repair or replace?
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My 8 yo desktop is currently running on half RAM -- one of the 4 GB sticks is not registering. I will crack the case, clean the contacts, and re-seat it to see if that fixes it. If that fixes the problem, I'll continue limping along with it. The PC runs fine, although it's obviously long in the tooth. I have looked into replacing it, but prices and availability have kept the old tiger running. If it doesn't fix it? I can get a pair of 4 GB DDR3 (yes, this PC is that old!) for $46 USD. Any suggestions on where to look for components? I build my own and haven't been pleased with what I've seen at the common vendors. Thanks!
Define "haven't been pleased." Please with what? You've picked about the worst time to build a new PC. Prices are high, and supply is short and even impossible to get. You can't find a video card anywhere on the planet. You're in line behind more than a million (not an exaggeration!) other people waiting for video cards.
Asking questions is a skill CodeProject Forum Guidelines Google: C# How to debug code Seriously, go read these articles.
Dave Kreskowiak -
Define "haven't been pleased." Please with what? You've picked about the worst time to build a new PC. Prices are high, and supply is short and even impossible to get. You can't find a video card anywhere on the planet. You're in line behind more than a million (not an exaggeration!) other people waiting for video cards.
Asking questions is a skill CodeProject Forum Guidelines Google: C# How to debug code Seriously, go read these articles.
Dave KreskowiakPrices for the little available stock are 2 problems. Yeah, this is NOT the time to build a new one, but if my old unit craps out, well, there's not a lot of options. I had hoped to hang on with it another year. Overall, it runs fine for my purposes -- the HD is much newer (I replace the HD every other year, and when I build a new unit), so that's not a problem. Just that pesky CPU + RAM ....
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My 8 yo desktop is currently running on half RAM -- one of the 4 GB sticks is not registering. I will crack the case, clean the contacts, and re-seat it to see if that fixes it. If that fixes the problem, I'll continue limping along with it. The PC runs fine, although it's obviously long in the tooth. I have looked into replacing it, but prices and availability have kept the old tiger running. If it doesn't fix it? I can get a pair of 4 GB DDR3 (yes, this PC is that old!) for $46 USD. Any suggestions on where to look for components? I build my own and haven't been pleased with what I've seen at the common vendors. Thanks!
I've dealt with Newegg for years and been very satisfied. Computer Parts, PC Components, Laptops, Gaming Systems, Automotive Parts, and more - Newegg.com[^]
The less you need, the more you have. Even a blind squirrel gets a nut...occasionally. JaxCoder.com
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My 8 yo desktop is currently running on half RAM -- one of the 4 GB sticks is not registering. I will crack the case, clean the contacts, and re-seat it to see if that fixes it. If that fixes the problem, I'll continue limping along with it. The PC runs fine, although it's obviously long in the tooth. I have looked into replacing it, but prices and availability have kept the old tiger running. If it doesn't fix it? I can get a pair of 4 GB DDR3 (yes, this PC is that old!) for $46 USD. Any suggestions on where to look for components? I build my own and haven't been pleased with what I've seen at the common vendors. Thanks!
8 year old? Replace anyway. Either you get something slightly faster but lighter / with better battery life or something significantly faster... with the benefit tha you have less to worry about your PC dying suddenly.
GCS d--(d-) s-/++ a C++++ U+++ P- L+@ E-- W++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- r+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
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My 8 yo desktop is currently running on half RAM -- one of the 4 GB sticks is not registering. I will crack the case, clean the contacts, and re-seat it to see if that fixes it. If that fixes the problem, I'll continue limping along with it. The PC runs fine, although it's obviously long in the tooth. I have looked into replacing it, but prices and availability have kept the old tiger running. If it doesn't fix it? I can get a pair of 4 GB DDR3 (yes, this PC is that old!) for $46 USD. Any suggestions on where to look for components? I build my own and haven't been pleased with what I've seen at the common vendors. Thanks!
If you need it to run for a little longer, grab some ram. But at that age, it's a $46 gamble. It might be the motherboard failing for that RAM slot. At 8 yo, you need to start planning anyway.
Charlie Gilley “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759 Has never been more appropriate.
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Define "haven't been pleased." Please with what? You've picked about the worst time to build a new PC. Prices are high, and supply is short and even impossible to get. You can't find a video card anywhere on the planet. You're in line behind more than a million (not an exaggeration!) other people waiting for video cards.
Asking questions is a skill CodeProject Forum Guidelines Google: C# How to debug code Seriously, go read these articles.
Dave Kreskowiak -
8 year old? Replace anyway. Either you get something slightly faster but lighter / with better battery life or something significantly faster... with the benefit tha you have less to worry about your PC dying suddenly.
GCS d--(d-) s-/++ a C++++ U+++ P- L+@ E-- W++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- r+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
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My 8 yo desktop is currently running on half RAM -- one of the 4 GB sticks is not registering. I will crack the case, clean the contacts, and re-seat it to see if that fixes it. If that fixes the problem, I'll continue limping along with it. The PC runs fine, although it's obviously long in the tooth. I have looked into replacing it, but prices and availability have kept the old tiger running. If it doesn't fix it? I can get a pair of 4 GB DDR3 (yes, this PC is that old!) for $46 USD. Any suggestions on where to look for components? I build my own and haven't been pleased with what I've seen at the common vendors. Thanks!
I'd go for it but maybe get more memory. I have a 10 years old desktop that ended up with 20GB of RAM, a 500MB SSD for system plus 4TB for data drives. It runs like a champ and for dev work is fast enough.
Mircea
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If you need it to run for a little longer, grab some ram. But at that age, it's a $46 gamble. It might be the motherboard failing for that RAM slot. At 8 yo, you need to start planning anyway.
Charlie Gilley “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759 Has never been more appropriate.
A quick test to see if its a motherboard issue or not would be to swap the RAM banks around. If the problem follows the RAM, likely its a RAM issue. If the problem stays with the slots, then its a MOBO issue. If it's MOBO, then a replacement is definitely in order. As others have noted, after 8 years, its probably time to consider a replacement anyway. I have a vague notion that consumer grade electronics - particularly capacitors - have about a 5 year life expectancy. Anything after that is gravy. Though no-one has told my 40 year old GE clock radio that!
Keep Calm and Carry On
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8 year old? Replace anyway. Either you get something slightly faster but lighter / with better battery life or something significantly faster... with the benefit tha you have less to worry about your PC dying suddenly.
GCS d--(d-) s-/++ a C++++ U+++ P- L+@ E-- W++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE- Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- r+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
I was planning on replacing the unit last summer, but prices and availability made me hang on. I fear it's the MB, not the RAM, so replacing the unit is probably my best choice.
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If you need it to run for a little longer, grab some ram. But at that age, it's a $46 gamble. It might be the motherboard failing for that RAM slot. At 8 yo, you need to start planning anyway.
Charlie Gilley “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.” BF, 1759 Has never been more appropriate.
Yeah, I'm concerned that I'm throwing money away on RAM, even if the problem is not the MB. As I said in other replies, I've been planning. This may force the issue, which is not necessarily a bad thing as long as I do it before it dies completely. I considered installing W11 on a new one, but am going to stick with W10 for now. I don't need additional, unnecessary hassles! :laugh:
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A quick test to see if its a motherboard issue or not would be to swap the RAM banks around. If the problem follows the RAM, likely its a RAM issue. If the problem stays with the slots, then its a MOBO issue. If it's MOBO, then a replacement is definitely in order. As others have noted, after 8 years, its probably time to consider a replacement anyway. I have a vague notion that consumer grade electronics - particularly capacitors - have about a 5 year life expectancy. Anything after that is gravy. Though no-one has told my 40 year old GE clock radio that!
Keep Calm and Carry On
k5054 wrote:
A quick test to see if its a motherboard issue or not would be to swap the RAM banks around. If the problem follows the RAM, likely its a RAM issue. If the problem stays with the slots, then its a MOBO issue.
That's a great tip! Thanks!
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I'd go for it but maybe get more memory. I have a 10 years old desktop that ended up with 20GB of RAM, a 500MB SSD for system plus 4TB for data drives. It runs like a champ and for dev work is fast enough.
Mircea
Mircea Neacsu wrote:
'd go for it but maybe get more memory.
At the time I built it, my current desktop was good with 8 GB RAM. 16 pushed the price up more than I wanted. Assuming I build now (which is likely) I'm going with 32 GB. While 16 is probably enough right now, 32 gives me room for future changes in Windows and other sw.
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My 8 yo desktop is currently running on half RAM -- one of the 4 GB sticks is not registering. I will crack the case, clean the contacts, and re-seat it to see if that fixes it. If that fixes the problem, I'll continue limping along with it. The PC runs fine, although it's obviously long in the tooth. I have looked into replacing it, but prices and availability have kept the old tiger running. If it doesn't fix it? I can get a pair of 4 GB DDR3 (yes, this PC is that old!) for $46 USD. Any suggestions on where to look for components? I build my own and haven't been pleased with what I've seen at the common vendors. Thanks!
TBH, given it's a desktop not a laptop, and you're clearly happy inside the case, I'd have thought it a no-brainer - check the RAM before even posting here. Open it up, swap the RAM cards and if it works, fine; probably one of the cards worked it's way out. If it's still at 4Gb you know its the RAM. If there's no readable memory it's the RAM and the motherboard! Nothing lost other than under 2 minutes.
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My 8 yo desktop is currently running on half RAM -- one of the 4 GB sticks is not registering. I will crack the case, clean the contacts, and re-seat it to see if that fixes it. If that fixes the problem, I'll continue limping along with it. The PC runs fine, although it's obviously long in the tooth. I have looked into replacing it, but prices and availability have kept the old tiger running. If it doesn't fix it? I can get a pair of 4 GB DDR3 (yes, this PC is that old!) for $46 USD. Any suggestions on where to look for components? I build my own and haven't been pleased with what I've seen at the common vendors. Thanks!
replace with new pc/laptop. expect to pay higher prices no builds. no repairs. no rebuilds. unless you are a masochist. the alternative is to go back to stone tablets and caves.
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My 8 yo desktop is currently running on half RAM -- one of the 4 GB sticks is not registering. I will crack the case, clean the contacts, and re-seat it to see if that fixes it. If that fixes the problem, I'll continue limping along with it. The PC runs fine, although it's obviously long in the tooth. I have looked into replacing it, but prices and availability have kept the old tiger running. If it doesn't fix it? I can get a pair of 4 GB DDR3 (yes, this PC is that old!) for $46 USD. Any suggestions on where to look for components? I build my own and haven't been pleased with what I've seen at the common vendors. Thanks!
My $0.02: Like many, I went through the same exercise a few months back. My workstation is 8 years old. Went to eBay and bought a system identical to mine (5 cents on the dollar compared to purchase). Can use it for backup, parts, debugging, whatever. I put TrueNAS on it and am using it for backup storage for the time being. To get around the video card shortage, I even went to eBay and then to Dell's outlet store but didn't like the prices. I will wait another year and look again. If your system is doing what you need and you don't really have to have shiny new things, $46 for memory seems pretty small compared to a system purchase. Be careful with the online suppliers these days, the dummy bought a 1TB SSD and, without looking, put it in the system. Turns out that it was only 500GB. Someone must have pulled a scam return and the supplier (one of the most popular) didn't look at it, just put it on the shelf. Dumb me, but they won't screw me again.
>64 Some days the dragon wins. Suck it up.
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TBH, given it's a desktop not a laptop, and you're clearly happy inside the case, I'd have thought it a no-brainer - check the RAM before even posting here. Open it up, swap the RAM cards and if it works, fine; probably one of the cards worked it's way out. If it's still at 4Gb you know its the RAM. If there's no readable memory it's the RAM and the motherboard! Nothing lost other than under 2 minutes.
The subject does ask a question, and in my OP I asked, "Any suggestions on where to look for components? I build my own and haven't been pleased with what I've seen at the common vendors." As mentioned previously, I planned to replace the unit last year. This thread garnered replies that covered a lot of points, which is helpful, and pushes me towards what I need to do anyway -- replace the unit. I have a habit of keeping things running, sometimes long after I should replace. This PC is obviously one of those. :laugh:
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My 8 yo desktop is currently running on half RAM -- one of the 4 GB sticks is not registering. I will crack the case, clean the contacts, and re-seat it to see if that fixes it. If that fixes the problem, I'll continue limping along with it. The PC runs fine, although it's obviously long in the tooth. I have looked into replacing it, but prices and availability have kept the old tiger running. If it doesn't fix it? I can get a pair of 4 GB DDR3 (yes, this PC is that old!) for $46 USD. Any suggestions on where to look for components? I build my own and haven't been pleased with what I've seen at the common vendors. Thanks!
I swapped the sticks. The good news is I have 4 GB RAM so the MB is ok. The bad news is I have 4 GB RAM so the second stick is dead. Thanks for all the input -- throwing money into this unit is a waste. I've gotten 8 good years from it, so I have no complaints in that regard. The feedback on video cards is spot-on -- supplies are limited and the quality I want is a bit stiff priced. However, my current video is 3 yo and apparently working fine, so I have no immediate need to replace it. I don't like the cases I've reviewed -- most have very limited USB connectors on the front. I did learn one new thing -- it appears USB 3.2 and 4 use USB-C connectors only, which explain why some cases have one USB-A and one USB-C on the front, while others have only a single USB-C. If what I read is correct, all other USB connectors that currently exist will be phased out as USB 1, 2, and 3.0/1 die off. Since I don't have any USB 3.2 devices, my current case (4x USB 2 and 1x USB 3 connectors on the front) is sufficient. I need to purchase a new CPU, MB, RAM, and SSD. At some point in the future I'll replace the video card, and eventually the case.
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My 8 yo desktop is currently running on half RAM -- one of the 4 GB sticks is not registering. I will crack the case, clean the contacts, and re-seat it to see if that fixes it. If that fixes the problem, I'll continue limping along with it. The PC runs fine, although it's obviously long in the tooth. I have looked into replacing it, but prices and availability have kept the old tiger running. If it doesn't fix it? I can get a pair of 4 GB DDR3 (yes, this PC is that old!) for $46 USD. Any suggestions on where to look for components? I build my own and haven't been pleased with what I've seen at the common vendors. Thanks!
If you are going to replace I can recommend importing an AMD Ryzen 4750G from South Korea. This CPU includes a good built in GPU, as GPUs are hard to come by right now. I found some at this eBay store https://www.ebay.com/str/beyondtheworld
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Prices for the little available stock are 2 problems. Yeah, this is NOT the time to build a new one, but if my old unit craps out, well, there's not a lot of options. I had hoped to hang on with it another year. Overall, it runs fine for my purposes -- the HD is much newer (I replace the HD every other year, and when I build a new unit), so that's not a problem. Just that pesky CPU + RAM ....
HD? What's one of those? :)
Paul Sanders http://www.alpinesoft.co.uk