[gendarmee]

I have a Pentium 4 3GHZ based CPU with 512 mb(DDR) system memory.
I want to upgrade it to a newer configuration ( but preferably with a motherboard which has built in Wi-Fi so that i can share the internet connection b/w the desktop and laptop at the same time, which is essential)
I want to use the same Processor, box to save on cash.
I'm on a tight budget of 10K.

A little research led me to Asus motherboard which has wi fi, i would need to buy new ram & video card(the intel MB i have has a built in Video card)for that.
Any sugestions for that.

What is a GPU? & what is a sli system?

[Sankar]

Just buy a pci wireless network card and install it on your current motherboard. You don't have to change your motherboard for wifi.

Does you motherboard have a 16xpcie slot? If yes you can go for a PCIe video card from nvidia or ATi. If your mb have only an AGP slot then you can go in for a AGP video card; but since AGP has been outdated by PCIe you won't be able to use the latest in graphics technology.

GPU is Graphic Processor Unit. The processor on graphic cards.

SLI/Scalable Link Interface is used to connect two to three graphics cards internally using a SLI bridge connector. Such a setup would use the combined processing power of the GPUs in the cards to render the frames for a single output.

[greenhorn]

does your processor have pins or does the motherboard have pins ( socket 775) ?

current intel motherboards are socket 775

if you're not sure about the identity of the processor, download this utility and post a screenshot of what it says about your processor

Asus P5B MX with onboard Wi Fi - 4.2k
Intel E2160 - 2.7k ( if your processor is not socket 775)
1 GB DDR2 RAM - 1k
you really dont need a new video card- this motherboard also has integrated video

[revvedup]

Originally Posted by greenhorn

d
Intel E2160 - 2.7k ( if your processor is not socket 775)

ain' that a typo the intel website tells me that the aforementioned is indeed a 775. You almost led me to believe that there was a dual core processor available for my old socket mPGA 478 motherboard.

[greenhorn]

Originally Posted by revvedup

ain' that a typo the intel website tells me that the aforementioned is indeed a 775. You almost led me to believe that there was a dual core processor available for my old socket mPGA 478 motherboard.

gendarmee wanted to use his old proccy on this new motherboard. I was just telling him that if his old processor wasnt a 775, he might need one of these as well.

where did i say that the E2160 wasnt a 775

[revvedup]

Sorry maybe I misunderstood what you were trying to say, just got too happy at seeing even the minutest possibility of getting a dual core for my 865.

[Sankar]

Why does he need a new motherboard when all he wants is a WiFi for which he can buy a PCI wireless network adapter??

[greenhorn]

Originally Posted by gendarmee

I want to upgrade it to a newer configuration ( but preferably with a motherboard which has built in Wi-Fi so that i can share the internet connection b/w the desktop and laptop at the same time, which is essential)

Originally Posted by Sankar

Why does he need a new motherboard when all he wants is a WiFi for which he can buy a PCI wireless network adapter??

the way i understood it , he wanted an upgrade anyway, and needed the upgraded computer to be wi fi capable

[Sankar]

Ok. I missed that part of the post. Since he wanted to use the same processor i didn't think he wanted to upgrade.

[gendarmee]

@Sankar- Yep, I desperately need an upgrade. The current mother board supports 667mhz ddr ram, but i can put only 1GB. (right now i have 512 mb 200 mhz)
Right now when i run photo shop and apply 3 or more changed to just one layer a warning message pops up says system mem isn't sufficient to perform the task, so i was looking at 2 GB, 800 Mhz RAM.
I'm looking for a built in wi-fi coz i can club it with the upgrade and not pay extra for the Wi-Fi Card.
Good to know what SLI & GPU are!
Expansion Slots available on the current MB are...

• 1 ( 1 ) x processor - LGA775 Socket
• 4 ( 4 ) x memory ( 2.5 V ) - DIMM 184-PIN
• 1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express x16
• 2 ( 2 ) x PCI Express x1
• 4 ( 4 ) x PCI, 4 memory - DIMM 184-PIN
• 4 PCI
• 2 PCI Express x1
• 1 PCI Express x16
• 1 processor - LGA775 Socket

But this MB Supports only PC2700 & PC3200(200mhz) speed RAM..


@Greenhorn-I d'led the program and run it, its much better than intel processor ID utility, which i happened to have installed but hardly shows any technical details.
Dunno how to take a screen shot...I'll type out the fields on the processor page.

name-Intel Pentium 4 530
Code name-Prescott
package- socket 775 LGA
Technology-9nm, core voltage-1.3v
Specifications-Intel Pentium 4 CPU 3GHZ

Supports hyper threading also.
______________________________________________
Main board is Intel 915 GAV
That the Mother board comes with a video card sounds sweet!






I Saw the built in Wi-Fi Motherboard with a friend who later told me it was Asus, checked out the Asus india site and choose a board with wi-fi and found out the price the next day, SLI system he said,Rs 59990, and 1 gb ddr3 RAM is 20K extra
So posted here for help, I dont use the system for gaming much so cam do with a built in Video card.
Along with the the MotherBoard i want to get a new HDD, the 80 GIG seagate is making some peculiar noise at boot time...I'll back up the data on it and make it an external potable drive..

[greenhorn]

what you desperately need is processor upgrade. the PIV series are very SLOOOW !.
from your needs it seems
Asus P5B MX with onboard Wi Fi - 4.2k
Intel E2160 - 2.7k
Branded 2 GB DDR2 800 RAM - 2.2k
160GB SATA2 Seagate - 2.2k
will be adequate

[gopz]

Photoshop is a processor intensive task, you need to upgrade the processor.

Go in for something which has the max L2 cache that you can afford.

[greenhorn]

Originally Posted by gopz

Photoshop is a processor intensive task, you need to upgrade the processor.

Go in for something which has the max L2 cache that you can afford.

I really dont think so ( check the two red bars) . besides , can you afford to spend 2k to save 2 seconds ?

[gendarmee]

(Didnt upgrade the PC because the wi-fi motherboard was discontinued)

Now...The PC is restarting every 10-15 minutes after windows loads. On booting, at times, it re-boots endlessly right after the bios screen shows up...the UPS's battery is getting drained in just 12 hours of use. Normally, the PC is shut down only in case of a power cut. What could possibly be the reason.

[aaggoswami]

Originally Posted by gendarmee

(Didnt upgrade the PC because the wi-fi motherboard was discontinued)

Now...The PC is restarting every 10-15 minutes after windows loads. On booting, at times, it re-boots endlessly right after the bios screen shows up...the UPS's battery is getting drained in just 12 hours of use. Normally, the PC is shut down only in case of a power cut. What could possibly be the reason.

Start from OS. If OS is not infected then look at other things.

1) Some times if registry gets corrupt, restating will take place.
2) Clean RAM, remove dust from mobo.
3) Replace BIOS battery.
4) Check you PSU.
5) HDD can be problem too.

First focus on PSU. That damn thing can ruin mobo and HDD very fast. Also check all cables specially the connection to HDD.