Hi all.

FOREWORD: My Old One is takin' her last breaths. Had a big problem with the cooling vent and those at Dell asked me 250Euros to fix it (the vent alone!!!). No one that I know would risk to put his hands into a notebook. I opened it, but the CPU and the vent are boxed and there's no screws in sight to free them. Now I'm working with a medical-sportbruise-coolpack (those you keep in the fridge) pressed under the CPU to gain a couple of hours' work before shutting the bastard off.

SOFTWARE QUESTION: Does anyone know a freeware diagnostic utility that can check the CPU temperature and signal me when I'm risking a meltdown?

HARDWARE INQUIRY: I'm trying to save money to buy a new PC (desktop! desktop!) and this is the best offer I've seen so far [Apart from the mandatory things and with WindowsXP in bundle]:

• NEC 5800 DVD-ROM 16X 48X EIDE
• HD MAXTOR D740X/DMaxPlus8 40GB U-ATA133 7.2RPM 2MB
• CPU AMD Athlon XP 2000+ (Socket A)
• VideoCard SAPPHIRE ATI RADEON 9000 64MB DDR TvOUT AGP
• Motherboard ABIT KD7R Raid VIAKT400 DDR400 AGP ATA133
• 2 RAM modules DIMM 512 MB DDR 400Mhz (PC3200)
• CDBurner LG 8520 52X 24X 52X EIDE S.Link + software
• Monitor CRT NEC MultiSync V921 19" 0,26mm 1600x1200NI

All this for 1.218,34 Euros (roughly 1200 USD).

May I ask you what do you think of it? My OldOne is a PII300 and I'm really thinking to upgrade. But I'm a total dork in hardware matters and I really have to count off every cent... so, any opinions from you guys?

Thanx a lot. Any help, suggestion or opinions on the my would-be future machine will be strongly appreciated.

Stefano

Attached Link: http://www.simtel.net/pub/

uh..if the Bios is late enough, there may be a setting to set temperature alarms to a specific degree setting, to let you know. You could check. Depending on the model, the CPU is usually folded up into a module. Unless you're rated or certified on that laptop, I'd keep mum about opening it. It's possible that the fan has gone out on the laptop, which might be an easy fix, if you could get the part. I used to work on Dell Lattitudes, back in the day, but I think you're right, it's probably time to get a new PC. As for desktops, it depends on what you've got in your area. You could probably have one made to whatever specs you want by a local computer company. I don't know if I could fairly compare prices; I just put together a 1.7ghz Athelon, 512 Meg memory, 40 gig Hd, CD, and Floppy for about $US 600. The one time I went to England, the ads for software were about twice what we pay ($500 for Word Perfect 5.2, which dates me..;). Just make sure that if you choose this course, that the place is a)honest, and b) been around for awhile. Having a laptop means you can't recycle that much in the way of hardware, alas. As for software to check your temperature, I seem to remember seeing some out there. Here's a place to check for software utilities in General..can't make any promises.. the Simtel site has a lot of different categories, so check around. Do a Google search on Utilities, probably modify it by 'CPU temperature', or somesuch. Don't know if this helps, but I gave it a shot..;)

Here is a list of the main components you'll probably stick with for some time. I'm not a tech head yet I know enough to get by as an informed consumer. Check street prices for these items and read what you can from these links. From what I've read it seems like a decent system with room for updating when needed. Since you'll being moving from a PII 300 to an Athlon 2000 It'll be a screamer for you. Also check some pricing on ebay to get a feel for high and low end pricing. Good luck and have fun!! P.S. You will justify the cost, I know I have in the past(keeps me out of trouble). So spoil yourself...You deserve it. ;) **Motherboard: ABIT KD7-Raid http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/kd7raid/ **Hard drive: Maxtor 40G 7200 http://www.maxtor.com/en/products/ata/desktop/diamondmax_plus_d740x_ultra_ata_133/index.htm **Processor: AMD Athlon XP http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_756_3734,00.html **Video Card: ATI Radeon 9000 Review:: http://www.tech-report.com/reviews/2002q3/radeon-9000pro/index.x?pg=1

Attached Link: http://www.arcwebserv.com/jumpsite/killerutils2.html

http://www.arcwebserv.com/jumpsite/killerutils2.html Quite a lot of free utilities, among them Motherboard Monitor that does everything you need, and Waterfall Pro which _apparently_ can reduce the temp of your CPU. As to the configuration, it looks okay on paper. Although I'm told that Radeons have less than optimal drivers, so I'd take an nVidia. The price is quite high, though. A comparable configuration costs something like 650 Euros here in Zagreb. That's with 256 MB RAM and a 17" monitor, true, but even adding 256 MB more and taking a 19", it would cost something like 850 euros. *And* that's one of the most expensive shops. I suggest you check around a little more. I don't believe that Italy is that expensive.

Attached Link: http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_description/0,fid,7309,00.asp

Here's one place to get motherboard monitor. Otherwise do a google search with "Motherboard Monitor". Cheapest way to get a computer is probably to build it yourself. Only problem is you don't get the tech support with it.

Thanx everybody! Motherboard Monitor doesn't work with my CPU, it hasn't a sensor compatible with the software (or so I understood). But I dowloaded Rain, a good cooling prog that does something when the CPU is idle to decrease the temp. As for the maybe-new-machine, I checked almost every store and online offer here, but this is the lowest price I've found. Pakled, I downloaded from Dell the latest BIOS. I have to check for this option you mentioned, thanx. Erlik, thanx a lot for the link. Very good prices you have in Zagreb! The difference I see is that I am thinking of two 512 RAM modules and 19" monitor, so maybe there's not so much difference in price. But, of course, I'll look around more ('til the very last moment, I believe!) ICM: thanx a lot for the links, I checked and now I have very good info. The thing that seems very good in this system is that has many room for future upgrades. You a bunch of wunnerful guyz:) Stefano

I tend to buy stripped out PCs, mod the cases, then throw in all the high end hardware I want so my opinion may not be much help but here goes...I'd opted for a bigger HD - say 100 gigs if you can afford it. I have a 40 Gig that is nearly full and I just bought the machine last July. The 3D apps really eat up space. I also have 60 Gigs in one of my other machines (all games and mp3s). I've long been at the point of stripping software off that one to make more room. Bigger is truly better! :)

A slightly bigger harddrive shouldn't cost too much, but You'll probably be happy wih the extra storage. The price you found for your system sounds very reasonable. I don't think you'll find a much cheaper one anywhere else.

Stefano, in that case it would cost around 950-1000 Euros. The difference would mean you could get a bigger hard drive.

I'm searching every possible offer. I have another 2 or 3 weeks before having the money to buy it, so I'll sure try every configuration possible.

As for HD space, right now I'm working with 12GBs... they're full, full, full. I've burned a zillion CDs for the mp3z, the Bryce scene files, the progs and the various dloads. Funny thing, my "real" job (writing) occupies only 5% of my diskspace (and I have recorded all my whole shiny writing career!) LOL :)

Thanx a lot again for all the suggestions coming. Keep 'em flowing, I really appreciate your POVs. :)

Stefano