new pc needed

Milkman2012

what is a good pc to get for general home use, type, where to get it, cost etc

Torqay

Dell Inspiron 660 with a Core i3 processor and 4 GB RAM costs around 400 yoyos (less if you can find a voucher).

Unless you want to play games, it should suit your needs.

Milkman2012

thanks

BloodBath

If you want the best bang for your buck consider a custom build.

Fill this out in a new post in the building and upgrading forum.

1. What is your budget? [€xxx]

2. What will be the main purpose of the computer? [Gaming/Video editing/3D Modelling/HTPC/Internet] (If gaming include which games)

3. Do you need a copy of Windows? [Yes/No]

4. Can you use any parts from an old computer? [Hard drive/DVD Drive/Case/PSU/etc.] (If possible state brand and model of the parts to ensure compatibility)

5. Do you need a monitor? [Yes/No]

5a. If yes, what size do you need. [19'/20'/22'/24'/etc.]

5b. If no, what resolution is your current monitor and do you plan to upgrade in the near future? [1920x1080/1440x900/etc.] [Yes/No]

6. Do you need any of these peripherals? [Keyboard/Mouse/Wireless Card/Card Reader/Speakers/etc.]

7. Are you willing to try overclocking? [Yes/No]

8. How can you pay? [Bank Transfer/Credit Card/Laser]

9. When are you purchasing? [In x days]

10. If you need help building it, where are you based? [South Dublin City/Cork City/Kerry/etc.]

haymur

Thinking also of buying the 660 i3 4GB ram model can anyone tell me if I could put the hard drive from my insperion 5150 desktop in it as well so I would have my files availible on it. My 5150 died this week it seems to be the motherboard which is beeping and giving out no video to monitor. It has had no sound output for 6 months and the two DVD drives in it don't seem to be visible when you look for hardware on MY Computer drive list

riclad

NEW pcs use sata cables, sata drive,

not IDE ATA cables.
to use old drive, if its ide ata ,you,ll need this,
http://www.maplin.co.uk/sata-to-ide-convertor-36036
or a ide 3.5inch caddy.
http://www.easy-computer-tech.com/images/IDE-HDD.gif

does it look like image above ide hdd.?


Below new sata type drive,


http://www.legitreviews.com/images/reviews/955/wd_scorpio_black_sata.jpg

IF installing it in pc, set the jumper to slave ,position,
there,ll be info pic,on the drive,
master, or slave jumper setting.

Do not touch the pcb underneath , put some tape on the pcb,
To protect it ,from short circuits,or static damage.

OPEN dell pc, make sure, both ram chips, are tight, all the way in to slots.
They may have got loose.

haymur

Thanks for your imput advice
My 5150 has 4 ram cards I will recheck them tomorrow.The HDD in it seems from my recolection to have a blue two core cable and a 4 wire power cable from it ,it is in a plastic case in one of two bays in the computer

riclad

see here http://www.talktoanit.com/A+/aplus-website/images/ide-cables.jpg

if it looks like this its,an ide ATA drive,
to use it in a new pc, you,ll need a sata to ide cable.

ide data cables are at least twice the width of new sata drive cables.
sata cables are usually both black, power and data cables.

pc drives,
sata,or ide are 3.5inch in size.

haymur

riclad wrote: »

see here http://www.talktoanit.com/A+/aplus-website/images/ide-cables.jpg

if it looks like this its,an ide ATA drive,
to use it in a new pc, you,ll need a sata to ide cable.

ide data cables are at least twice the width of new sata drive cables.
sata cables are usually both black, power and data cables.

pc drives,
sata,or ide are 3.5inch in size.

I will look tomorrow to see if there is a wide ribbon connector and the size of disk as well as the two wire looms I can see, I will check for loose ram cards as well. Thanks

haymur

I have checked the drive and it is a Samsung SATA 7200 160gb one. The blue wire to it from the mother board has 7 connections (not two as I thought earlier) .I checked for loose connections all over including the ram cards to no avail.It still emits 6 beeps from the board and two numbers remain lit on the front when plugged in I dont know if this is a service code or not . The computer is 6 years old and i already replaced the PSU 3 years ago.
If I go for a new PC I will take my little used LG Lightscribe DVD and fit it to the second bay so I can make quick CD copies etc

riclad

See http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/forums/1/helproom/338580/dell-dimension-5150-error-lights-3--4/
touch water taps to get rid of static electricity,
knock off pc, remove pc power plug from ESB socket.

Remove ram chips, wait 2 minutes ,and put them back.
reboot pc.

see http://downloads.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_dimension_desktops/dimension-5150x_Service%20Manual_en-us.pdf?c=us&l=en&cs=19&s=dhs

see diagnostic lights section, page 62 of the manual,pdf.

3 4 green = ram memory chip fault.

1 3 green =memory error configuration problem.


1 beep, then a burst of 3 beeps, then 1 more beep,= memory problem

DO NOT touch ram chip, bottom, gold part,
hold ram, by the top, edges,
POST here what numbers are lit up on pc startup.

riclad

see http://johnsonyip.com/wordpress/2010/07/27/cleaning-troubleshooting-dirty-ram-electronic-gold-contacts-with-clean-clothe-and-rubbing-alcohol/

Maybe try cleaning the ram chips.
before you put em back in the pc.

haymur

took out all 4 cards and retried them one by one then got a error code 1 memory not reconaised took them out again cleaned them refitted still showing 1.Maybe connection or circuit fault on mother board to blame . I followed the dell manual
you gave me shortcut for test. Thanks for your help

riclad

SEE manual diagram, put ram in slot 1 and 3,
leave other slots empty,reboot pc.
Could be 1 bad ram chip.
eg slot nearest cpu=1,
then next slot leave empty,=slot 2,
put ram in next slot ,slot 3,

Check the manual,before you do this,re slot no placement,
1,2,3,4 ,

Whats the error codes nos.

eg 34, 31, led s light up when pc is turned on.

riclad

You can take the old drive, put it in a new pc,
use the old data cable to connect to the motherboard.
PC will boot off whatever drive has windows installed on it.

Milkman2012

wow a lot of food for thought, will think about it and get back soon

many thanks for information