I need some opinions on what I should do about a computer.
Currrently I have an older Compaq tower w/ a P4 1.8 CPU and 512 RAM. I've added a 2nd hard drive (300 GB) and a DVD burner. I'm currently connected with a DSL line.
My problem.... I'm not happy with video playback I'm getting when watching videos from the Internet (stuttering, locking up for a few seconds and then skipping ahead, etc)
Solutions I'm considering....
+ Replacing my video card with one a little better than I have for around $100
+ Taking my RAM up 1024
+ Pick the bones off of the old computer and start over - I found a Gateway at a
local reputable store that re-sells corporate computers that come in off lease.
P4 3.2 CPU, 1024 RAM, 40GB drive, standard CD drive. $230. Move the bigger
drive and DVD burner from my old computer to this unit.
+ Starting over with a new computer and spending somewhere around $500 for a
new unit with a P4 duo-core processor, DVD burner and 1024 MB RAM burner.
Most of what I use my computer for are fairly simple spreadsheets, word processing, downloading and editing videos and photograph and being a valuable, highly respected member of the CCS Forum (???) :kicknuts:
Money is a definite issue so whatever I do I'm going to do it as cheaply as I can.
How much better streaming video playback can I expect if I upgrade my video card and my RAM?
Given how I'm using my computer would I benefit much in going with a new duo-core processor?
Any help or comment would be appreciated - even smartass replies (let me see I can think of about 20 people on here that I've mildly (?) :wtf: offended on here at various times.) :whine:
Found a couple that fit the budget
http://cgi.ebay.com/Brainiac-K-30-Vintage-Personal-Computer-geniac-rare-old_W0QQitemZ360000376467QQihZ023QQcategoryZ1247QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-RADIO-SHACK-TRS-80-MODEL-4-MICROCOMPUTER-64KRAM_W0QQitemZ180187602093QQihZ008QQcategoryZ74947QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Commodore-64-Computer-w-1541-Disk-Drive-Manuals-More_W0QQitemZ110202088454QQihZ001QQcategoryZ74945QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/TI-Texas-Instruments-99-4A-Computer_W0QQitemZ110202090257QQihZ001QQcategoryZ1247QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/Apple-IIe-Computer-w-monitor-dual-floppy-drive-BIN_W0QQitemZ300179123334QQihZ020QQcategoryZ80286QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
and even a new one in the box http://cgi.ebay.com/TEXAS-INSTRUMENTS-HOME-COMPUTER-TI-99-4A-NEW-IN-BOX_W0QQitemZ300178395315QQihZ020QQcategoryZ4193QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
There smartass reply out of the way
oops missed the portable option
http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Kaypro-4-83-Computer-System-SWEET_W0QQitemZ300177807129QQihZ020QQcategoryZ4193QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
More memory's a cheap option to try. Have you ever opened up task manager to see how your memory and CPU are doing when you try to play videos etc.?
I guess I don't see anything about your current system that stands out as a reason why online videos wouldn't play ok. (Youtube type stuff right?) They shouldn't be all that demanding. Maybe your DSL connection, modem, and/or router are having some issues?
What version of Windows are you running?
Quote from: Ridgeway on December 08, 2007, 02:08:49 PM
More memory's a cheap option to try. Have you ever opened up task manager to see how your memory and CPU are doing when you try to play videos etc.?
I guess I don't see anything about your current system that stands out as a reason why online videos wouldn't play ok. (Youtube type stuff right?) They shouldn't be all that demanding. Maybe your DSL connection, modem, and/or router are having some issues?
What version of Windows are you running?
Memory probably won't be as cheap since this uses older type chips (but cheaper than some other options). Video playback is YouTube type stuff. Running XP.
Thanks Eric! :thumb: I know I deserve that!!!
Believe or not I still have my 1st computer that I bought in 1988. Radio Shack 8086 processor, (couldn't afford the 286 model.) 256KB memory. I splurged and bought the external fancy new 3 1/2" drive too!!! With a dot matrix printer and monitor I think I spent about $1500!!!
Are you getting the stuttering on playback on vids that are downloaded completely to your machine? If not, then maybe the streaming (i.e. DSL line) is the problem.
I'd try saving a video file to your drive and opening it from there to see if you're getting the same problem... if not, then the issue may be with your connection speed (or the internets are too busy) and can't get the data down their pipe quick enough.
If you are, then it could be related to the fact that the computer isn't up to the task (not likely IMO)
I would get a newer desktop, like this one (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883102020) (Vista) or this one (//http://) (XP Media) on Newegg.
I run one of these at the shop, and bought one for my father in law as a gift. Both are rock solid; this is Neweggs 'house brand'.
They're built with quality brand name components, there were Western Digital HDs, Kingston ValueRam memory, and ASUS Mobos in the ones I purchased about a year ago.
I have DSL at the shop, (runs at about 4.8 Mbps) and Roadrunner at the house (runs at about 6.8 Mbps). You can run a speed test on your machine at http://speedtest.wi.rr.com/ (http://speedtest.wi.rr.com/). Make sure you set the File size to 14.75MB. Run 5-8 successive tests and then hit the report button to get your average. This will tell you if your DSL is to blame. (slow is bad)
Hope this helps.
Sounds more like a connection problem than hardware problem. I have no problems watching videos on a 1ghz 512mb ram with 32mb vid card. Some sites though do chop for me but it happens on ALL my computers.
Also your firewall/av could be hindering it too.
That CPU should have no problem with stuff like youtube. just because you have a fast DSL line doesn't mean the stream will come in uninterupted, The server might be choked with 10,000 people trying to view stuff or there might be a broken route between you and there. If you open task manager as suggested there is a tab that will list your charge and commit memory levels, one is current memory in use (includes virtual ram on the harddrive) and the other is maximum in use since last boot. This shoulc tell you if memory is a problem and as suggested above I would recommend saving to disk or increasing buffering. Youtube should be smooth with half that CPU.
Thanks for all the good suggestions. :thumb:
I'll check them out and report back what I find.
Ahem....cough...cough...porn...cough...cough...
:kicknuts:
Quote from: dylanfan53 on December 09, 2007, 10:05:51 AM
Ahem....cough...cough...porn...cough...cough...
:kicknuts:
In Ricks case, gay animal porn. :lmao:
Quote from: Woofentino Pugrossi on December 09, 2007, 02:31:23 PM
In Ricks case, gay animal porn. :lmao:
Alpacha's Gone Wild! :lmao: :spank: :biggrin:
I have a DSL connection as well and notice that during peak internet times it's somewhat slower even with my computer (and I have a computer with a stupid expensive PCI Express SLI Capable Video Card, 2GB of very low latency gaming ram, a 10,000 RPM SATA WD Raptor Hard Drive, and a huge Front Side Bus on the Processor), I mainly use the internet later at night so it's usually really fast and doesn't stutter at all.
Have you noticed the same problems at times when internet usage would be lower (locally), like very early morning or late at night?
I one of those crazies that stood in line at Staples from 3:00am black Friday to get a new dual processor notebook with Vista for my kid. They also had 2G of memory for about $68 so I installed that since everyone says it needs the extra memory. What a pig. I have half a mind to reformat and install XP.
I should have been more clear, I certainly did not mean Vista instead.
OS X
I do love me iMac. :thumb:
Hey Rick,
baby step=more RAM
2nd step=new box w/more RAM (the P4 3.2 would be a screamer campared to your current system.
Paul
www.polar-optics.com
MW Ex 79
P4's suck, get a pentium D at a min, or better yet a core 2 duo.
here's a link to compare processors doing different activities. Also the cheapest RAM out right now is DDR2, if you building a new system on a budget get something that runs DDR2 and put in two GB.
http://www23.tomshardware.com/cpu_2007.html?modelx=33&model1=880&model2=899&chart=436