Knackered PC

[tommo9999]

Hopefully some of you may be able to provide some expert advice - my home PC has been playing up for a wee while, it switches off randomly and sometimes fails to start up properly. A computer bloke came and looked at it and said there was a problem with the mother board and that it would need a new one but it would be costly because it is a proprietary (?) mother board and would need to be sourced from the USA. The PC is a Packard Bell and is about 5 years old, and has never gone wrong before. Some questions:

1. Is this gen about the mother board needing to come from USA (He said it would cost around 80-100 quid for the board and he would charge 15-30 quid for fitting)?
2. Is it worth just buying another box instead, and if so any tips on where to get one from/how much should I look at paying?
3. If I do buy another box, is it possible for the memory and stuff from the current box to be transferred into the new box?

The keyboard, monitor, mouse, printer are all okay so I don't want/need to be buying those again. Grateful for any gen.

 

[chiprafp]

You can pick up a decent base unit these days for pennies especially on your wage

Will get a few links together for you mate.

 

[chiprafp]

Try these

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=43

http://www.aria.co.uk/Systems/

Failing that PC World can be a good place to look for a base unit as your not after all the extra gubbins, or find a local PC shop with a good rep to build you one for what you need it for, i.e surfing for porn etc

 

[rest have risen above me]

Maplin are doing a quad core processor ram and motherboard for £170 and there's bound to be a geek on the section that can fit it for cheap. If that's too much an off the shelf motherboard doesn't cost that much and like I say the section geek should be able to sort it.
I was just chuckling at whether Chiprafp was first to answer because of the thread title.DT_Xtremez_19:

 

[Realist78]

If you're happy with the size of your hard drive etc then a motherboard and processor can be had quite cheaply and are a doddle to change. As for having to get one from the USA, sh1te!

 

[chiprafp]

I was just chuckling at whether Chiprafp was first to answer because of the thread title.DT_Xtremez_19:

................Bugger DT_Xtremez_30:

 

[tommo9999]

Maplin are doing a quad core processor ram and motherboard for £170 and there's bound to be a geek on the section that can fit it for cheap. If that's too much an off the shelf motherboard doesn't cost that much and like I say the section geek should be able to sort it.
I was just chuckling at whether Chiprafp was first to answer because of the thread title.DT_Xtremez_19:

The IT geeks here are all civvy and not very helpful.

If you're happy with the size of your hard drive etc then a motherboard and processor can be had quite cheaply and are a doddle to change. As for having to get one from the USA, sh1te!

Where would you get a motherboard and processor from if you were buying them?

Thanks for the responses so far, even from the scuffer......

 

[chiprafp]

If I was back in the UK I would sort something for you mate, there must be an IT geek on the Goat whos there and could sort out building one for you!

 

[Scaley brat]

Where would you get a motherboard and processor from if you were buying them?

Thanks for the responses so far, even from the scuffer......

Pick up a copy of micro mart from you're local purveyor of tomorrows chip wrappers and have a check of some of the companies in it DT_Xtremez_14:

To be perfectly honest mate. Chip's option is probably the best, especially if you're the biff you come across as DT_Xtremez_31:

seriously though, you can't beat the base unit option as it's literally a case of unplug one, plug in the other and switch it on. Simples DT_Xtremez_05:

 

[The Masked Geek]

I would question the original prognosis tbh; especially if he's trying to skin you for £130 for the job.

Sounds more like an overheat problem.

Check all your fans are running and ensure the whole machine is free of dust (including the PSU) before you go sinking your hard earned into new kit.

Then I would look towards your RAM. A dodgey stick can cause the problems you're having. If there are two sticks, take one out and run it for a while; if it's stable, try the other stick on its own.

Then, and only then, look at replacing a motherboard.


As for the "proprietory" bit, what is the make and model of your PC?

 

[rest have risen above me]

The IT geeks here are all civvy and not very helpful.



Where would you get a motherboard and processor from if you were buying them?

Thanks for the responses so far, even from the scuffer......

There's loads of places. I've used Maplin and a firm called microdirect before but after a quick re read the base unit idea is a good option as at 5 years old then a new base unit will make sure you've no incompatibility issues. Plus you'll get the latest operating system thrown in. As for moving stuff across just log on to the net and there's loads of advice on removing hard drives and transferring stuff including buying a 10 pound enclosure and having an external drive after a bit of simple screwdriver work.

 

[justintime129]

Had the same problem with a packard bell pc bought from pc world. The pc shop told they could only order motherboards from packard bell. Stayed away from packard bell and pc world, always bought from a local pc shop and got a tailor made unit, it was easier to upgrade.

 

[monobrow]

As for the "proprietory" bit, what is the make and model of your PC?

Packard Bell says enough. Most off the shelf brands get someone like MSI or Abit to rebadge one of their boards and sell it to the builder at a reduced rate as it has no support. I had a HP which trying to find exact specs the board would support was a nightmare!

I'd wager I could find a replacement board for less than 40 sheets and could have it replaced and rebuilt in not much time at all. Saying that, as TMG says it could be all manner of things from fan speeds kicking in the PC's self protect feature, a couple of blown capacitors here and there, a poorly power supply. It could even be the disk has been nadged or the operating system gone wibble but without getting my mitts on it I'd just be guessing if I'm honest.

 

[busby1971]

Renew

Renew

If it's a five year old unit then the mother board will be just the start, the PSU might be next so after spending money and time on patching up your old PC you might as well get a new one, which should be faster and bigger (in the right places).

Just my view but when things start to go get rid quick, remove hard drive put it in an enclosure and transfer you gen to the new machine.

 

[mick-a-nick]

My HP had the same fault, it was the psu in the end but it was cheaper to use it for bits and get another base unit. Far faster as in the 3 years I had the thing, technology had advanced.
Go MAC, the way ahead!