Project Reality Forums

My wifes PC has taken a dump.

Its a PB Imedia D9351

Mobo: MCP73VT-PM
CPU Pentium Dual Core E2180
GPU GE 9300 LE

It's just switching on the fans for a few seconds then dies.

I've had the PSU tested OK
I've switched around and tried with only one RAM No change
I've tested the power switch OK
I've jumped the CMOS reset and removed the battery.

I got a secondhand E85003.16GHz as a cheap for lols upgrade I tried that in its place. No change

I will try another CMOS battery just in case.

I've put the HD in a box to access files and that works fine.

I've looked very carefully at the MOBO and can not see any sign of capacitors being domed
or leaking, but it is still the number one suspect.

Any hints or tips or way to test the MOBO anymore

We have absolutely no need for more performance as my wife does nothing, I only play PR so with the E8500 and a cheap 9800GT that would work well enough for me (I have a decent PR capable system anyway), plus where I live PC's and parts cost twice US prices, even if I buy from Tiger Direct I'll have to pay 33% import taxes. So I am quite keen to buy another 775 socket MOBO this french company have a good cheap choice. The G41 would seem the most modern.

Thanks and please no upgrade dude to an i5 for $300 plus shipping and taxes so about $500!

As my POS MOBO doesn't have a speaker socket it makes diagnostic impossible.

Well, its definitely dead mobo. Sometimes you cant see if anything is damaged.

Yes unfortunately that sounds like exactly the same problem I had (when I know my Mobo had died, as it shorted with the RAM), fans starting for about 3-10 seconds, and then shutdown before anything appears...

Also the G41 is looking pretty goood

But it seems the G41 will really bottleneck the E8500 CPU?

Although it's my wife's machine I'd like to be able to run PR on All high, but as the only 775 boards available these days are basic ones I'm beginning to wonder if that'll be possible?

The board and the CPU both claim an FSB of 1333 does that mean it's ok?

Um, I don't think there is anything on the G41 chipset that will hold back the E8500.

What it will do is reduce this:

G41 Express reduces maximum supported memory from 16 to 8GB and demotes the PCIe controller mode from revision 2.0 (5.0GT/s) to revision 1.1 (2.5GT/s).

the 1.1 Pcie x16 is going to bottleneck newer cards, but not your GPU GE 9300 LE .

A PCI-E 1.1 X16 slot would support the same data rate as PCI-E 2.0 X8, or PCI-E 3 X4.

Short answer: negligible effect, most of the time. Small effect, the rest of the time.

For PR I will keep my eyes open for a card that does that job without wasting cash getting one that will be wasted in there.
I was thinking a 650Ti ?

PLODDITHANLEY wrote:For PR I will keep my eyes open for a card that does that job without wasting cash getting one that will be wasted in there.
I was thinking a 650Ti ?

650Ti
Make sure your power supply can handle it.
I think your CPU might bottleneck the GPU, do some research. Might not be worth the 650Ti, might only be worth the 650 or 640.

there is no g41 mobo bottleneck on pcie 1.0 x16, for 650Ti

honestly, that CPU isn't worth $5 in the US, you'd do better buying the wife a notebook/tablet
with integrated hdmi out and/or WiDi, at least you could use it as a htpc/remote control on the tv.


If you insist on sticking to your system,
It might even be cheaper buying a used PC with a LGA775 mobo, rather than buying a new mobo.
Probably will get better components, mishmash yours and the used PC to make something workable.

You should also be able to play PR on max. settings on Full HD without lags with a GTS 450... For around 80 bucks even cheaper than a (quite) "new" GTX 650 Ti...

NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 1536MB/1.5 DDR5 PCIe Dual DVI Video Card mini-HDMI & HDCP:Amazon:Computers & Accessories

But the only shop I can really buy from only have the 600 series.

So I have ordered the new G31 mobo, once that that is working I'll load up win7 64.

Then I'll order a new 660Ti, 8GB RAM and a bigger PSU.

That way if one day I want a better mobo and CPU the VGA will still be capable as the only game that interests me in the future is ARMA3.

Update? U bought anything yet?

Yes still waiting for it, stuck in customs ATM.

Mobo arrived and installed but fairly predictably it won't run using the original Vista installed HD.

So I will remove all data from the HD, then format it and 're install with the full win7 disc which was put on my laptop, so time to pay for a new key, I don't want t crack, but I'm happy to pay a sensible amount for a legal copy.

The only two slight issues I met when fitting the new mobo:

Couldn't see an obvious plug for the card reader but the net says to plug it in to half a USB socket?

The video card I have for the moment is a 9300GE has a plug with a black and white wire with the tiny 4 by 1 plug, think it's called a Molex, the new mobo has no where to plug it in, the net says it is extra power for the HD socket and it is OK without it.

So this afternoon a fresh win7 install for me, my win7 64 DVD is an OEM? (funny as a shop did a total fresh install) will it be ok to put that on accepting that I'll have to pay for a new key?

the card reader is a USB device. so yes, plug it into a USB header.

should be ok, g/l finding a good price on win7. You do have the Upgrade installation option, from Vista to 7. cheaper than a full license key.

Yes but my problem is I need to update mobo drivers on HD to make the computer run, plus ofc we don.t have a Vista disc.

How hard would it be to plug the HD into another computer and update the drivers from the mobo disc.

... there are software that does this....
If you have a WD drive: for free: WD Support
Acronis True Image, SYmantec Ghost, etc can all transfer over the drivers,

Could also D/L a legal Vista install disk, ...

you got a lot of options. , not sure which is optimal in your case, sorry.

Seagate. Thanks I'll go for a Google.

Next to impossible to find Vista on the net, lots of promises.

Finally found it here

As the actual DL comes from digital river I felt secure.

Followed burning to disc instructions to create bootable DVD from here

I tried the 64bit first but that wouldn't install 80000001 error, loads of theories out there in internet land:

Non original disk, apple conflicts my preferred is something language related as mine went all German on me???? I stuck on my own win7 64 OEM to check it wasn't a 64Bit problem but that went on fine.

The 32Bit Vista from the above page worked fine so if anyone needs Vista on line here you go.

As ever litoralis thanks for all your help.

On to next stage of cheap video card for PR only, and PSU to run it.

On a footnote I dropped in a 3.16Ghz 1333FSB E8500 to replace the 2.0 800FSB E2180 during this and it feels like a rocket ship.

Quite fun trying to make a cheap PR machine, need fast CPU but quads are pointless, now to what video card will provide best PR bang for buck without bottlenecking on my PCI Express 16 equipped mobo