heh. the video and sound cards were the parts I definitely wanted to get rid
of. fwiw, the computer is a vpr matrix, which used to be best buy's house
brand. I bought it because it had a raid controller and because the guy said
it was manufactired entirely with generic parts, so were any one component to
fail I could replace it with an off-the-shelf item, not have to buy a
proprietary part (the example he used was sony vaio power supples, which he
said cost $400 each.) I wanted to get a guy to build me one from scratch with
individual parts, but couldn't get it to happen. the computer is about 2.5
years old - an eternity for computers, I guess, but it's held up well.
so basically, I should go buy a new computer, swap the old hard drive (if
possible) onto the new drive, then buy a mb, processor, ram, video and sound
cards and start replacing parts until the old computer works? that sounds like
a new computer. hmm.
comp usa is looking more tempting. my concern is that the computer was used
for work, so potentially there's stuff on there I don't want someone from the
strip mall looking at.
'course, there's also five years' worth of my son's pictures on there. those
will be recovered or I am a dead man.
this is not looking easy.
scott
>
> > my biggest question is how can/do I test the components? I have a
> > voltmeter, but it's the standard home/auto kind. is there a way to
> > tell what's toast without just swapping in new parts?
>
> The only definitive test is to hook the component up to a working computer and
> see if it works. The downside is that there is a small chance your bad
> component will damage the good component.
>
> Odds are good that the motherboard is toast in addition to the power supply,
>and
> processors have moved so quickly that you'll likely pay more for a MB & RAM to
> support your old processor than a new MB, processor & RAM will cost.
>
> I've also usually found it cheaper to buy a case with PS than a replacement PS
> to fit my old case.
>
> With the new PS, MB, processor & RAM in hand, you can try your old video card
>&
> monitor. Keep adding components until you find one that either doesn't work,
>or
> keeps the whole system from working. It's not rocket science, as you say if
>you
> can build an engine, you can probably build a computer. Just go easy on the
> assembly lube ! <g> (Actually, you do use a special grease between the
> processor and it's heat sink.)
>
> > I'd like to at
> > least have a go at it before I pay comp usa $99 just to diagnose the
> > problem. or am I a moron to even consider it, and these are very
> > delicate parts not to be fooled with by mere mortals?
>
> Frankly, given the likely amount of damage, and all the potential hassles with
> incompatible parts, I'd say you'd be better off buying a new "bare bones"
> system. Then you can try connecting your old hard drive in hopes it still
> works, and so on.
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