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So the computer finally is showing it's age

kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+84

So the computer finally is showing it's age

It's taken me awhile to start this thread, sorry. I know this may end up in flame wars. Again I am sorry.

So everyone knows my situation. Well those close to me on this site do. My computer is finally showing signs of how old it truly is. Keep in mind my computer has a Pentium 4 processor so I am guessing this setup to be almost ten years old. The problem, even after a few friends helped me here with a new hard drive and more memory, is the rest of the system. The processor can't keep up with the newer operating systems. I'm having a hard time just running XP. Found out the other day my DVD Burner drive is almost dead as it will read disc sometimes and other times it will not. Monitor is on it's last legs as well. Hard to read anything and the brightness is going out. It's an old CRT Dell monitor that is almost as old as the tower.

As Starkers had told you this computer is my main way to communicate with the things that are important in my life. So I was hoping someone out there had a few newer parts I could install to extend the life of the machine a bit. Nothing special. I already have DDR2 memory and a newer hard drive. Just need a few other things.

So carry on. Discuss I guess.

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It must be that pesky Power On LED thats slows me down. I'll unplug it to speed my rig up. BTW, Monk, the gfx card, CPU and PSU all have fans too. Do you advocate getting rid of those? Go ahead and disable all your fans and tell us how fast your rig boots in a few days.

If only I could afford a 10KW PSU, I could boot in 2-3 seconds, I'll bet.

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RedneckDude

Join Date 04/2009

+2198

Yeah, Wiz. That LED takes a few nanoseconds to light up. Better disable it, you'll increase your boot speed!

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starkers

Join Date 05/2004

+1153

I've been running AMD machines for about 8 years and a 20 - 30 second boot time with a clean install on a platter drive is nigh impossible. I can get below 30 [25 - 26 seconds] with my SSD's in RAID0, but a regular platter drive is not going to replicate those times.

As for the fans, I have 6 big buggers spinning up at boot on my rig and I doubt very much that I'd see faster boots from switching them off.

Now kona, your most recently posted boot time of a 1m.30s is not bad, okay!!! You cannot expect to get the kind of boot times others here are getting with SSD's, not with your hardware. However, given your hardware, a minute thirty is quite decent, so not to worry, okay?

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Quoting starkers,

reply 653

What the good Cap'n said.

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the_Monk

Join Date 01/2008

+221

Alright......alright people.......so apparently the 'seconds' I count in my head are really long seconds! hehe

I timed it with a watch and my systems boot to the desktop between 44-54 (SSD's at 44) seconds not the 20-30 I originally claimed. My apologies for misleading anyone in this thread.

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Quoting the_Monk,

reply 655

My apologies for misleading anyone in this thread.

Accepted. Now, about those fans. Ya might want to go turn a few of them back on.

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doortech1

Join Date 12/2011

+251

I had a guy at work tell me his laptop with an I7 boots to desktop in five seconds, I just kept my laughter inside!And I bet it had a fan too.

Turn on computer, go get coffee, come back, works like a charm for me. A minute and 30 is fast,, IMO.

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AceMatrix

Join Date 01/2010

+215

Quoting doortech1,

reply 657

Turn on computer, go get coffee, come back, works like a charm for me. A minute and 30 is fast,, IMO.

Yep, I agree......that is well within an acceptable boot time. You should not worry Kona, your rig seems to be doing just fine imo. My boot times are not much faster and I have a homebuilt custom rig, so I can confidently say that you're doing well my friend.

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CarGuy1

Join Date 03/2007

+548

Question, why is boot time that big of a deal to all of you? I may re-boot my main system once every couple weeks at best, the rest of the time it's up and running.

Do you guys really shut your PCs down that much?

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Quoting CarGuy1,

reply 659

Do you guys really shut your PCs down that much?

I used to only shut mine down/reboot as needed. Nowadays I shut it off to save electricity and wear and tear on parts I can't afford to replace. Fast boot times don't mean squat to me if I need to go start everything up manually so I can actually use the damn thing.

There is more to life than spending it trying to increase its pace.

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AceMatrix

Join Date 01/2010

+215

you make a very good point CarGuy......I've always been an advocate of leaving the system up and running as opposed to always shutting down. The reason primarily for leaving a system up and running is because, in all actuality, it is much harder on platter drives to always have to spin up and then shut down and it is twice as hard on an IC chip. Even though they are made of the latest polymers, the biggest enemy is expansion and contraction which will inevitably lead to microscopic cracks that will lead to catastrophic failure eventually. The more you heat-up and then cool down a polymer the more brittle it becomes over time. Your computers internals actually suffer less stress if they are left on and temperatures remain constant and stable over an extended period of time. My rig is an energy hog no doubt, but I think I probably break even by leaving my system running rather than shortening the life of the components and having to replace them sooner than later. -- Ace --

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CarGuy1

Join Date 03/2007

+548

I agree Ace, not only does it save wear and tear on your drives, as Jafo pointed out a while back it affects other components like his CPU fan.

If he hadn't shut his system down, it would probably still be running today.

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Uvah

Join Date 05/2006

+874

I do it with my laptop, put it to sleep at night then wake it up in the morning.

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kona0197

Join Date 02/2003

+84

Yeah I've just been putting the system to sleep. Is this a good behavior? I'll take some time readings of boot times and stuff when I am not so busy.

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doortech1

Join Date 12/2011

+251

Just trying to help Kona,Carguy, I really do not care myself. I am a leave it on always person myself.Work speed is what matters to me!

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I wish the OP luck, but what a ridiculous thread on a Stardock forum.

I could send lots of old parts, too, but it really is time to upgrade to a cheap new one.

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Uvah

Join Date 05/2006

+874

Not so ridiculous had you been a member as long as they have. These are good, generous folk here and we look after each other. Stick around and you'll see that for yourself.

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Quoting Uvah,

reply 667

Not so ridiculous had you been a member as long as they have. These are good, generous folk here and we look after each other. Stick around and you'll see that for yourself.

As I said, I can send lots of stuff, man, but as others have said, there comes a time to KISS your computer goodbye.

Take care.

PS: Yes, I am very generous. Nothing to do with generosity.

I have sponsored children through World Vision.

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doortech1

Join Date 12/2011

+251

Ignorance is bliss I guess. Reading the whole post would be a better approach to knowing what your talking about, Dypsis. A lot of people spent a lot of time and effort and have already replaced the pc.

Commenting without a clue is ridiculous!IMO.

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You are a rude bastard, doortech1.

Have you ever thought of sitting behind your keyboard and being polite?

There is already a thread about your type.

Please treat people with respect.

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Uvah

Join Date 05/2006

+874

Easy lads....I'm sure dypsis read the post before commenting. Benefit of the doubt and all that.

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Looky here, dyppy. Personal attacks are not tolerated in the forums. You came late to this party, and for 665 replies, it has been handled by and for the community. kona has already replaced his aging PC, without any input or contribution by you, I might add. Now he has questions pertaining to the proper care and configuration of what he now has. If you have something of merit to add to this thread, by all means, do so. If not, perhaps you should find someplace else to be a troll.

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Quoting dypsis,

reply 670

Please treat people with respect.

Respect is earned. Try to do so.

Thank you.

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starkers

Join Date 05/2004

+1153

Quoting dypsis,

reply 670

You are a rude bastard, doortech1.

doortech1 is entirely correct and well within forum guidelines.... you are/were not.

You were given some good advice, I suggest you take it before commenting again..

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DaveRI

Join Date 09/2003

+462

Quoting kona0197,

reply 635

Firefox and iTunes take minutes to start up.

Does anybody have any idea what he might do about that? "That just ain't right."

Come to think of it Kona, how long does it take Firefox to start up if you set it to start up to a blank page?

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