Motherboard or PC upgrade options.

Boohoo

Hello.

For the past 2 weeks my pc has trouble getting past the windows 7 startup splash screen. I have to use the rescue disk to get it fully loaded. I have asked for help on a computer forum and that process is ongoing.
As i have tried different options advised by that forum and it got me thinking that maybe its time for a new pc or ugrade the motherboard/cpu/memory. I have a small budget of £130 which is in Amazon gift vochures but i can add a few quid if needed.
My pc now has a Asrock K8 1689 upgrade motherboard,Sempron 2800 cpu,1500 mb memory,1 sata 160gb drive,dvd/rw,Geofrce fx5200 agp graphics card and Windows 7.
I have had the motherboard for about 6 years and has been ok untill now.
I have looked for computer parts but i am baffled by the choice.

WTFH

Which flavour of Win 7 are you running? (32/64? Basic/Home/Ultimate?)

My first thought is that you could do with a bit more RAM, next would be to replace the HDD, final thing to check would be the power supply.
I'm assuming this was a custom built machine for you. .

GunJack

sounds like a clean install of 7 will sort you out, rather than faff around with upgrades. My 7-y-o semperon 3000 system runs 7 fine

Cycrow

i think its going to be very difficult for you to upgrade that PC.

a simple motherboard upgrade wont be possible, as you will end up needing to replace the CPU, Ram and GPU, as well as possible the PSU as well.

im not sure a RAM upgrade will be worth it either. Its not easy to get DDR400 ram now, and the motherboard only takes a maximum of 2GB anyways, so at most u'll only be able to increase it by 0.5gb.

focus on getting a clean install and then go from there, if you do plan to upgrade, then a new base unit would be the best way to go

NiftyDigits

In addition, which BIOS version are you running?

Boohoo

Running Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit.
Bios 2.30.

Done 5 clean installs on 3 types of hard drive.
160 gb sata, 80gb ide and 40gb ide but only 1 at a time and a dvd drive also and same result.
New psu installed and downgraded bios from 2.40 to 2.30 and the same result.

I know if i upgrade i will need new memory/motherboard/cpu+fan plus a psu so was after advice on what to get and where to buy from. I have looked at base/tower units as i have a monitor but alot on ebay/amazon seem to be Dells for some reason.

NiftyDigits

Are you using a certified clean disc? One downloaded from Digital River, for instance.

Boohoo

NiftyDigits i have used my Windows 7 dvd i got when it was bought out where if you bought a computer component you can get win 7 at a reduced price.
I also downloaded an iso from or through microsoft and used that incase my dvd was faulty.

closed

does safemode work

Boohoo

I dont get as far as safe mode.
After POST screen it goes to Microsoft Cooperation screen with a coloured bar along the bottom but on cold boot it may work for a second and then stop so i have to turn off then on and boot from dvd repair disc and the same screen goes a bitter ferther then stops so do it all again till after 20-30mins i get into my pc.
My pc now refuses to load the bios screen and i am stuck with a blank scree on the monitor but hard drive,dvd,cpu fan and graphics fan works.

Boohoo

Well i think the pc i finally dead.
Yesterday i took everythink out and put things back in 1 at a time and still not booting up then left it 10 mins and tried again this time a burning smell so switched it off. No smoke but smell like a burning clutch. Had a look but nothing evident so started up and the fans and hard drive spin but nothing showing on th screen.
Tried a working cpu from a mate and still the same and tried my cpu in his old pc and it worked so i thing the motherboard has died.
Back to my post has anybody got advice on what to get as my budget is only £150. I have looked on Amazon as i have gift cards to use on that site.Have looked on ebay about motherboard/cpu/memory but most in my budget are 2nd hand bo beggars cant be choosers can they.
Thanks for the replies.