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Stick G
How do i found out what motherboard i have?
All i know is that i have a £400, year-old Compaq computer, but that isn't really helping anybody. I need to know whether certain new components will be compatible/fit with my current motherboard, as i am totally remaking my desktop PC into a gaming computer. Once i find out what motherboard i have, i assume that i will be able to tell what slots it has/what it is compatible with, no?
Answer
You are correct, once you know the motherboard model you can look up the specs online. Although you could also just simply the case and look. You can tell visually whether it's got a PCI-Express or AGP slot (those are indented farther in) how many memory slots it's got available, etc.
http://www.playtool.com/pages/vidslots/mballslots.jpg
SIW (System Information for Windows) is a free program that will give you all the details of your system hardware including processor model, motherboard model, RAM speed, etc.
http://download.cnet.com/SIW-Freeware-Version/3000-2094_4-75179711.html?tag=mncol;4
Keep in mind that your upgrade options may be limited. Assuming you've got a PCI-Express x16 slot, you can install any PCI-Express graphics card which fits... but higher-end cards require more power. Stock computers from HP, Dell, Compaq etc are built with weak power supplies (usually 250-300 watts) that must be replaced in order to run good gaming cards. To find out your power supply rating, you'll have to open the case and read the label.
For example, with a 300 watt power supply the best card you can install is a GeForce GT240. All cards with better performance require more than a 300W psu.
With s 500W power supply, you could run anything up to a Radeon HD 5770.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171031
On the processor side, you're limited to whatever your motherboard supports. You can't pop a current-generation Core i5 onto a motherboard designed for Core 2 Duos. But your motherboard might support something faster than what you already have. You'll have to check the specs. Note that you CANNOT upgrade the motherboard on brand-name machines, that would invalidate your Windows installation.
If you've got a dual-core or better CPU, then it's probably worthwhile to upgrade your graphics card and maybe RAM. If your motherboard only supports single-core processors or doesn't have a PCI-Express slot, then forget upgrading. You'd be better off starting fresh. For example, something like this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Lenovo+-+Ideacentre+Desktop+/+AMD+Athlon%26%23153%3B+X2+Processor+/+3GB+Memory+/+500GB+Hard+Drive/1972762.p?id=1218303650479&skuId=1972762
Card performance:
http://www.techspot.com/review/244-ati-radeon-hd-5450/page5.html
http://www.techspot.com/review/240-ati-radeon-hd-5670/page4.html
You are correct, once you know the motherboard model you can look up the specs online. Although you could also just simply the case and look. You can tell visually whether it's got a PCI-Express or AGP slot (those are indented farther in) how many memory slots it's got available, etc.
http://www.playtool.com/pages/vidslots/mballslots.jpg
SIW (System Information for Windows) is a free program that will give you all the details of your system hardware including processor model, motherboard model, RAM speed, etc.
http://download.cnet.com/SIW-Freeware-Version/3000-2094_4-75179711.html?tag=mncol;4
Keep in mind that your upgrade options may be limited. Assuming you've got a PCI-Express x16 slot, you can install any PCI-Express graphics card which fits... but higher-end cards require more power. Stock computers from HP, Dell, Compaq etc are built with weak power supplies (usually 250-300 watts) that must be replaced in order to run good gaming cards. To find out your power supply rating, you'll have to open the case and read the label.
For example, with a 300 watt power supply the best card you can install is a GeForce GT240. All cards with better performance require more than a 300W psu.
With s 500W power supply, you could run anything up to a Radeon HD 5770.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817171031
On the processor side, you're limited to whatever your motherboard supports. You can't pop a current-generation Core i5 onto a motherboard designed for Core 2 Duos. But your motherboard might support something faster than what you already have. You'll have to check the specs. Note that you CANNOT upgrade the motherboard on brand-name machines, that would invalidate your Windows installation.
If you've got a dual-core or better CPU, then it's probably worthwhile to upgrade your graphics card and maybe RAM. If your motherboard only supports single-core processors or doesn't have a PCI-Express slot, then forget upgrading. You'd be better off starting fresh. For example, something like this:
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Lenovo+-+Ideacentre+Desktop+/+AMD+Athlon%26%23153%3B+X2+Processor+/+3GB+Memory+/+500GB+Hard+Drive/1972762.p?id=1218303650479&skuId=1972762
Card performance:
http://www.techspot.com/review/244-ati-radeon-hd-5450/page5.html
http://www.techspot.com/review/240-ati-radeon-hd-5670/page4.html
Why does my computer shut down when I play the sims 3?
Hannah
I have a laptop its windows vista. My sims game is not new so whats wrong? It used to work fine! I could play sims for hours. But since last week when I get 5 mins into the game my computer just make's a clicking sound and the computers off without warning. It works fine for other things on the computer just sims HELP!!!
Hannah
It started when I got supernatural.
Answer
Typically an abrupt shutdown like you describe is caused by overheating. Take some canned air and blow it through the intake and exhaust ports of your laptop's cooling vents until no more dust comes out (you may want to do this outside). Then, install some temperature monitoring software on your computer. You can search on download.cnet.com to find something that will work for you. I suggest checking the "Free" box when you do so ... Once you have such software installed and running, start your Sims game. Make sure the temp software is making a log ... The next time your machine shuts down, look at the temperature log. You can also look in Windows Event Viewer and see if Windows records any events at the time of shut down. Important ones will be in red or yellow.
Typically an abrupt shutdown like you describe is caused by overheating. Take some canned air and blow it through the intake and exhaust ports of your laptop's cooling vents until no more dust comes out (you may want to do this outside). Then, install some temperature monitoring software on your computer. You can search on download.cnet.com to find something that will work for you. I suggest checking the "Free" box when you do so ... Once you have such software installed and running, start your Sims game. Make sure the temp software is making a log ... The next time your machine shuts down, look at the temperature log. You can also look in Windows Event Viewer and see if Windows records any events at the time of shut down. Important ones will be in red or yellow.
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