Home Built PC

Video Card Compatability
I need a new Video card for a Dell Dimension 4550. The Dell supports AGP 4x at 1.5 volts. The software I will run is all accounting and web browsing, no games or 3D applications. I was looking at MSI FX5200-TD128LF, which is a 4X/8X card. The specs at newegg http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E... 8 Nov 2006 09:51

Desktop PC motherboards with EFI?
Do you know any desktop PC motherboard with EFI (or with the possibility of updating the flash ROM from BIOS to EFI), possibly also implementing a BIOS compatibility module? AMI (the producer of AMI BIOS) produces Aptio, that's a EFI implementation, with a BIOS compatibility module. Do you know any motherboa... 7 Nov 2006 13:17

internal memory card readers
I'd like to add an internal memory card reader, 3.5" or 5.25" is better. I'd like to be able to read/write a variety of cards including Secure Digital and all types of Compact Flash cards. It would be nice to have a IEEE1394 firewire port and audio connectors. It must be able to reliably connect to a MSI K8N Neo... 11 Nov 2006 22:59

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz = Which Intel Pentium D Processor?
Everything else being equal, and perhaps even the motherboard, since I heard that on some motherboards, such as Intel's D946GZIS, you can just swap between the Pentium D and Core 2 Duo procs, which of the Pentium D proc would equal the Core 2 Duo E6400 2.13GHz in terms of processing capability? I understand that t... 6 Nov 2006 22:28

Pentium D820 & ECSp4800pro-m . System does not boot
Hi, I bought this new combo deal in Fry's. Mobo : ECS P4800Pro-M CPU : Pentium D820 RAM : 512 MB PC3200 I assembled the system and when I press the power button, the fan starts to run , the CD drive is powered up. The problem is there is no display. The BIOS does not start. I have an onboard VGA. ... 8 Nov 2006 19:19

for ASRock 939Dual-VSTA owners
The AM2 bridge card is back in stock. http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/ProductDetail.jsp?ProductCode=245013 $40 US I have no idea whether it's worth it. ... 26 Oct 2006 02:29

ATA133 IDE cable: master / slave order?
On an ATA133 IDE cable, does it matter if the master drive is plugged into the slave socket? Apart from CS, are the connections the same? I've read that the master drive should go on the end of the cable, but what if I cut off the other socket? If this rule is only to prevent a stub that may reflect signals, it s... 26 Oct 2006 23:38

linksys WMP300N wireless-N network card help.
ever since i installed this network card my computer restarts randomly. i've googled it and come to the conclusion that its my bcmwl5.sys file that is bad. i found a link to download a new on that has helped other people with the same problem. but i replaced the file, restarted my computer and then my wireless ca... 24 Oct 2006 21:42

Knackered Speaker Port!
Hi there, I built my Shuttle SB61G2 Computer nearly two years ago and have had no problem since. Unfortunately the speaker input (green) port at the back of the PC seems to have a loose connection, as only the right speaker will work when it is fully plugged in. Although this is not always the case as sometim... 25 Oct 2006 16:03

Antec vs Zalman Power Supply
I'm building a new Core 2 Duo system and have to decide on a PS. I've had a good luck with Antec (quiet and reliable) but I've read many posts about Antec's PS quality going down (less quiet and unreliable). How about Zalman's power supply units? I guess they must be very quiet. Has anyone had experiences with ... 26 Oct 2006 05:04