Computer parts

[combatking0]

Can anybody reccomend a cheap but reliable place to buy RAM?

Specifically I'm after 2* 1GB of DDR 333MHz or faster. It's for a Dell desktop motherboard. I think it has 184 pins - I'll need to count them properly.

I have bought RAM from eBay before, and it worked, but I'm not really into risk taking.

[Jim]

I would think postage will cost more than the RAM, so maybe you need to find a local computer fair

Jim

[Clyde]

you could try www.dabs.com

[combatking0]

I completely forgot about the Northern Computer Market which comes to Doncaster a few times each month. I'll see when they're next in town.

There's an item on eBay at the moment which is 400MHz, but the motherboard should work with that. It's ECC, which will hopefully work, and it is currently £1.24 + £2 P&P with just 7 hours left - is it reccomended that ECC be used in a stand-alone desktop computer?
It doesn't say if it is buffered or not.

The prices at Dabs are similar to other places, but if it works then that would be great.

[padman]

I never had RAM that had ECC in any of my computers and never a mainboard that supported this.

I'd recommend Everest Home Edition, which can be found here: http://www.softpedia.com/get/System/System-Info/Everest-Home-Edition.shtml to check out what's currently in your computer. It's free and it (amongst others) lists specifically if the RAM is buffered/nonbuffered/ecc/non-ecc/blablabla. I'd only buy RAM that meets the facts listed there to be on the safe side. And I'd also recommend to check google if there are any known incompatibility issues with certain RAM/mainboard combinations. I had this once, which I found out after I had bought the RAM... 

[combatking0]

Thanks Padman, I'll check this tonight.

[Hotshot]

Northern Computer Market is good but you have check the right Ram for it!!! As for System computer? It good to check them before you buy them 

[combatking0]

When I've been in previous years, I've spotted a lot of pirate software and console chipping. Shame on them.

I usually go for the hardware, but I usually go for parts instead of complete computers.

[combatking0]

I got 2* 1GB of RAM from the computer fair the other day and I've just finished setting up my computer. One of the main features is the dual boot system I have implemented. Windows XP set up for internet access (with anti-virus, firewall, etc) on the first partition, and Windows XP set up for "performance" (games, no networking, no security) on the second partition.

Should work quite well as I don't play performance intensive games on the internet through my PC.

[Hotshot]

Have you got Zero hour?  Mr combatking( hence the name lol)

[combatking0]

Not yet, but I'll be looking for it when I have fully set up my computer.

[combatking0]

I've managed to get a replacement screen for the laptop my cousin stepped on - it was made for Vista, but I've managed to get XP Pro on it, with only 1 driver missing. It appears to be audio related, but the sound is working, so that's no big deal.

In other news, I've looked into getting a 500GB hard disk for my desktop. I've found a shop in Doncaster which deals in low price parts, but they're all out of SATA boards. A SATA drive there is cheaper than an equivalent ATA/IDE drive, but the machine does not have SATA ports on the motherboard

[Shockwave]

After having bought two PC's online recently I really am wondering if there is any value in building a computer yourself any more, there are som really cheap deals out there.

How much did you end up paying to fix the screen on the lappy mate?

[Moroboshisan]

I really am wondering if there is any value in building a computer yourself any more, there are som really cheap deals out there.

if you do NOT really need something in particular there are no "visible" differences between a custom built PC and a pre-assembled one (at first sight).

Otherwise, if you are looking to go for overclock instead you have no real alternatives but buy spare parts then... you really MUST choose every single part to mach what you need to achieve... The most of us just need an average PC with average specs... no more no less...

Gamer PCs must show muscles to go full-frame-rate with the latest titles... so most of those guys are forced to look for a custom build machine even if this means lots-a-money...

Obviously there are many (opposites) POV about it... as an example just try to think about linux users that must carefully pick-up spare components to ensure they can setup/run everything without too much complications.

I'm currently unsing an Intel based notebook with "Mobile Intel(R) 945 Express Chipset" so no pixelshaders frills here... this means I currently can't run many (if not all) of actual prods out there... but i'm still alive, it seems... at least! ;-) ...

[Hey man, wait a minute! What about all of those little inexpensive netbooks? New-Sch00l sceners just consider state of the art HW as platforms to develop for? isn't it bad? why do they do not consider soft-render an option at-all? the audience would be bigger... big audience = big success... or not?!?]

[combatking0]

The screen was £70, but the rest of the laptop was free (my auntie brought it up from London and said I could keep it). It could do with a new battery too, but I prefer to run all my machines from the mains where possible, so it doesn't matter to me that much.

She gave me the desktop I recently upgraded too (the one for which I will buy the SATA stuff).

I'm not really out to build a gaming PC as such, but one which will run the games from a few years ago that my last PC couldn't play. Hopefully an Intel Pentium 4 2.40GHz with 2GB RAM should be able to run Spore at a decent frame rate - I haven't checked yet.