Garrdor needs a new PC

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Garrdor
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Garrdor needs a new PC

Post by Garrdor »

Calling upon all Brellians to help a tech noob with his shopping.

Ok - so... my machine takes a dump on me. This is right after I invest in one the ATI HD video cards (and to my knowledge, it works just fine). I can't get into WinXP, and if I can I can't open anything. I get an error "low memory". I'm guessing this has to do with my ram. I've swapped out memory between machines and still get the error. My machine will restart/lock up and give me BSADs every 20 mins. Well anyways - I'm too inept to do any PC detective work by myself. I'm going to buy a new one. Here's the issue though:

I've searched throughout Newegg.com for some lower end PCs and they're out of my price range. All I want is a PC with AGP4x/8x support (No integrated BS), lower end P4 processor, supports PC3200 memory (and SATA support). I know I should make the jump to PCIexpress for my video... but seeing I spent a butt-ton on my 'HD card' that I can't return, I think I'll stay behind in the times.

I can't seem to find anything within a $100ish pricerange. I mean, if i paid $100-200 for a machine of these similar specs two or more years ago, the price SHOULD be down, correct? I'm just having a hard time finding hardware of this type. I'm on a strict budget of $100-150.

I just want a machine that'll run WoW smoothly -- I NEED A BOX BEFORE WRATH OF THE LICH KING!!!!!!!

BWARARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR Q_Q Q_Q Q_Q

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Turaylon Soulshadow
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Re: Garrdor needs a new PC

Post by Turaylon Soulshadow »

It could possibly be more expensive. A lot of the older video cards and other parts are just not being made anymore so they're going to become collectible type things for computer geeks soon. My suggestion would be to bite the bullet and get something that cost between $400-$600 so you have something that you can rely on for a while. Some fights WILL require you to have graphics turned all the way up

What do you play on WoW anyways?
I'd like to see things from your point of view but I can't get my head that far up my ass.
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Garrdor
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Re: Garrdor needs a new PC

Post by Garrdor »

I play a ret pally. I'd post the armory link, but im @ work and it's blocked. I'm a S2-4/Kara/T5 gear mix, 2010AP 26%crit unbuffed. I have a crappy 1450-1500ish arena team and mostly BG. I fill in whenever my guild needs me for BT. My heal gear is T5 and above, but healing is for WUSSIES.

My machine can (err could) run any fight near-flawlessly. It ran Hyjal at like 30FPS
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Fobbon Lazyfoot
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Re: Garrdor needs a new PC

Post by Fobbon Lazyfoot »

Did you try taking out the video card and uninstalling the drivers? Video cards screw up computers more than any other piece of fresh hardware.
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Garrdor
Damnit Jim!
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Re: Garrdor needs a new PC

Post by Garrdor »

Yeah, tried that.


UPDATE:

I got a Win32k.sys error on my latest BSAD
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Freecare Spiritwise
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Re: Garrdor needs a new PC

Post by Freecare Spiritwise »

If you only have 100 bucks to spend, then I'd just figure out what's wrong with the machine and fix it, as you can replace any single part with that money.

How do even know it's a hardware problem and not a corrupted/misconfigured/virus laden install of Windows? I use something called the Ultimate Boot CD to tell the difference. Or just do it the old fashioned way and blow out Windows. If there's a hardware problem it probably won't even get through the install. And if you install a fresh copy and everything works, well then there's your answer.

That or use some of your back alley blowjob fund and buy a real computer ;)
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Turaylon Soulshadow
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Re: Garrdor needs a new PC

Post by Turaylon Soulshadow »

Garrdor wrote:I play a ret pally. I'd post the armory link, but im @ work and it's blocked. I'm a S2-4/Kara/T5 gear mix, 2010AP 26%crit unbuffed. I have a crappy 1450-1500ish arena team and mostly BG. I fill in whenever my guild needs me for BT. My heal gear is T5 and above, but healing is for WUSSIES.

My machine can (err could) run any fight near-flawlessly. It ran Hyjal at like 30FPS
Retadin, the other white meat. I think I'm in pvp resto gear right now on armory, not sure, last thing I did before I quit saturday was Brewfest boss and I wanted the resilience and the trinket on for the stupid ass barrels. 2200 heals PvE, 23k bear hp (main spec), never really had an interest in making a Balance set until recently so I have maybe 5 pieces for it? My toon has never shapeshifted into Moonkin form, pretty proud of that. Stopped raiding a few weeks ago, was in a guild that was still working on killing Felmyst when i left. Had arenas up to almost 1900 with a lock friend but we had a REALLY bad night and went down to 1400, then brought the team back up to 1503 with a rogue friend this past week so he could get points. Farmed Ambassador Hellmaw in SLabs for a few weeks to get the damned idol, too!

I always liked keeping my graphics off/low as possible just from playing EQ for so long and never having any of them turned up too high becuase we were a real MMO where you had to type and actually LOOK at things instead of have some stupid addon tell you what to do, and 72 people in a raid was pretty crazy lag if spells were on.
I'd like to see things from your point of view but I can't get my head that far up my ass.
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Re: Garrdor needs a new PC

Post by Select »

we were a real MMO where you had to type and actually LOOK at things instead of have some stupid addon tell you what to do
*Turns the Necro to look* Oh shit, this is going to hell! *Tosses a new load of dots, FD, raid finishes wiping, get up* "EEing the cleric..."
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Re: Garrdor needs a new PC

Post by Select »

I'd do what Free says. If you absolutely need to buy a new one, wait a little 'til you can get your funds up another $100 or so.
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Ddrak
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Re: Garrdor needs a new PC

Post by Ddrak »

Buy a new hard disk. Put it in instead of your current one. Install a fresh copy of Windows.

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Fobbon Lazyfoot
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Re: Garrdor needs a new PC

Post by Fobbon Lazyfoot »

Do you get different BSODs every time, or is it the same file causing problems? If its a different file every time then it could be your RAM dumping everything when it uses a certain module. If it's the same file you can diagnose the BSOD and repair it, I learned how just by cruising around the 'net and reading other people's problems. If you have multiple memory sticks, use one at a time or use different slots for them. If you have spare RAM handy, swap it out. You can also use memtest86, but that was always a pain in the ass for me. When I test RAM i usually just force it to crash with prime95, then swap it out and see if it fixes the problem.

But the easy fix to 99% of BSODs is just a clean install of windows. I guess you could install a new hard drive too, but a clean install on the same drive has always worked for me.
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Bahd Zoolander
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Re: Garrdor needs a new PC

Post by Bahd Zoolander »

There's a few things you can try before you start swapping parts out and hoping for the best.

To troubleshoot your RAM download Memtest86+ and let it run for a day or so. http://www.memtest.org/ If you have RAM problems it'll likely trigger them.

Since you just swapped your video card to a new exciting high powered one I wonder if it might be your power supply. If the new card draws more power (It may or may not, depends on what you had before) and your power supply was edgy it could cause BSODs. If you get random crashes while running memtest I'd put the old card back in and try again if it's still working. The problem is that memtest won't draw nearly the same power on the video card as running a 3d app.

If memtest passes I'd try a boot CD and do some hard drive scans and such. *shrug* It's gonna be trial and error for a bit.
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