Bad News :( Need advice!

[Marisass]

Well it turns out my Presario desktop 5WV270 has a problem with the motherboard or processor (Best Buy can't pin point which one) Best Buy also can't fix it, I have to order a new motherboard through Compaq for $193 and it's a shot in the dark cause the processor is not included! No computer repair place has the part and I will have to end up doing all the leg work.

Anyways I am taking it to a store called computer builders world and they said is would be easier to upgrade. I want to but I know nothing about pricing, all my parts should be salvagable except the motherboard or the processor. What kind of price range is acceptable?

Here is my current specs:

700MHz AMD Athlon Processor
Sys Bus: 200MHz
64MB 100MHz SyncDRAM
Hard Drive: 20.0GB Ultra DMA


I just want something in this neighborhood and i want it fast! Should I upgrade or just buy a new PC?

Help! All I want is my computer back!

[dafanman]

Marisass
First thing I would tell you is dont be in too big of a hurry.
Based on your current specs, my personal reccomendation would be to buy new.

You would get much better current hardware, ram ect...

Personally I would not put money into that system.

[Marisass]

That is all I needed to hear! Thanks for the perfect advice- I guess I was talking to too many repair facilities and they would never say to replace it. Any suggestions or must haves on my new one?

[Bill in SD, CA]

Originally posted by dafanman
Personally I would not put money into that system.

Dittos!!

Bill

[jkrohn]

$193 to repair that!? DO NOT DO THAT. That is a huge waste of money.

Lets say you go el cheapo.
K75SA Mobo $35
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...alog=22&depa=1
AMD XP 1900+ $53
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...log=343&depa=1

512MB PC2100 DDR from Crucial $69
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...log=147&depa=1

Salvage the parts from your other system, grab a $30 - $40 PS and you now have a MUCH better system for LESS than it was going to cost you to replace the mobo in that system.

Jkrohn

[John Prophet]

Well, first of all..compaq service SUCKS..because I have spent 10 minutes and cant find any specs for that model..are you SURE you have the right model number??.....that is a SAD statement about their website....I can find Dell or even Gateway specs in less than a minute.

Anyway, thats not your fault.

First of all, dont buy a motherboard for $193 dollars, lol.

If your case is a standard atx type case then you can buy both a motherboard and cpu for less than $150..plus you will probably need some new memory....for 1 thing 64m isnt enough and if you get a newer faster cpu you will need some faster ram.


you have a 700mhz athlon....can you look at it and tell us if its a "slot A" or a "socket A"

a "slot A" is shaped like an old Pentium 2....its a "cartridge" type....like this

a socket A is just the modern flat cpu like this

if the fan is parallel with the motherboard its the socket type cpu..if its sits up perpendicular to the motherboard its the slot a type.


Either way if its just a plain old atx case then you can just get a nice motherboard/cpu/ram setup and have a nice fast system.

for instance this biostar M7VIZ motherboard with this $73 athlon xp2200 cpu and get a 256m stick of PC 2700 ram and you have a serious upgrade to what you were using.


JP

[John Prophet]

We have some good dell deals also posted fairly often...you could wait and get one of those, keeping your monitor that you currently have.

[Starfury_2260]

getting support from compaq wasn't as hard before hp bought it. also finding drivers.

[PyroSama]

I have an Athlon 700mhz Slot A cpu that Im selling for 35 Dollars.

PyroSama

[Marisass]

Here is my specs:

Compaq Presario 5WV270
(250-0831/8257) Specifications Faxback Doc. # 63087

COMPAQ PRESARIO 5WV270
Compaq P/N 202498-003
UPC - 720591526429

Dimensions & Weights (H x W x D)
Unit: .............................. 16.55" x 8.76" x 17.3" (25.3 lbs.)
Package: ......................... 24.06" x 22.44" x 13.13" (36.6 lbs.)


Processor: ................................. 700 MHz AMD Athlon Processor

System Bus: .......................................... 200 MHz system bus

Cache: .............................. 192KB Combined Pipeline Burst Cache


System Memory: .................................. 64 MB 100 MHz SyncDRAM,
Three total DIMM slots upgradable to 768 MB,
(SyncDRAM DIMM required)

Hard Drive: ................................. 20.0 GB UltraDMA hard drive

CD-ROM Drives: ...................................... 40X Max CDROM drive
CD-RW drive

Diskette Drive: ............................. 3.5" 1.44 MB diskette drive

Graphics: ............................ NVidia TNT2 Vanta LT Graphics Card
with 8 MB video memory
128-bit hardware-accelerated 3D graphics

Maximum non-interlaced resolution: ............ 1920 X 1200 @ 75 Hz
(when supported by monitor)

Audio: ................................ Soundmax Integrated Digital Audio

Modem: ............................................... 56K ITU V.90 modem

Mouse: ............................................ Internet scroll mouse

Keyboard: .................................. Compaq USB Internet Keyboard

I/O Interfaces: ........................ Four USB ports (2 front, 2 back)
Serial RS-232C compatitble, DB9 connector (16550)
Parallel EPP/ECP standard centronics-compatitble interface
(DB25 connector)
Joystick/MIDI/Gamepad compatitble game port (Back accessible)
Two RJ-11 phone jacks (1 input, 1 output)
RJ-45 Ethernet port
Audio Ports (line-in, line-out and microphone-in)
Mouse and keyboard ports
Monitor connection (VGA)

Expansion Bays (Six total): ................. 3.5" 1.44 MB diskette drive
Hard drive
CD-ROM drive
CD-RW drive
Two drive bays open for expansion

Expansion Slots (Four total): ......... One PCI slot with modem installed
One PCI slot with networking card installed
One AGP slot with graphics card installed
Two PCI slots open for expansion

Power Supply:..................................... Steady-state 200 watts
Energy Star Compliant

Networking: ............................ 10/100 Ethernet Networking Card

Compatibility: ............................................ Plug and Play
Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI)

(RDS 10/25/2000)


When I took it to Best Buy they said they don't know if it is the Processor or the mother board so I might have to replace both. I have (as of yesterday) bought a dell but I want to fix this one as well. I am very new to hardware but I think I should do ok- or maybe not- should I buy the parts and have a computer repair shop install them? Or should I attempt this myself? Should I buy the $35 motherboard or get another model? I know you are probably not used to dealing with an amatuer but you have no idea how much help you have been! Without you guys I would have made bad decisions and would have been taken advantage of.

Thanks!