My graphics card is now borderline minimum spec for new games, and I'm looking for a decent, quiet graphics card which will fit in my PC. A couple of things to note:

1. I have a small fan on my motherboard, which although won't get in the way, it's not really ideal to have a graphics card infront of it, but that will probably have to happen.
2. A have a ribbon-like cable going to my DVD drive at about 225mm from the other end of the case which could well get in the way of a bigger card.

I've considered getting a new motherboard, processor and case too, to avoid these problems, however:
1. It would be expensive
2. I don't have a clue about motherboards
3. I have to find a case which would fit the motherboard, and choose a motherboard which would give enough room for a bigger card
4. Taking my whole PC apart and putting it back together

So for the time being I plan on just getting a graphics card. I want it to be quiet though.

I came across this one: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-003-PN&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=927

Can anyone point me in the right direction?

1. I have a small fan on my motherboard
I suppose it's one of those 40x40mm fans on the northbridge chip.
Replace it with an aluminium heatsink (don't forget heatsink paste), as those small, fast-turning fans will die eventually anyway.
Also, replacing that small fan will greatly reduce the noise output.

You can then choose a heatsink small enough to fit your graphics card. Or cut off a bit with a metal saw.
You should get a one for a few bucks.
2. A have a ribbon-like cable going to my DVD drive at about 225mm from the other end of the case
Use a longer cable or an extension cable.

I'm sure you're already aware, but I'll just point that the higer end 8th series cards are rather big and use up 2 slots in the PC.

If you're not a hardcore gamer so to speak, I'd suggest perhaps getting this:

http://www.komplett.co.uk/k/ki.aspx?sku=334383

I've used one of these and for the price it's a really nice card. Perfectly able to run games on higher to medium settings (unless you're playing Crysis).

I also suggest not using Overclockers.co.uk if you're intending too, I've had a rather nasty experience with them and have also read similar stuff on them. I quite like www.komplett.co.uk, if you want to take a look at their store.

Use a longer cable or an extension cable.What I meant to say was the connection of that cable to the motherboard would be in the way of a larger card.

I suppose it's one of those 40x40mm fans on the northbridge chip.
Replace it with an aluminium heatsink (don't forget heatsink paste), as those small, fast-turning fans will die eventually anyway.
Also, replacing that small fan will greatly reduce the noise output.

You can then choose a heatsink small enough to fit your graphics card. Or cut off a bit with a metal saw.
You should get a one for a few bucks.
Well currently the fan isn't in the way. It does make some noise (not as much as my graphics card, but when I get a new card I'll notice it more). I've tried looking at heatsinks for it before, but anything above about 1cm high will get in the way even more than the fan does. To be honest, I'd rather just plump for a quieter 40mm fan.

I'd rather just plump for a quieter 40mm fan.
Have fun finding something like that!
"Small fan diameter" and "silent" are quite a contradiction.
Those small things need to go that fast to achieve the same air throughput - thus cooling - like a larger diameter can with a low speed.

Have fun finding something like that!
"Small fan diameter" and "silent" are quite a contradiction.
Those small things need to go that fast to achieve the same air throughput - thus cooling - like a larger diameter can with a low speed.

Well if I didn't get a quieter fan, and I went for a heatsink instead, then I'd have to get a new motherboard to fit the new graphics card in, and I'd also get a new processor while doing that as mine is below recommended now. Then I'd need a new case too, most likely. Too expensive.

Are there any (free) downloadable programs that can tell me what temperature the components are running at?

Are there any (free) downloadable programs that can tell me what temperature the components are running at?
What make motherboard have you currently got? Asus have a free temperature monitoring tool, and I think some of the other manufacturers do too.

Not sure of the tecnical spec but I'm pretty sure it's made by Asus.

Sisoft Sandra is a nice girl and will tell you everything.
http://www.sisoftware.co.uk

My 3DMark06 score is 915 :(

My CPU did very poorly. I am tempted to get a new processor, but that would mean refitting the blasted fan, which took me a week of frustration to get on in the first place.

"Your system compared to all 3381072 system configurations. There are 3188039 systems with a higher score and 193033 systems with a lower score than your system." - 94% of people have a better system :(

For those wondering, I currently have:
AMD Athlon 3500+
GeForce 6600 128MB

I've been looking at new processors, as I might get a new one too. However, I have a 939 socket and the newer ones are all for AM2 sockets. However on many sites it has said that I can use the AM2 socket processors on a 939 socket, but I have to have a BIOS update. Now I've tried searching, but I don't know exactly what would be involved...

To do a BIOS update you have to check your motherboard model and look it up on the manufacturer site, they usually have full details on how to update your BIOS. (and plenty of warnings :p)

Seems rather complicated :\

Firstly, the sheet or paper which has the motherboard name on is at uni (although I'm driving up tomorrow). Secondly, I remember searching for it and I remember nothing on the Asus website came up as I found information on obscure sites - it seemed like a very rare motherboard.

I need to upgrade my computer in some way soon. I could just get a new graphics card and be done with it, or get a new processor too, or get a new processor but for AM2 sockets and update the BIOS.

To be honest though I'm considering a new PC now: new motherboard (I'll probably switch to Intel), new graphics card, new processor, and new case (and new processor fan). The idea of a graphics card and processor update was intended to put off getting a new PC until a couple more years, but if it's unlikely I'll be able to get a decent processor, I might as well just get a new PC.

Is it possible to just simply hook up my existing hard drive to a new motherboard?

Sisoft Sandra should be able to read out the motherboard chipset details.
That should probably enough to get the correct drivers and/or BIOS firmware.

My motherboard is A8NE-FM, manufactured by Asus.

Here we go:

http://www.overclockers.ru/images/lab/2005/06/03/board-b.jpg

A8N-E Downloads (http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us&model=A8N-E&type=map&mapindex=0)

From there you can get updated drivers, utilities, manuals and whatever else you need. Easier method is to just grab the ASUS Update utility since that does most of the work for you, though you might also wanna update your chipset drivers first.

AM2 CPUs have 940 pins. You can snap one off if you like but I don't think it'll work, myself.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-055-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=356
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-093-XF&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=912
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=6&subid=567

There you go, sonny Jim. You could upgrade your card and CPU to those (you'd have to check on the CPU at the ASUS site) and get a reasonable increase in performance.

It depends what games you want to play, though. You could save up a bit more and get a whole new PC. They're quite cheap these days from places like ****y Werld :) I'm an Intel Core 2 man at the moment. They're great. Cheap, fast, lower power consumption. I've ordered tons of stuff from OcUK over the years and have never had any problems. You're bound to hear problems about any company from someone, though. At least they're not based outside of the UK so you're covered by our consumer protection laws.

AM2 CPUs have 940 pins. You can snap one off if you like but I don't think it'll work, myself.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-055-OK&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=356
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=GX-093-XF&groupid=701&catid=56&subcat=912
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=6&subid=567

There you go, sonny Jim. You could upgrade your card and CPU to those (you'd have to check on the CPU at the ASUS site) and get a reasonable increase in performance.

It depends what games you want to play, though. You could save up a bit more and get a whole new PC. They're quite cheap these days from places like ****y Werld :) I'm an Intel Core 2 man at the moment. They're great. Cheap, fast, lower power consumption. I've ordered tons of stuff from OcUK over the years and have never had any problems. You're bound to hear problems about any company from someone, though. At least they're not based outside of the UK so you're covered by our consumer protection laws.
I think I might do something like that. To be honest I don't have much free time at university so getting a lot of new components would be costly, and it would be another 18 months before I could put it to full use (ignoring holidays).

One other thing: As shown in the picture above, my computer didn't come with the other 2 clippy things for the memory. Is there anywhere I can buy them if I need more? Also, I don't suppose anywhere still sells DDR? I currently have 1GB, but presume that will need upgrading in the near future (Edit: Found some on eBay). Oh, and thirdly, assuming the previous two are possible, is it also possible to have 2 slots with 512kb RAM, with the other two with 1GB each, giving a total of 3GB RAM?

1. You might be able to get a 184-pin DIMM slot but you'd have to solder it on, and whether it works or not depends on whether the Northbridge chip can use four slots. 2GB would be fine anyway.
2. Yes, loads of places still sell DDR memory. It's cheap, too.
2. I doubt you can buy 512KB DDR modules. If you had four slots, then you could fill two up with a couple of 1GB sticks and the other two with a couple of 512MB sticks, but 2GB is more than enough for your machine.

If you don't have much free time outside of uni and uni work, why bother upgrading your PC when you won't be playing games very often? Have you considered buying a console?

1. You might be able to get a 184-pin DIMM slot but you'd have to solder it on, and whether it works or not depends on whether the Northbridge chip can use four slots. 2GB would be fine anyway.
2. Yes, loads of places still sell DDR memory. It's cheap, too.
2. I doubt you can buy 512KB DDR modules. If you had four slots, then you could fill two up with a couple of 1GB sticks and the other two with a couple of 512MB sticks, but 2GB is more than enough for your machine.

If you don't have much free time outside of uni and uni work, why bother upgrading your PC when you won't be playing games very often? Have you considered buying a console?

I bought the 4800+ processor and 8800GTS OC. It didn't actually fit at first because of that cable I was talking about (it was actually 230mm not 220mm). But there was another slot (the blue one on the picture above). Things are running much more smoothly on Bioshock.

However Sandra no longer displays information about my processor or motherboard since I installed them.

2. (the second 2 that is:p) You know what I meant to put!

It still needs upgrading because I get holidays and not playing any games for another year and a half wouldn't be very good. Also, pretty much all the games that I play are for the PC. There aren't as many good console games out there.

What's wrong with reading a book? Kids today.

I just got the memory delivered today, and I've installed it.

The situation:

About a week ago, I turned on the computer and the screen stayed blank. I rebooted it, it loaded up, then the entire screen went pink shortly after Windows loaded.

Anyway, I filed to have the option to send the graphics card back (which I have not yet done). I fitted the memory in today, and had to remove the fan in the process. Anywho, turns out there wasn't enough thermal paste on it (damnit I keep spelling it "thermal pasta"). Now, I didn't actually use any on my last processor and it was fine, but I've now put more on this time. Could this have caused the pink screen? Bearing in mind that this happened just a few minutes after turning the computer on.

Not normally. With CPUs I think they become less efficient as the temperature grows until the computer shuts down when it reaches the maximum temperature threshold (set in the BIOS) or the CPU fries. Graphical errors are usually the domain of the VGA. I've overclocked the memory frequency of a graphics card in the past and it had all weird different-coloured lines on the screen like the Outer Limits. Have you actually checked the temperatures in your BIOS yet?

You ALWAYS reapply thermal compound when you remove a heatsink. The surface of the processor's dye (die?)/heatsink and the bottom of your cooling heatsink need to be clean and free of any residue. You can use an evaporating solvent like isopropyl alcohol (IPA) or some special citrus-based cleaner like Akasa's TIM (thermal interfacing material) Clean. Just leave it to evaporate for fifteen minutes or so afterwards before applying. Also use the thinnest layer possible. Too much and it will spill over the sides and lessen the effectiveness.

Well last time I used about the size of a grain or rice and it just made a small splodge in the middle, so I whacked on LOADS this time (just kidding, I just put a bit more on and spread it out a bit).

How do I check the temperatures in my BIOS?

The computer has been on all day and I haven't had a problem.

I'm sure you've been told this already somewhere. When your PC starts up you mash DEL or F2, usually. Watch the text on the POST (power-on self-test) come up and you'll probably see something like "Press F1 for a virtual sexual encounter, press F2 to enter setup, press F3 to put an end to world hunger." In there it will probably be something like Hardware Monitor.

lolololol:
http://www.wurmz.eclipse.co.uk/stuff/rubbish/s2kbios2.jpg

Your computer is haunted!

ZOMG S2K Bus Driving Strength!

Someone whip up a gif of Ben driving a bus! :eek:

I'll check the -ve events thread...

CPU temp: 46C
M/B temp: 35C

There you go.

lol

Your temps are fine, Andy.