Looking for suggestions on CPU/motherboard sets

ZENGHOST

ZENGHOST

Joined
Jan 21, 2002
Messages
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My computer has been giving me issues for a while now and it finally crapped out on me. Currently it gets to the "detecting IDE drives" stage of the boot and then freezes. I can't even get to the BIOS or to boot in safe mode and so I'm considering building a new system. My current setup is an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ with an MSI mobo and 1 GB of RAM. I'm running an ATI All-In-Wonder PCI-E (X600 Pro) card and a single 300GB SATA HD and an Ultra 500w X-Connect power supply. Likely the only thing I'll be moving over to the new machine is the video card. I've already backed up the data onto an external hard drive so my data is intact.

For the new machine I'm just looking at some suggestions for a new CPU and mobo. I'm not a gamer but this PC will be used to do video and photo editing. The other uses will be simple stuff like office stuff, desktop publishing, Internet and email. It will be running Windows XP for now but eventually it will be Vista (probably not for another year). I don't need top of the line but I'd like it to be a decent upgrade from my current AMD 3200 chip.

I know I'll likely get suggestions to buy a Mac, but I've explored that avenue and won't be going that route this time. I've also looked into just buying a pre-built system but I've decided against that as well. I've already got a new case on the way so I'm pretty committed, although if anyone has suggestions on fixing/diagnosing the current system that'd also be helpful.

Thanks for the help.

ps...I'm looking to buy it in the next day or two (ASAP) since I want to get back up and running this weekend. I also usually buy through http://www.zipzoomfly.com since newegg kills me on shipping to Hawaii.
 
Is your cooling fan turning? Have you bumped the computer lately and knocked the fan and heat sink off the processor. I once had a clip on the motherboard snapped through no reason and the heatsink was only touching on one edge.

You might also remove and remake connections for memory, and all motherboards connections to components.

I like ASUS and Supermicro boards.
 
Thanks, Andrew--I was just coming over to post that for some dumbass reason I brought the box to work and it booted up fine. The different things are keyboard, mouse, monitor and no peripherals (scanner and printer). Don't know what the hell happened--going to have to bring it home and troubleshoot a little better. It'd be nice if it's not the mobo/cpu then I can spend the money on other stuff.
 
It was the little shocks involved in transporting it that fixed the problem. Unfortunately bringing it home will mean more shaking up that might break it again. No one will tell you to bash your computer, no professional anyway, but ... well, don't bash it hard ... and don't do it while the hard drive is running. Shut it down first, then pick it up and shake it a little.
 
I'd look at the variants of the nvidia 680i motherboards and a core 2 duo of some sort. xfx, evga and asus all have motherboards based on the 680i.

Also check out the Core 2 Quad as the prices on quadcores have come way down and are dropping still. The 680i boards should all be quadcore compatible.

phil
 
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