Re: [Hampshire] Recommendations sought for system upgrade

> On 14/08/13 13:00, hampshire-request@??? wrote:
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>> Today's Topics:
>> 
>>   1. Re: Recommendations sought for system upgrade (Imran Chaudhry)
>>   2. Re: Recommendations sought for system upgrade (Lisi)
>>   3. Re: Recommendations sought for system upgrade (Peter B.)
>>   4. Re: Recommendations sought for system upgrade (Alan Pope)
>>   5. Re: Recommendations sought for system upgrade
>>      (James Courtier-Dutton)
>>   6. Re: Recommendations sought for system upgrade (Peter Alefounder)
>> 
>> 
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> 
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Tue, 13 Aug 2013 13:12:33 +0100
>> From: Imran Chaudhry <ichaudhry@???>
>> To: Peter Alefounder <p_alefounder@???>,    Hampshire LUG
>>    Discussion List <hampshire@???>
>> Subject: Re: [Hampshire] Recommendations sought for system upgrade
>> Message-ID:
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>> 
>> Hi Peter,
>> 
>> It all depends on your use-case and budget. If it was me, I would do
>> one of two things:
>> 
>> a) buy just a new Linux-friendly base unit from somewhere that will
>> supply without Windows. Somewhere like Novatech can do this for <?200
>> I think.
>> 
>> or (what I do)
>> 
>> b) buy a quality case and just upgrade the motherboard (and other
>> components) every 5 years or so. I've done this for the last 15 years
>> or so with an Antec Sonata ATX case.
>> 
>> The Debian version you're using has not been maintained in a while but
>> I would guess you were pretty happy using it anyway.
>> 
>> As you have limited internet access I would advise you to get hold of
>> the Debian DVD set for your new PC. If you cannot download it from
>> anywhere then I'll offer to burn them for you and mail them out.
>> 
>> Yes, you could run both harddrives "side by side" in your new system
>> by mounting the old drive in the new Debian and copying your data
>> across. However considering the vintage of your current PC it might be
>> an IDE HDD in which case you may not be able to connect it to the new
>> one. In that case it might be best to copy your existing data via a
>> USB HDD.
>> 
>> Old software + new hardware normally works OK. Old hardware and new
>> software is in my experience where you get problems (would the latest
>> browers, YouTube and iPlayer work efficiently on that older PC?). You
>> should be fine here if you upgrade but I would recommend you upgrade
>> Debian and then re-install whatever you were using to their latest
>> versions.
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> On 12 August 2013 18:01, Peter Alefounder <p_alefounder@???> wrote:
>>> A few days ago, my monitor power supply failed (I got a new one from
>>> Maplin, so no problem with that, now). Electrolytic capacitors in
>>> the old one were bulging a bit on top. As my computer is the same
>>> age (I assembled it in 2002) I thought I had better examine that as
>>> well. One capacitor on the main board looks a bit dodgy to me.
>>> 
>>> So, I am thinking of upgrading my system. I would certainly want a
>>> new main board, and I understand that means a new processor as well.
>>> The existing system is an MSI K7T266 with an AMD Athlon 1800+ CPU.
>>> 
>>> I see no need to replace existing peripherals - monitor, mouse,
>>> keyboard, scanner.
>>> 
>>> The question is, can I re-use other, internal, bits? I would
>>> certainly want to retain the existing zip drive, but the floppy
>>> drive (which I have not used in years) is not important. The
>>> graphics board is a nVidia MSI G4MV460 and I have two 500KB memory
>>> cards. Is it worthwhile retaining those?
>>> 
>>> Should I instead be thinking of a completely new computer? If so, is
>>> buying one with Linux already installed a good option? I do not have
>>> my own internet connection, so would want the system on CD or DVD.
>>> Software might recognise older hardware, but I suspect old software
>>> might not be so good with new hardware (at the moment, I have Debian
>>> 4.01r). I presume I could install my existing hard drive alongside
>>> the new one, copy user files to the latter and remove the old system
>>> from the old drive, retaining that to use as a back-up.
>>> 
>>> Any recommendations, opinions or warnings as to what to avoid are
>>> welcome.
>>> 
>>> Peter Alefounder.
>>> 
>>> --
>>> Please post to: Hampshire@???
>>> Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire
>>> LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk
>>> --------------------------------------------------------------
> Hi,
> 
> Just a thought but you mentioned Southampton in your earlier post. Have
> you looked in Jamie's Computers (shop below bar, warehouse near old
> Meridian studios Northam.) They sell second hand pc's & laptops at very
> reasonable prices, not new hardware, but that depends on your needs.
> They are a charity helping the homeless & vunerable, and as such will
> also recycle your old machine environmentally responsibly.
> Also they will sell you second hand components to build your own machine.
> 
> Website: http://www.jamies.org.uk/
> 
> Depending on your needs / budget might be worth a look.
> 
> Pete Smout
> 
> -- 
> Please post to: Hampshire@???
> Web Interface: https://mailman.lug.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/hampshire
> LUG URL: http://www.hantslug.org.uk
> --------------------------------------------------------------