computer part replacement question

[SoupOrMan]

I've noticed more and more that my stock video card in my current home computer is straining to keep up with even old games. The fan constantly powers up and then spins down even when playing older games like Civ 4, usually within 30 seconds of using any 3D graphics. I'm not sure who HP uses as their video card source, but it's a Radeon 4350 graphics card with 512 MB of on-board memory. I want to upgrade to a board with at least 1024MB of memory. If I remember from the last time I tried upgrading a video card (and fried my old motherboard in the process) I'll likely need a new power supply. Most cards seem to want at least a 450-watt supply; I've got a 600-watt supply in my old computer that I can scavenge, and it will fit the HP's case.

My main question is this: what's a good amount of time to wait between changing out computer parts? The last time I tried this with a computer I installed a new power supply and video card and the motherboard died on me. I figure I'll change out the power supply first, then wait for a while before swapping out video cards. What's a good amount of time to wait? Two or three days? A week?

I miss my games of Civ4. Even the old Master of Magic game isn't cutting it for entertainment anymore. I can only conquer the world with mithril-armed Halfling slingers for so long...

[Greg]

My main question is this: what's a good amount of time to wait between changing out computer parts? The last time I tried this with a computer I installed a new power supply and video card and the motherboard died on me. I figure I'll change out the power supply first, then wait for a while before swapping out video cards. What's a good amount of time to wait? Two or three days? A week?

There isn't any such thing. If changing one component seemingly causes another component to fail, it's either
a) you fried something with poor anti-static procedures, or
b) the component that failed was marginal to begin with and in the new configuration it's under a heavier load that it can't cope with, so it fails.

Otherwise you might as well do your upgrades on the night of the new moon inside a pentagram drawn with dry erase markers.

[randy]

Otherwise you might as well do your upgrades on the night of the new moon inside a pentagram drawn with dry erase markers.

You forgot the rubber chicken and rattles

[Catbird]

I never change a card without doing the pentagram thing.

[Rich]

Pentagrams, Bah.

Get with it folks. Hexagrams are where its at.

[SoupOrMan]

So, I shouldn't have written the entire Necronomicon backwards in binary around my room then?

[Greg]

So, I shouldn't have written the entire Necronomicon backwards in binary around my room then?

No, that's to make sure you're not interrupted. And if you're able to complete that task, I'm pretty sure noone is going to want to talk to you and disturb your concentration.

[Yogimus]

use the AMD software, go into the overclock settings, and manually set the card to 50% or so. monitor the heat.

The card will STILL overpower your fan settings if it gets above 90c in temperature, so you cant relly break anything.

[SoupOrMan]

use the AMD software, go into the overclock settings, and manually set the card to 50% or so. monitor the heat.

The card will STILL overpower your fan settings if it gets above 90c in temperature, so you cant relly break anything.

I've been looking for that. Being HP, I think they've hidden it away from the obvious places, like the ATI Catalyst Control Center that's supposed to have stuff like that on it.

[Yogimus]

use the AMD software, go into the overclock settings, and manually set the card to 50% or so. monitor the heat.

The card will STILL overpower your fan settings if it gets above 90c in temperature, so you cant relly break anything.

I've been looking for that. Being HP, I think they've hidden it away from the obvious places, like the ATI Catalyst Control Center that's supposed to have stuff like that on it.

Just download the newest version a,d run it. right click desktop to access.