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General discussion

How to ID MOTHERBOARD, Graphics board and type of RAM?

Dec 18, 2004 11:42AM PST

My question is how can I find out what kind of MOTHERBOARD I have, so that I know which processors and graphics boards I can look at for upgrading my CPU?
The computer I have now is barely adequate for my needs as a digital photographer. I currently have an AMD Athlon 1.3 GHz. Is there such a thing as S3 graphics board?, if so, thats what I have. How can I know if I'm right for sure? I know I have 512 MB of RAM, but I do not know what kind. How do I tell?

Any help would be greatly appreciated. HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Laura

Discussion is locked

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Everything that can be found out ...
Dec 18, 2004 7:31PM PST

without opening the case and looking around is discovered by belarc advisor from http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

However, it might be time to start thinking about another computer.

Hope this helps.


Kees

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time for a new computer?
Dec 18, 2004 8:10PM PST

If you want to know what is on your computer, download, install and run Belarc. But I would suggest you think about buying new. You can find some great deals these days. For only a little more than what you would spend on the upgrade, you can get yourself a new computer.

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Any recommendations? and THANKS
Dec 19, 2004 12:27AM PST

Can anyone recommend a good computer for handling a lot of digital photos that isn't over $500-$600 WITHOUT the monitor?
The reason I wanted to upgrade is that I already have an almost new 60GB hard drive, a new CDRW/DVDROM drive along with a second CD/RW drive, a disc drive(that I hardly ever use exept for one of my husbands cameras still uses discs), and a second 10GB hard drive that I use for storage. Everything works great except for the speed and I'd like better graphics capability.
I've also thought of buying a rather "stripped down" model and adding my peripherals, but how do I know if they will be compatable?
Any more thoughts on the matter?
Thanks a lot, Laura

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check the web sites
Dec 19, 2004 12:50AM PST

Go to each manufacturer's web site and configure a system. I was helping a friend look for a new desktop and there are some nice systems for around $600 that includes a monitor and free printer. If you don't need a monitor, you can buy a computer without one and put that money towards other hardware. It is a buyer's market right now. Have fun shopping.

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I would really appreciate some SPECIFICS
Dec 19, 2004 2:33AM PST

I have already been around to the web sites pricing, but I don't know what I need. I'm back to my original question of what is a good processor and graphics board for working with digital photos?

Anybody?

Thanks.

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hardware
Dec 19, 2004 3:30AM PST

I don't recommend people buy a computer with a Celeron processor. Get a Pentium 4 or Athlon especially if you want to get into digital photography or video. I also like having a non-intergrated sound card and video card. Sound Blaster audio cards and ATI video cards are good choices. They are reasonable priced and perform well.

I'm sure others will make their recommendations.

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Hardware, and software
Dec 19, 2004 3:39AM PST

I use a Pentium4, 2 Gig Processor, and a barely adaquate GeoForce 64 Meg graphics card.
Still, my camera is set up for normal use, to only put out 1600x1200 pixel jpgs. Usually only about half a meg each, and have no problem editing these, and editing is pretty fast.

HOWEVER, you didn't mention what size pictures you want to save, edit, whatever. If you use maybe a 4 or 5 megapixel camera, and save as .bmp, or .tif, you are looking at huge files, and you (or I), would not be happy with a system like mine.

Consider first how you save your digital pictures, then what program you will use to edit them. Many editing programs will save a copy of each change you make, which means a fast processor, and maybe a Gig of RAM, is a good idea, if you save as .tif.

So, I would say, if you want to save pictures in the highest quality, and edit them, get the fastest processor you can, and all the memory you can handle. Can only suggest what I would get, which would be a P4 at 3 Gig or more, and a Gig of memory, plus a graphics card with 128 Meg memory, or more if your computer can handle all this. Be aware, upgrading an older computer to this level may overtax your power supply, so consider a new one of those too, or a whole new system.

Hope this helps.

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I would recommend ...
Dec 19, 2004 4:48AM PST

to visit a few local computer stores and explain what you want. Most stores assemble the machine that you want out of components you can choose from and any decent shop will be able to:
- advice about the hardware suited for your needs
- assemble the machine
- reuse components from your current machine if you don't need that any more (like hard disk, CDRW/DVD and diskette drive)

I would go for a 512 Mb of fast memory and a mid-class videocard at most (digital photo's are NOT games, and a high-class graphics card would definitely be overdone). Don't forget the card reader so you can directly read the cards from your camera. All modern processors are fast, and the decimals (Pentium 3.0 versus 3.2 or 3.4) aren't worth the price difference for you. Same for Athlons (2600, 2800, 3000).

Once you have a few quotations (and there might be big differences between them) come back here for advice. I went through such a process this week, and ended up choosing a $1200 (Euro, in fact) machine from quotations ranging from 600 to 1100, but - well, you know - the shop felt good (nice guy, who knew what he talked about). It's not a fully rational process. Like buying a car.

Hope this helps.


Kees