BleepingComputer.com: old computer needs help

Ok first im going to say I didnt know what to put as the title because this computer just confuses me to death. alright so my problem is that i have a old computer. im going to list the specs on this page. now i got this computer from my sister because she got a new laptop so i said hey i dont have money to get a brand new comp so let me upgrade this computer to see if i can make it better. it started out with 256 mb ram which was really low so i bought a 512mb stick of ram and now i have 768mb. the stock videocard was horrible so i bought a 256 mb videocard and a new powersupply. now what troubles me is i have video buffering problems like i upgrade everything that would make the video run better and i still cant run youtube videos correctly. i can run dvds perfectly fine though also even when im trying to play games online i get bad lag spikes. i have other laptops and computers in the house and ive tested and i know for a fact that its not my internet connection so now i dont know what else it could be. and i bought a 512mb videocard but i need to get another powersupply because the power wire that connects to the graphic card from the power supply started smoking and it burned up. i dont know if i got a bad videocard or it was a bad power supply and on top of that the computer wouldnt even turn on when i got a replacement cable for the graphic card can someone help me determine if it was the graphic card or the powersupply. so to sum it up i have 2 problems one concerning if i have a bad videocard or bad powersupply and the 2nd problem is video buffering and online games/media skipping. now here is my specs.

Computer
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
Internet Explorer 8.0.6001.18702


Motherboard CPU Type Intel Celeron 4A, 2019 MHz (5 x 404)
Motherboard Name MSI P4MAM-L (MS-6787) (3 PCI, 1 AGP, 2 DIMM, Audio, Video, LAN)
Motherboard Chipset VIA VT8751A Apollo P4M266A
System Memory 768 MB (DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type Award (07/15/04)
Communication Port Communications Port (COM1)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display
Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce 6200 (256 MB)
Monitor Plug and Play Monitor [NoDB] (91567CA002089)

Multimedia
Audio Adapter VIA AC'97 Enhanced Audio Controller

Storage
Floppy Drive Floppy disk drive
Disk Drive HDS728040PLAT20
Optical Drive Generic DVD-ROM SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive Generic DVD-ROM SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive HL-DT-ST DVD-ROM GDR8161B (16x/48x DVD-ROM)

Partitions
C: (NTFS) 36601 MB (2041 MB free)

Input
Keyboard Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Mouse HID-compliant mouse

Network
Primary IP Address 192.168.1.10
Primary MAC Address 00-0F-66-1C-82-69
Network Adapter 3Com EtherLink XL 10/100 PCI For Complete PC Management NIC (3C905C-TX)
Network Adapter Motorola Wireless PCI Adapter WPCI810G (192.168.1.10)

Peripherals
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
USB Device USB Human Interface Device

I would still look into your NIC as being the problem just the same, try doing a ping or going to a web site that checks network speeds, or look into your network cards settings to see what those are set to.

Suggestion: http://www.speedtest.net/

Bruce.

i checked my speed and it looks pretty normal to me and i still need to know the answer about the videocard cuz i dont want to feel like i got ripped off

supahreem, on Aug 17 2010, 12:32 AM, said:

Is this an AGP type video card?

Video Adapter NVIDIA GeForce 6200 (256 MB)


If so I have the PNY Nvidia GeForce 6200 AGP 256 Mb Video card. Driver 8.17.12.5896 running resolution at 1600x1200 pixels at 75 Hz.

I do not seem to experience lag in either you tube or HULU videos, I also have Comcast cable modem through a NetGear wireless N router WNR2000 v2. using a 100 foot Cat 5 Network cable.

If your video card is the same as mine, see if your driver is the same as my version, even though my video card is a PNY, I get my Windows 7 drivers right from Nvidia's support web site just the same.

Bruce.

This post has been edited by MrBruce1959: 17 August 2010 - 10:10 AM

for youtube...that was because your internet connection...just like I...need 1 hour to buffering 1 video
but if in games...please change the games setting to lowest quality...or you could tell what games that you play??
and have you check you temperature??? sometimes this happen because your computer almost overheat or was overheat...

come to speak of it i had broke the cpu fan along time ago and the computer would keep shutting off as a safe feature or it would overheat alot then i bought a new cpu fan and it stop cutting off so im guessing i might need a new cpu or motherboard? and i wouldnt even say its a buffer issue for my videos cuz i can play them in 240p hd but when it comes to 360p and the video is fully loaded it plays extremely choppy. i dont need anything as extreme as 1 hr to buffer a video lol just a couple minutes if its in 360p on youtube. now i have a problem running dungeon fighter online i can play the game but the game has really long load screens for me even on lowest settings. i had comcast internet when this was happening and i had to start playing it on a diffrent computer cuz the loading screen was so long. also the funny thing is i can play offline games like streetfighter 3rd strike and other arcade like fighting games just fine its just the online videos and games that give me problems. and can someone answer the question about that 512 mb videocard and power supply issue too plz?

This post has been edited by supahreem: 17 August 2010 - 12:12 PM

supahreem, on Aug 16 2010, 10:23 PM, said:

supahreem, on Aug 17 2010, 01:07 PM, said:

This is a hard one to answer, you say the connector on the PSU wire that connects to the video card is what burned up, meaning melted I take it.

I am not sure if you may have connected it backwards or not or if that is even possible, as most connecters are keyed to prevent reversed connections.

For the connecter to over-heat is an indicator of either a reversed connection, or too much current passed through the connection for it to handle.

Did the video card come in contact with another piece of metal hardware?

If you really want to check the PSU out for problems I will link you to a web site that helps you determine both video card and PSU issues, testing and voltages.

Notice at this web site there is 3 boxes with links, the first two Video card information and power supply information should be the most help to you.

http://www.playtool.com/pages/home/index.html


Bruce.

oh yeah if it helps heres the link to my 512 graphic card
http://www.gearxs.com/gearxs/product_info....roducts_id=9948

i plugged the cord in the appropriate way the first time i did it the cord melted then the 2nd time i did it with a new cord the computer would turn on for a quick second then shut off. like i would see the cpu fan move alil bit then it would stop really fast.

ok i just tried to get the 512mb card working and the computer fails to power up the computer. the power requirement is 350w and i have 480w. i have a 4 pin hard drive cable converter cable to floppy pin i would see the cpu fan move then stop

Yes I see that on your video card it has the 4 pin connector that would usually be used on a floppy drive.

Usually if there is a short in a circuit it will casue injury in the area of where the short is located. But your power supply should have reacted before any real damage was done.

The video card may have suffered some damage as the result, only way of really tell at your vantage point is to try the video card in another computer that you know is in working condition.

You should use the web site I linked you to above and a VOM meter to test the power supply.

I also have a test you can try, which I will now add to this post.


WARNING: THIS POST MAY CONTAIN DIRECTIONS THAT INCLUDE WORKING WITH LIVE VOLTAGES OR PARTS INSIDE A COMPUTER'S POWER SUPPLY THAT CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ELECTRICAL SHOCK OR SERIOUS BURNS, A POWER SUPPLY CONTAINS VARY LARGE ELECTROLYTIC CAPACITORS THAT ACT JUST LIKE A BATTERY OR VOLTAGE STORAGE DEVICE, THOSE AND OTHER ELECTRONICS FOUND INSIDE A POWER SUPPLY CAN STORE DANGEROUS AMOUNTS OF ELECTRICITY HOURS OR EVEN WEEKS AFTER ALL ELECTRICAL CURRENT HAS BEEN DISCONNECTED FROM THEM! PLEASE USE EXTREME CAUTION AND COMMON SENSE WHEN WORKING WITH POWER SUPPLIES OR AC VOLTAGES!


The purpose of this procedure is to bypass the motherboard to test a ATX PSU. Some manufacturers Like Dell have used some non ATX PSUs which have a different pinout for the 20/4 pin connector, please confirm that your PSU is a ATX type before using this procedure.

Caution: This procedure will involve working with live 12VDC electrical potentials which if handled improperly may lead to electrical shock. Proper precautions should also be taken to prevent electrostatic discharges (ESDs) within the case of the computer. For safety purposes please follow the instructions step by step.

First, shutdown your computer. Then unplug the power cable going into your computer.

Once you have opened the case, touch the metal of the case to discharge any static electricity.

The connector of the PSU which connects to the motherboard is readily recognizable by the number of wires in the bundle. To disconnect it you will need to press on the plastic clip to disengage it and then pull the connector up and away from the motherboard. Please take notice of the location of the locking tab and the notch on the socket of the motherboard, this will only connect one way as it is keyed. This wire bundle will have a memory of the way it has been installed and will want to bend back that direction, you may have to play around with it to find a position that the connector will stay in the same position while you run the test.


www.playtool.com

From the top left to right the pins are 13-24, the bottom from left to right are 1-12.


Please notice that there are PSUs with 24 pin and 20 pin connectors, the location of the green wire in the 24 pin connector is #16, and the green wire in the 20 pin connector is #14. If you look at the connector with socket side facing you and the clip on the top the number one pin will be on the bottom left corner. This makes the pin out for the 24 pin connector from left to right 13-24 on top, and 1-12 on the bottom. The pin out for the 20 pin connector from left to right is 11-20 on top , and 1-10 on the bottom. If you look at the connectors you notice that these are sockets that fit over the pins on the motherboard where the PSU cable attaches, this is where you will place the jumper. For a jumper you will need a piece of solid wire about the size of a paper clip (20-22 awg), preferably a wire with insulation. It will need to be large enough to fit firmly into the socket so that it will not need to be held in place while testing. You are at risk of electrical shock if you are holding the jumper when you power up the PSU. Insert one end of the jumper into the socket of the Green wire, and insert the other end into the socket of any Black wire.

Once the jumper is in place plug the cord back in. If the PSU is working properly the case fans, optical drives, hdds, and LEDs should power up and remain on. I would suggest that you not leave this connected any longer than is necessary for safety purposes.

To reconnect the 20/4 pin connector unplug the power cord, remove the jumper, and reconnect the connector. Take a moment at this time to make sure that nothing has been dislodged inside the case.


Hope this is helpful to you, please keep me posted.

Bruce.

im using sensor view pro and i dont know what im exactly looking for? and i cant use another computer to test cuz all there is in my house are laptops

Ok but you should be able to test your PSU with the tests I posted above.

If you know someone who has a desktop computer, they may allow you to test your video card in their computer.

You should throughly inspect the video card for any signs of burns though, as this card may short out their computer as well.

Good way to lose a friend.

Bruce.

idk i dont want to lose friends haha its already hard to find good ones but besides that i think i might just sell the videocard as is because i dont feel like going through the trouble now all i got to figure out is why my comp cant handle 360p youtube videos and some sorts of games.