message is a reply to:
 Message 85 by Faith, posted 09-22-2006 4:29 PM Faith has not replied

Jazzns
Member (Idle past 3911 days)
Posts: 2657
From: A Better America
Joined: 07-23-2004


Message 87 of 297 (351408)
09-22-2006 5:06 PM
Reply to: Message 85 by Faith
09-22-2006 4:29 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
I am gonna agree with the Dr. Go low tech and get off of zip disks. They are a dead technology.
Any newish black box computer you are going to buy will have a cd burner. Get your data off the old machine by going back and forth with a thumb drive. After that you can keep a backup of your data on CD which is much better.

Of course, biblical creationists are committed to belief in God's written Word, the Bible, which forbids bearing false witness; --AIG (lest they forget)

This message is a reply to:
 Message 85 by Faith, posted 09-22-2006 4:29 PM Faith has not replied

crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1467 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 88 of 297 (351447)
09-22-2006 6:05 PM
Reply to: Message 50 by Taz
09-22-2006 12:54 PM


Re: Catchall post
If the cd doesn't work anymore, you can always get openoffice for free. It's essentially the same thing as microsoft word. Just play around with it for a few minutes and you will very quickly find that it's the same as ms office.
Ever since I discovered Writely and Google Spreadsheets I don't even install office software anymore. They're universally portable, will export into MS Office formats, and the best part is you don't have to cart even a USB jumpdrive around to make sure you're using the most current version of your files. Plus they support all kinds of nifty collaboration features.
In regards to computers, I almost always get the cheapest parts I could find. I've spent years testing everything from the most expensive hardware pieces to the least expensive ones and my experiences tell me unless you're doing something that involves life and death getting the expensive pieces is only a waste of money.
That's almost true. But when it comes to building systems, spend the money on decent motherboards and power supplies. Everything else? Find whatever deal you can. But buy a cheap power supply and you wind up buying it over and over again - I had a power supply pop its caps the first time I booted the computer. Now I pay the money for Antec PS's.
Buy a cheap motherboard and you'll wind up buying everything else over again - it'll be the last thing you attempt to test, and in the meantime you've bought replacements for nearly every other part.
The technology nowadays has allowed for mass production of relatively decent memory cards. The only reason you'd want to get the best ram on the market is if you're among computer nerds like myself and would like to show off to his fellow computer nerds how much money he wasted on a damn piece of computer hardware...
Gamers need good memory, preferably with some heatspreaders. Everybody else can get by with cheap RAM as long as they don't expect to run it at the bus speed it says its rated for.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 50 by Taz, posted 09-22-2006 12:54 PM Taz has not replied

crashfrog
Member (Idle past 1467 days)
Posts: 19762
From: Silver Spring, MD
Joined: 03-20-2003


Message 89 of 297 (351451)
09-22-2006 6:19 PM
Reply to: Message 81 by Quetzal
09-22-2006 4:00 PM


Re: The best cheap deal
You can get Pentium D 2.5 GHz motherboards, with internal sound and graphics, and a handful of dram for well under $200. Do you think that might be an option for her? Keeps the same box, all the same drives, same software (without having to reload anything) etc.
1) You can't replace your motherboard (unless like, you're replacing a defective model with an exactly identical replacement) without reinstalling Windows. At least, you shouldn't. I've never been able to make it work - Windows will freeze at startup.
2) New motherboards have new power requirements, which means they're not entirely compatible with old power supplies. I got burned on that recently when I upgraded my wife's system. Turns out that they went from a 20-pin mobo power header to a 24-pin. Oh, well - needed more power for her new video card, anyway. (World of Warcraft looks pretty sweet on a 7600GT.)
Honestly if Faith hasn't reinstalled windows yet, that's exactly what I'd do. Boot up from the Windows CD into Setup, have it erase your old Windows, and reinstall. Go through and reinstall whatever software you use most, although most of it should remain on your disks. And the installer will take all your "My Documents" stuff and save it to a folder you can open later (C:/Documents and Settings/Crashfrog.PROSPERO on my machine, called "Prospero"), but you should backup anyway if at all possible.

This message is a reply to:
 Message 81 by Quetzal, posted 09-22-2006 4:00 PM Quetzal has replied

Replies to this message:
 Message 99 by Quetzal, posted 09-22-2006 11:09 PM crashfrog has replied

nwr
Member
Posts: 6408
From: Geneva, Illinois
Joined: 08-08-2005
Member Rating: 5.1


Message 90 of 297 (351459)
09-22-2006 7:07 PM


Too much geek talk
Faith asked for help. But I wonder if we are drowning her in too much geek talk.

Compassionate conservatism - bringing you a kinder, gentler torture chamber

Replies to this message:
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