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Need a New Computer

Well, the power supply didn't fix it. Now at least the PC is getting power because all the fans come on and the light on the motherboard comes on, but the power light just stays amber and no boot up happens at all. No video, no audio, nothing at all. I've tried reseating everything including the RAM, processor, and video card, but same result. The first time I booted it up, there was another burning electronics smell, but after turning it off and unplugging it, then trying it again, no more burning smell at all. So now the power supply works, but something else must have been damaged. Probably something in the motherboard, which means its just shot. So now I know I need a new PC, and I have no idea how I'm supposed to get one. I'd like to just order another from Dell, but I don't know if I'd be able to afford the monthly payments on it. If anyone has another solution, please let me know. Ideally I'd like to have a computer with a a lot of RAM, and a good enough CPU and video card to run most modern games. I have two SATA drives, and hopefully they still work as I'd like to get my stuff off them.

This computer lasted me a little over 10 years, so I guess I can't complain. Nothing lasts forever, and I was able to upgrade it enough to keep it working this long. Its just done now, and I'm forced to get a new one in a time when I don't have much money. I may not be online as much until I am able to get a new one. I just hope this laptop lasts me now.

:-(

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Added:	7 years, 8 months ago 12 Aug 2016 01:51 CEST

19 Comments on this Journal

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FoxWolfie

7 years, 8 months ago

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Before totally giving up, unplug the computer and remove the CMOS battery. Wait about ten minutes, replace the battery and try again. It probably won't work, but I've seen systems come back to life after doing that.  Even if you get it working though, I'd concentrate on backing up all data, as a ten-year-old system is already well past its life expectancy.

I got a brand new 3.5Ghz eight core, 8-gig RAM system off eBay, from a seller with 100 percent positive feedback, for just under $400. I see four and six core systems from similar sellers for as low as $250.

If you intend to play modern games, you will need a video card.  New R7 cards can often be found on eBay for under $40.  I wouldn't worry as much about having lots of RAM. 6 to 8 gigs of main RAM is more than enough for a gaming machine.  Remember, the video card will have its own RAM.  Even a modern $250 system from eBay would probably leave your old system in the dust, provided you popped a video card into it.

You shouldn't need to worry about your old SATA drives.  They're probably SATA I, and a new system will likely be SATA II or SATA III.  But, those are fully backward compatible.  They'll just run at the old SATA I speed.

Most any 4 core CPU is going to work.  Remember, the video card will have it's own processor, so the main CPU isn't doing all that extra work anyway.  I'm guessing your old system was only a single or a dual core.  You won't need to spend a lot to do better than what you had - unless you buy from a retail store where the prices are greatly inflated.  Just search on eBay, and pay attention to seller ratings. Many offer free shipping, and most don't charge sales tax. Some eBay stores even take payments.

OzzieKitSkunk

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ FoxWolfie

I guess I could try that next, but like you said, I doubt it will work. I've unseated and reseated everything, and it was off for about a week and a half. The burning smell couldn't have been good, but I have no idea what it was coming from now since it doesn't make the smell anymore. I still have some credit with Dell that I may use to get a new XPS system. There's no way I could afford all the parts on my own. I'd be buying parts for about a year before being able to build anything.

FoxWolfie

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ OzzieKitSkunk

At this point, anything is worth trying, even if it's not likely to work. It probably died the fate of most computers - one power surge or brownout too many.

At least you can salvage the drives, and probably the video card. Almost all newer systems use DDR3 memory, so it's unlikely that the memory in the ten-year-old system would even work in a new system. I hope someone near you has one they aren't using. Even someone's no-longer-used three-year-old system would likely be better than what you were using. And, if someone comes up with a system with no video card, you can probably use the one from your old system. I hope you end up with something good.

OzzieKitSkunk

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ FoxWolfie

I'll probably just keep it for parts and make a MAME machine out of it and other parts should I come across them. Always wanted to do that. Of course, I'd need a cabinet and monitor and all that stuff too for that, but its just a dream. ^^

FoxWolfie

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ OzzieKitSkunk

You might find a suitable cabinet at a thrift store. Actually many old under $25 computers from thrift stores are good for running older stuff. Old VGA monitors are often given away free, or for $5, especially the older CRT ones, and early LCD ones. Just go to flea markets or garage sales, and people will often have several with "free" signs on them, because local waste management in many areas doesn't take electronics, or will charge to take them.

OzzieKitSkunk

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ FoxWolfie

Yeah, possibly. I've never in my life seen an arcade cabinet at a thrift store though. lol The rest, sure, but I'd still need a hefty chunk of money to get all of them.

FoxPatronus

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ OzzieKitSkunk

are you needing a PC screan

OzzieKitSkunk

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ FoxPatronus

At this point I just need a new PC.

OzzieKitSkunk

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ FoxWolfie

Also I did try the battery thing. Still no go. Even with nothing but the bare essentials plugged in, I get nothing.

FoxWolfie

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ OzzieKitSkunk

Well, it was worth a try, but I didn't think it would work, since you mentioned the burning smell. That alone says that something took some damage. Some component on the motherboard, like a capacitor, probably fried. Maybe the original power supply started to fail and caused some damage. A failing part will sometimes take out other parts.

When you manage to get another system, it might also be a good idea to plug it into a UPS to protect it. A regular surge suppressor is better than nothing, but a UPS will protect against brownouts as well as surges, that can do damage.

OzzieKitSkunk

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ FoxWolfie

Yeah, its just that those are expensive too.

FoxPatronus

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ FoxWolfie

i dont know if its the same thing but i will say it in case sorry not so good with computer stuff

my PC was giving me lots of truble for months and months i had to replasc my grafics card and my screan but the problem just keeped coming back my brother then one day removed a little silver disc from my pc and put it back in and its working no problems no so if that was the battery you was talking about then i agree tottly with you it worked for me and i belived i was going to have to get a new pc but its ok now

ps sorry for the spelling and lake of nolage about what i am talking about

FoxWolfie

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ FoxPatronus

I am glad a new battery made your computer work again. Most times, problems are harder to fix. If something smells like burning, it usually means something worse happened, that a battery won't fix. A bad battery usually means your computer's date and time are often wrong. That's the best way to guess it the battery. A bad battery can make it so your computer fails to see an added graphics card, but that is a rare problem for people.

CosmicMutt

7 years, 8 months ago

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well since the powersupply didnt work i hope tavi can return it and get his money back D:
i have a pc i could offer to use but i dont remember the specs, ill check in a bit if you want me to. its nothing spectacular but..

OzzieKitSkunk

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ CosmicMutt

Maybe, but I may just keep it for parts and eventually build a PC just for playing classic games and such. I've always wanted to make a MAME cabinet, but its not like I'll ever have the money or ability to do such.

CosmicMutt

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ OzzieKitSkunk

i dont even know what a mame cabinet is D: sorry

OzzieKitSkunk

7 years, 8 months ago

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@ CosmicMutt

MAME is a program that runs old arcade games.