Need Computer Help -- Trying to Decide if I Want to Upgrade CPU

[NYC GOP Chick]

OK, I have a computer that's about 3 years old and I'm very attached to it. I've done lots of upgrades and improvements over the past year or so and instead of getting a new one, I'd like to do one more upgrade.

Having put in a Network Interface Card, doubled the RAM to 256K, installed a CD-RW drive and replaced the hard drive in my IBM Aptiva, I'm giving serious thought to updating the processor from a Pentium III 600 MHz to something like a P4 2G or something, and I have a few questions:

1) Do I need a new motherboard to do this?

2) How difficult is this to do? Will it become one of those "more trouble than its worth" things?

3) What issues and potential problems should I consider?

Here are some of the specs:

Pentium III 600
system board: V66M
system board chipset: Intel 82443ZX
system board form factor: micro-ATX
front-side bus speed: 100 MHz

[XBob]

I don't play games, but windows just doesn't match the speed of DOS, no matter how fast your computer.

Personally, win 2k supports multiple operating systems, and I would get DOS 6.2, install both on your new fast computer, and run your old dos in old dos. if this works, I would think your old dos games would be faster than instantaneous - WARP 200 or so.

6.2 was the best of the old DOS, and 5.5, and 3.3.

6.0 is a machine killer, so is anything in the 4 series.

[XBob]

sorry for the error in 76

"type exactly at the right arrow prompt DIR REGFIX /? I think this is the right file, and it is usually in the Windows directory or in the main directory. "

it should be :

scanreg /fix
rem this command should be done by booting machine in Dos -
start machine with F8 key down
rem enter formats:
rem - scanreg /? - info
rem - scanreg /backup - backup the registry and related configuration files
rem - scanreg /fix - repairs the registry
rem - scanreg /comment="" - adds comment to the CAB file while backing up

fixing the registry periodically will make your machine run faster and better, as will SCANDISK, AND OPTIMIZING your drive there are all kinds of little tricks to clean and fix your machine to make it run better, without getting a new machine. It's called maintaining your machine. And don't forget your anti-virus stuff too. steer clear of Macafee - it is a real pain in the bu__. note all these files come with Windows98

[XBob]

120
"FYI. I still have a running computer that only has 64K. It runs the house...at 2 MHz."

so sad, 20 years ago, with 64k, we ran the world.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Yes, that's what I meant! I can't *believe* the typos I make when I'm too sleepy. :)

[NYC GOP Chick]

Thanks for the info!

By optimizing the drive, you mean partitioning it?

Also, aren't there some software programs that clean up the registry? Are they any good?

[Bush2000]

One thing to consider: The new CPUs/motherboards require a new power supply. You can't skimp on this item.

[Bush2000]

In general, most computer users would be better off using a Mac.

Unless, of course, those computer users want more software and hardware choices.

[Bush2000]

My biggest problem is that I don't want to get permission from Microsoft everytime I change a few things in my computer.

... 'cause, God knows, you can't spare the 5 seconds it takes to activate while you're venting your spleen here.

I don't like being spyed on and XP does that.

The truth is out there, grassy knoll.

I also seem to remember that it won't accept device drivers that are not licensed(for a fee) by Microsoft. That it deliberately distorts MP3 audio from non licensed players. A bunch of wierd stuff that I have no personal experience with.

Do you always make a habit of spewing garbage which you know nothing about? That post is a load of unmitigated crap. None of it bears any resemblance to reality.

[Bush2000]

My biggest problem is that I don't want to get permission from Microsoft everytime I change a few things in my computer.

... 'cause, God knows, you can't spare the 5 seconds it takes to activate while you're venting your spleen here.

I don't like being spyed on and XP does that.

The truth is out there, grassy knoll.

I also seem to remember that it won't accept device drivers that are not licensed(for a fee) by Microsoft. That it deliberately distorts MP3 audio from non licensed players. A bunch of wierd stuff that I have no personal experience with.

Do you always make a habit of spewing garbage which you know nothing about? That post is a load of unmitigated crap. None of it bears any resemblance to reality.

[mdmathis6]

Don't try running unreal tourniment...the requirements of that game will suck up your computer, hard drive and everything about your computer and leave the disc just spinning on your desk...(got the image from the movie Arrival, picturesqe huh...lol)

[Revel]

If you bothered to read what I said...I said that I have heard these things and left it up to others to give the facts. Now the fact that you are so cocky that you can't understand what you read is not my problem. Personaly your responce to spying indicates that you either work for microsoft or else you will be one of the first in line to get your digital angle chip. Either way you are danger to everything that America stood for. I have no problem with the response from the gentleman (John Lenin) who spoke before you. But you are a foul person. I have seen it in the past from your previous posts. So please don't even bother to respond to me in the future.

[Revel]

Here is a link to the data lifeguard software. WD I personaly don't think you will need to reformat unless you are going to upgrade to a new computer. You will see very little difference. My experience is limited to the windows 95/98 enviroment. In that I spent a lot of time. If your hoping to get more speed out of what you have then your best bet is to try a new video card. Beyond that you will have to do a major upgrade. IMHO. BTW someone made a good point earlier. You may have TSR's running in the background that are hogging your computer resources. For instance do you have that real player symbol showing up in your task bar in the lower right hand corner? Every thing you see there is a TSR. Turn off as many as you can. These are running to some degree all the time. Your CPU has to keep servicing there requests. Also there is a lot of software out there that installs spyware on your PC. Those are NASTY TSR's that can totaly suck the life out of your PC. The best solution to that is to run the free ADAWARE program which will check for them and delete them if you wish. Get it here Some free programs won't run after you delete them. But who wants a program that kills your PC all the time. As always- (This message will self destruct in 5 seconds. (gotta keep it from the Bush2000 types) Good luck

[Revel]

Hey. I just discovered something good from Asus. Check this out. ASUS A7N8X

They are using a new chipset which sounds like it may be a whole lot better than that Chinese Via chipset.

[Bush2000]

Either way you are danger to everything that America stood for.

BWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Thanks for the laugh, pal. You're a scream. Do you do stand-up?

[sixmil]

Would the graphics card really make a significant difference?

It made a huge difference for me. It used to be that you would extend a computer's life and performance by adding RAM. You can now get the same and many times better performance increase from installing a hot, new graphics card. The best ones run around $400, but still it might be worth considering, assuming you have an AGP slot on your motherboard to put it into.

[NYC GOP Chick]

Thanks for the info again! :)

I've already gotten rid of just about all the TSRs -- especially that evil RealPlayer. ;)

I use Lavasoft Ad-aware every couple of weeks or so to dump spyware, etc.

At this point, thanks to the great advice of just about everyone here, I think that I'm going to go for a new video card and then see from there if that does the trick. :)

[NYC GOP Chick]

Yes, I have an AGP slot. Are they any limits as to how powerful or big I can go, in terms of MB, etc.?

[Revel]

You seem like a really knowledgeable person. Check out the link in post #133. What do you think? These via chipsets do seem a bit flaky. But I love the features of the dragon. And I love that front drive mount USB,media reader pannel. Why no one else has incorporated that with there mother boards is a mystery to me.

[Terriergal]

oh be quiet. I can't afford to upgrade yet. ;-)

But what I have plays most of the good 3d combat sim games just fine. (Geforce 2MX 32MB)

When my frame rate gets too low I'll upgrade. heh.

[Terriergal]

It seems to work fine for us. I would talk to Cyrano for more specifics, as he put it all together. I am not that adept yet!