Jeysie's PC

[Yonkey]

Check out reply #2 over here.  Although this isn't the same problem you're having, they say that even if the BIOS doesn't have the option of disabling the on board video, there may be jumper or DIP switches you can set to disable it.  Anyway, the manual is your friend, so I suggest printing it out from Compaq/HP's site if you don't already have it.  

Oh and as for conflicts, I found this bit of info on a website: "An AGP video card does use an IRQ. It usually shares an IRQ with the first PCI slot in the motherboard."  So, if you leave that slot blank, and put the video card in a different one, you shouldn't have any problems and don't need to disable the on board one either.

[Jeysie]

OK, thanks. I guess I'll keep that in mind for when Harrison gets back. (There's no way I'm tinkering around with anything.) Although I'm somewhat leery of going poking around like that, since I'll be SOL if something messes up. (I know from experience that even simple adjustments on a Compaq can toast the suckers. I managed to fry my old Compaq by accidentally causing an IRQ/memory conflict while updating my video card drivers. )

Peace & Luv, Liz

[Yonkey]

Sounds good.  I just added to my post above, so when Harrison gets back you guys can experiment.  

[Jeysie]

Heh, OK. Actually, I added to my post while the thought of tinkering with my video card makes me leery.

Peace & Luv, Liz

[Grundy]

Normally, video cards are pretty forgiving when there's more than one in your computer.
( That's how a lot of people make dual-monitor setups )
Normally, you can set one as the primary card and one as a secondary, without any conflict, just make sure you plug your monitor into the better card!

There's still hope Jeysie... well, maybe not, since the rest of the computer might fry if you try and run KQ9.

[Yonkey]

I didn't know you could fry hardware from a software conflict.  Maybe it was because the fan on the video card wasn't working?  (Just kidding, I don't think video cards that old even have heatsinks, let alone fans)

[Jeysie]

I didn't know you could fry hardware from a software conflict.

The guy who got stuck being assigned to my "case" said the same thing.

OK, I technically didn't "fry" my computer in the sense of sparks and stuff everywhere, but I definitely killed it.

Way back when, I was having trouble getting DirectX to work completely properly with my video card. So I decided to try updating the drivers. So I went to ATI's website and downloaded the most recent drivers for my video card. Logical, right?

Well, I installed the driver, all that happy stuff. Then I reboot the computer... and end up in Safe Mode. Turns out for some reason, my card was now in conflict with some other component (the PCI BUS, I think... it's been a while). So I tried fixing it "automagically" with the wizards, and rebooted. Didn't help. Tried fixing it manually. That solved that issue, but caused conflict with something else entirely. So I tried fixing that, and then when I rebooted, nothing.

The computer would turn on, but it wouldn't do anything after that, it would just sit there blank. So after calling the tech support (and getting chewed out a bit for getting drivers from ATI instead of Compaq's special driver packages... well, excuse me for treating your systems like normal computers!), they sent a tech out who confirmed that my system was indeed in trouble. So he took it back to the office.

...and spent about a month swapping in and out parts and everything, to no avail, keeping me posted all the time. Finally I said, "Look, uh, it's been a month, I appreciate all the help, but could you maybe just give me a replacement instead so I can have a computer again?" So I ended up getting the computer I still have now. It actually is a better model than what I started out with, since my old model had been discontinued. (And only a year after I bought it.) Fortunately I was still under warranty, so none of this cost me a cent. (Good thing too, since I didn't have any more money. )

And that is the tale of how Liz killed her computer!

Peace & Luv, Liz

[Storm]

The system requirements for Torque are a very good indication of the bare, bare minimum requirements for KQ9, though KQ9's will probably be slightly higher and more specific.

My system doesn't meet the engine requirements (I have a 400Mhz CPU, not 500Mhz) but the Torque demo worked fine on it

I didn't know you could fry hardware from a software conflict.

A lecturers of mine told us she once managed to fry a cpu using nothing but really bad programming... but that was on a VERY old computer

[Louisiana Night]

Anyone want to fry their speakers?

Use This

It's free  

[dew7]

So what flavor of Windows do you installed on this old PC,
Jeysie?  

[Jeysie]

The computer that bit the dust had Windows 95 pre-installed on it. (This all happened, like, 6 1/2 years ago.)

Peace & Luv, Liz

[dew7]

Thanks for replying.  Does your newer computer have 98SE on it or something else and what are the specifications?

[Jeysie]

It has Windows 98 pre-installed, but I don't think it's SE. It's got AMD K-6-2 350 mHz, CD-ROM, floppy, 128MB RAM, 4MB ATI Rage LT Pro video card, some weird sound card...

Peace & Luv, Liz

[Louisiana Night]

It's got AMD K-6-2

K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6
K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6
K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6
K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6
K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6
K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6
K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6K6

My favorite CPU of all time  

[dew7]

I guess with that PC then you are mostly stuck with older games.    I just upgraded my PC from a PIII 450 mhz. to a 2.4 gig. P4.  It now runs really well and it was cheaper  to upgrade than buy a new computer but I am not sure it was worth the trouble.  Anyway, I love my new system because it is a dual-boot with 98SE and XP Pro. and so I can run old games and new games well.  Heck, I can even get some work done on it.  LOL :>  The only downside is that the P4 chip runs much hotter than my P3 chip so the case gets warm.

[Grundy]

I love how the new systems get warm!
In winter atleast anyway...
Cause you get a computer and a heater that blows out 40ºc air all in one package! woo!


I never had to use any other heating source when the computer is running, cause it's enough to keep the room warmer than anywhere else in the house! lol!

[Louisiana Night]

I don't like Pentium4s. Mainly because of the original P4s. That, and I've been for AMD, ever since they made...

THE K6  

[dew7]

At least AMD pushes the envelope with their systems.  However, I like Intel because they write their own chipsets.   Intel does need the competition from AMD to at least try harder.  :>  It is the same way with Microsoft because when they don't have any competition they get lazy.  Hopefully, Linux will provide enough competition to Microsoft so that they can develop better products.  Finally, nowadays lawsuits are getting crazy.  It seems that everyone is suing everyone else and now even companies are suing each other.  

[Grundy]

Ever since the Thunderbird, I have been with AMD...

They are currently the most inovative, high-end, stable and efficient CPU's on the market... Love em!


Next on my shopping list is the 939 Socket 3800+.
It's the same chip as the FX-53 but with 512k of L2 cache instead of 1mb.
But the chip makes up for the lack of cache with it's improved memory management ( hence the 939 Socket, instead of the FX-53 940 ).

mmmmm.... can't wait until I've saved enough!

[Yonkey]

It's true, an AMD chip performs better than the equivalent model by Intel, and they cost less.  The only drawback (if you consider this one) is that you need a AMD-compatible motherboard to support the chip.

Whenever I upgrade, I usually have to upgrade motherboard, processor and ram all at once anyway, so it makes no difference to me.  Sadly, all the processors I've bought so far were Intel based.