Amoeboid

Hi, I'm not very good with computers so I have posted here hoping someone more experienced would be able to help.

I just want to forewarn, if you use a lot of computer lingo I'll probably not understand what you mean. Yes, I really am that bad at computers.

I also have a couple of questions, one of which isn't exactly mobo related (or might be, I don't know) so I hope you don't mind me just putting them both in the same topic.

1) Before the main question, I'd like to ask about a small thing that happened recently. My computer has a big round power button. When you switch the computer on, it should light up. Now though, it only flickers for a few minutes before blanking out. I don't know if this is a symptom of anything, but my computer's performance has never been the same since (a wee bit laggy at times, and games are unplayable due to jerkiness - I regularly maintain my computer by clearing up, running scans and defragmenting and all that stuff). Does anybody know what this could be a hint of? A few people (not experts mind you) suggest it might be the mobo's time to kick the bucket, does this sound like a plausible hypothesis?

2) I want to get a new motherboard because the one I have is very outdated and I can't upgrade my computer much further where graphics are concerned since it is the primary limiting factor in upgrading. I could add a wee bit more RAM (both slots full but not maxed) and upgrade the buses, don't know about the processor. But my current graphics card is the best one that I can use on this motherboard and even then it's a bit crap.

I want to get a new one so that I won't run in to upgrading issues in the near future, since I do plan to upgrade a lot of things including graphics. Thing is... I have no clue how to go about it. I just... I dunno, I know this sounds vague, but I don't even know where to begin. What does changing the mobo entail? Is it a big job best done by a professional? Or is it something a computer illiterate like myself could pick up (I have only ever changed RAM and graphics before, nothing else)? How can I get one that will be compatible with other components in the computer when there is such a huge variety to choose from, and will I need to change the power supply (I don't know how to find out which type I have)?

3) Forum related: I keep getting logged out ever couple of minutes, even though I have remember me checked. This is the only site it happens with. Any ideas?

Lastly, here is a dxdiag file so you can see what I have:

Attached Files

DxDiag.txt (45.6 KB, 7 views)

wrench97

Sounds like you may be losing a Power Supply. The good news is your current board is a socket 775 so the Celeron cpu will move to a newer board the AGP video however will not,
So I think your looking at changing the Motherboard, Video card, Power Supply, and possibly the ram, And of course Windows because OEM versions are tied to the motherboard first installed on and live and die with the board.
How big is your case(this nas to do with the size of replacement board) your current board is what is called a Micro ATX or mAtx performance motherboards will be the larger ATX size, if there is room on the bottom of you case under the present board then the ATX will fit.
What kind of budget are you considering?

The forum has had a couple of issues since the software update but log ons hasn't neen one of them.

Amoeboid

Thank you for your reply. About £500 is how much I have saved.

Yep, I just checked the case and unfortunately the main board only just fits the casing and no more. There wouldn't be enough room for a bigger one.

"And of course Windows because OEM versions are tied to the motherboard first installed on and live and die with the board." I was a bit concerned thinking I won't be able to afford a new OS, even though I'll probably need to. I hear you can get them on student discounts but they're still silly-kind-of expensive. My current windows XP is OEM, and it's been fine but I take it if I wanted to re-format the hard drive I'd be screwed over...

"The good news is your current board is a socket 775 so the Celeron cpu will move to a newer board" So... this should be ok regardless of what mobo I get? Or is this only concerning specific kinds?

I'm also not sure about the power supply, as I've heard it's very important to get the right one, but I can't tell which is best for what kind of set-up.

wrench97

The Celeron will move to all current 775 socket boards.
You'll have to do a repair install or reformat when you change the board to renew the Hal Config.
Good news is you can D/L Windows 7 RC1 grom MS and use it until next year then upgrade to the retail.
The power supply depends mainly on the CPU MB and video card used.

Have a look over these>

Link Disc. Cost Rebate
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814130468 GTS250 $124.99 $15.00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813128372 UD3L $94.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231209 DDR2 800 $54.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16811119068 Case $44.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817139005 650TX $99.00 $20.00

$418.96 $35.00

$383.96