How do I find ..............

[foxyloxley]

I'm re-building a bundle of older [P3 and P4] machines, and some [read all] are fritzed

question is :

if the Mo/Bo is the suspect, and I get the details, but cannot find an 'exact' replacement......
is there a site where I can type in the details I DO have, and they'll give me a list of equivalents ?

not just Mo/Bo's, but any and all bits of Hardware..........

I tried to Google but the scattergun effect of my fairly wide spread questions are not getting me any real answers.........

Cheers and TIA

[nihil]

Foxy~

Are these brand name PCs or custom built?

Can you give me a couple of examples of the details so I can have a look.

Somewhere like DABS can do old stuff, also some of the paper magazines have outfits who do clearances. I don't know of any particular site, because this stuff is in limited supply and there is not a lot of money in it.

You surprise me with the MoBo, as these are not the most common failure. Basically all you need is one that fits the case and supports the processor and memory.

My first concern would be the PSU, as I would expect that to be the most likely item to fail.

You might have failed audio and video chipsets on integrated boards, but I usually just disable them/uninstall them and use cheap PCI cards.

A couple of case studies/examples would help.

[Nokia]

Ehem....are these the boxs I gave you last week -

[foxyloxley]

Hi Nokia
yep
one of em anyway

I'm building up all of the bit n pieces here to get them into working PC's
as for sourcing extra bits, the request was just for a site that might have that ability
I know there are sites that will tell you which RAM you require

I will just stick to the tried and tested method of buying cheap stuff and making it work

the machines here are a mixture of old home built items and there is an old EMachine too [ex Nokia]

no worries about looking for me, it was a 'just in case' query

thanks for the posts anyway
cheers

[Nokia]

Is that the P4 one? I was thinking that may have had a MoBo prob - hence the reason the P4 and HS had been removed - t'was a long time ago tho!

Is there a model/serial number for the EMachine one (not the MoBo but for the actual box)?

[foxyloxley]

don't sweat it Nokia :
I'll get details and look around

I've got those three boxes from you, plus a bundle of stuff I already had
shopping list is getting longer too


but this is the FUN side of 'puters

[Und3ertak3r]

dead mobos?

suspect all components.. be cautious when useing them in another pc..
PSU's Kill all parts.. If you dont hav a PSU tester.. make one..or buy one..

Have a known Good PSU..but caution not all mobos of the ATX type work with all mobos..(experience trap)

When you google the mobo.. your after the chipset mor than anything else.. when you know the chipset you have the best idea of compatability.. ... old reviews are your second line after the manufacturers...

Do you want a few more bodies? I have a collection the BGN wants out of the shack.. (BGN = Back Ground Noise)...

[foxyloxley]

Do you want a few more bodies? I have a collection the BGN wants out of the shack..

I never say never to spare parts
but as we live some distance apart
new items would be cheaper than the cost of postage