I think my motherboard is calling it quits...

[archeryguy1701]

TerriO, sorry for the thread resurrection, but since this is an update on the same problem, I thought this would be as good of a place as any to mention this. Since my last update, everything had been working fine. My graphics weren't streaking, I haven't gotten the odd screen I showed in post #9, and my USB ports have been working. To test the power source, I wasn't able to find many things to use, but I got an external USB hard drive to plug in, I had a USB hub, and I had my printer plugged in, which I would assume stresses to computer a little bit power-wise. I left those plugged in for a couple days, and went about my business, but I had no problems. Since then, I've stopped using the USB hub and the printer since neither seems to be working (thus, even further relieving the power strain). So, no issues what-so-ever. However, two days ago, one of my USB ports went out, so I had to switch my mouse to the other one. The next morning, that USB went out, but the mouse worked in the original port. Later in that day, I was able to use my thumb drive in the second port.

Then we have today. My mouse started off fine, then a couple hours ago, the USB port died. I switched it to the other port, and that worked for about 15 minutes. Now they are both dead, and it would seem that my regular mouse port is also dead. So, I have a couple questions:

First, I was going to try to uninstall the USB drivers, then search for hardware changes. I can get all the way to hardware manager using just my keyboard, but I can't uninstall the ports. Does anyone have directions on how to do this using only the keyboard.

Second, I'm still kinda leaning towards this being a motherboard problem. I found where I can replace the motherboard with the same type, thus avoiding having to upgrade everything, but it will cost me $200 since it is obselete. Should I gamble, buy the motherboard, and hope that remedies all my problems, or would it be worth my while just to work on saving for a brand new game-worthy computer? Again, sorry for the resurrection.

 

[GMac]

Sounds likely that it is a bad motherboard, but if the rest of your kit's getting on a bit it's merely postponing the inevitable. As such, you're probably better off putting that $200 into the pot for a new system (along with anything you can get for the components in the current box on ebay) and starting afresh.

GM

 

[farmkid]

Yeah, I agree, don't put $200 into an obsolete motherboard. For the same amount, you could replace your motherboard, CPU, and memory with something that will probably outperform what you currently have, and give you an upgrade path in the future. Of course, for that amount, you will have to go with a low-end CPU and maybe integrated graphics, but again, it will probably be better than what you currently have. It's worth pricing some options out at Newegg and see what you can get for your budget.

If you don't play the newest games, you may be just fine with some of the integrate graphics solutions out there. For example, the AMD780G chipset is supposed to do as well or better than the X1600Pro I'm currently using.

 

[archeryguy1701]

Okay. Looking around, I have a pair of hardware questions. First, I think my most advanced games would be CnC3 and the Battle for Middle Earth series. Would that work for an integrated video card for now, or would I be best to get a seperate card? Second, on dual core processors, when it gives a speed, (for example, I recently saw a card for 2.2 GHz), is that speed the total speed, or the speed for each processor?

 

[LaxScrutiny]

It's the speed for each processor. Also realize that the speed is kind of meaningless these days. A Core 2 at 2.2 is much faster than a Pentium 4 at 2.2. Really, the same thing has been true all along. a 486 at 90mhz was slower than a Pentium at 90mhz. Each new generation may stay at roughly the same cycles, but perform more computations per cycle. Comparing speed is only useful for comparing the same generation of chips.

For graphic you have to think about a few things. What resolution are you playing at? If you have a 17" monitor, which is really fine for office work, the resolution is low and you don't need much graphics card at all to play a game. The most recent on-board graphics will play older games fine, they are DirectX 9 compliant which is the main thing to worry about.

But 2 years from now you may want to play an "older" game that needs more than that. Just make sure you computer has a PCI express slot to add a card in. You may have to fuss with the power supply too.

Now, if you have a 22" widescreen monitor that is a different story. You'll need a graphics card for sure.