How reliable is your computer?

5237 Views 69 Replies 23 Participants Last post by RaptorUK, Dec 14, 2010

blue harbour

Discussion Starter · Apr 16, 2006

As above- how reliable is your comp in term's- how long you can go without it crashing/locking/freezing up?, and is there any one thing that seems to reliably cause your comp to lock- or switch itself off effectivley due to supposed "fatal errors!"

Mine is patchy at best!- sometimes it can go for day's without hassle- other time's it will fall down/crash maybe 1-3 times per night! :sad:

One thing that does cause it to spaz out and freeze up within about 5 mins without fail is if im playing- even the most basic games online- or indeed- a mate o mine lent me tiger woods 2006, and that would'nt play for more than about 3 mins at a time without causing my comp to crash!, and the ONLY way round each time it happens is to turn the comp off at the power button- and restart it! :bh

Anyone else have problems like this? -or is it just me!????????

I've only been trying to play a simple 2d puzzle game as o latley- but as i say- i can't play it for more than 5 mins without the comp crashing/locking up! :bh :bh :bh :bh :bh :bh

I can see the comp suffering death by shotgun/sledgehammer & fire if this keeps up!- it's nearly been out the window a few time's- i can tell ya! :frust

Computers! :sad: - great WHEN there working- a royal pain in the arris when there not! :bh :bh :bh

21 - 40 of 70 Posts

blue harbour

Discussion Starter · #21 · Apr 20, 2006

Not really interested in repairing this comp tbh- it's been that unreliable i've got no faith in it anymore tbh- just want rid!

been looking at a packard bell jobbie on the pc world website this afto- they any good???????????

Parsec

· #22 · Apr 20, 2006

Dunno about recent PB's but the old ones were bloody awful.

As now2 says it's definitely a hardware problem, you can rule out viruses and stuff. Trouble is it's a case of substituting parts until you find the problem and it starts working properly again.

I'd suspect either motherboard, RAM or power supply. Wherever the problem lies there's probably a lot that's still good in the machine that could be butchered to build another computer without the expense of buying a whole new machine - do you now anyone local who can help?

blue harbour

Discussion Starter · #23 · Apr 20, 2006

I do know one kid, but he's a bit anal- so i prob won't ask him! :lol:

Suppose it does seem ashame to ditch the whole comp cos o this problem!, but as i say- it's been like it (to varying degree's !) over the whole of the 3 years that iv'e owned it! :sad:

Suppose it's like having a bad car!- your confidence just get's shaken! :sad: :sad:

Think i'll just try n live wi this one a wee while longer till i can afford to replace it altogether!

Dorian!- i'll take what you've said about PB machine's on board!- cheer's!, i'll have a butcher's at what kinda deals are available on dell machine's currently!

One thing though!- can you get the reload cd's for the dell comp's!

Had one for this comp when i bought it, and it has been used about 50 times since having this comp! (not joking!)- to try n sort thing's out one way or another!, as i understand it- you're shafted if you don't have these discs for your comps!????

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Shantung Black Tiger

· #24 · Apr 20, 2006

Harbs mate.. When it crashes is it followiung dong a certain thing. EG does it go just as you try and run a program or will it go if you just let it stand for a while not doing anything. Also once it's crashed does it then take less and less time for each subsiquent crash? If so my first guess would be a faulty power supply. If it seems to crash after you've started any sort of reassonable sized program I'd guess it might be the CPU fan having issues or another internal fan getting clogged. If the thing only goes when you start up certain programs that are graphically demanding then could be the graphics card/drivers. Its kind of a case of fault finding.. bit like a rattle on an engine that results in it stalling, you need to systematically remove posibilities till you pin point the problem. Could be something really simple to repair/fix rather thanyou scrapping your whole PC for no reason.

At worst I'd think you may need some replacement RAM, (£40ish),OR a new power supply (£30ish) OR just a new fan (£5), maybe just updated drivers for something (free).

If you do give in then Dell are good for service and are reliable machines. But as Dorian mentioned you will have isses upgrading some of their lesser models as they're not very future proofed. The ones further up the range are better though. They have a really good warrenty scheme too so you can get a bit of piece of mind for your first few years. Make sure if you order one off their website (which is the only way to get one) that you tick on the money off offers. They tend to put them up as options.. eg "option 3 tick for 20% off" in the hope that some people will miss it and not save the money.

hope some of my ramblings may have helped.

:beerchug

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Parsec

· #25 · Apr 20, 2006

Harbs, are you not going to Gaydon on Sunday?

If you were, you could bring the PC, plus some tools to open it up (it'll either be thumbscrews in which case no tools needed or bring a screwdriver set), we could have a look at what's inside and that way work out what you could carry across to a new PC to save having to blow a load of cash on a whole new machine!

blue harbour

Discussion Starter · #26 · Apr 21, 2006

Guys!- is this any good?????????

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/p..._dimen_5150_D04516a?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

Gonna have a look-see in pc world tomorrow aswell!

Shang's!- it's a pile of doodoo this machine!- it can crash as im typing a reply on here, crash when im listening to music through say maybe itunes, crashes if i try n play a game (tryed tiger woods pga 06!), and that would crash it within a few mins everytime!, it can crash sometimes even if it just stood doin nowt much- ie left alone with screensaver on!

Keep seeing that blue screen with white writing going on about windows has been shut down to protect your comp- or somet!- then sometimes it'll crash n not restart properly- so i'll get another window giving option on how i want to start my comp (safe mode etc!)- seen all this recently! :frust :frust :frust

Was palying a free flash game tonight- deliberatley like- cos me dad was there, and i was showing him how- after say 3-5 mins on such a simple 2d game- comp would spaz out n crash!- and it did! :frust

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Parsec

· #27 · Apr 21, 2006

Fine for web surfing and office duties, graphics card might not be up to it though for games mate it's one of those jobbies that uses system memory.

Of these three models

http://www1.euro.dell.com/content/products/compare.aspx/dt_advanced?c=uk&cs=ukdhs1&l=en&s=dhs

you're better looking at the left one or the middle one if you can run to it.

I would still look at reusing as much as you can though of your existing machine

blue harbour

Discussion Starter · #28 · Apr 23, 2006

Had a good look at them comps mate!, and tbh i think-for what i use a comp for they're overkill!

I mainly use my comp for web browsing, buying stuff online + the odd bit o downloading, and occasionally burn a cd!

If i do play games online- there VERY basic/ simple games, and that tiger woods game o my mates that i tried- was just a one off really!

Not sure i need to be spending Anymore than £500 really- for what i use em for!

Whaddya think o that!???????

+ what are compaq pc's like outta interest????????

Rob Cavell

· #29 · Apr 23, 2006

blue harbour said:
i think-for what i use a comp for they're overkill!
I mainly use my comp for web browsing, buying stuff online + the odd bit o downloading, and occasionally burn a cd!
.................Not sure i need to be spending Anymore than £500 really- for what i use em for! Whaddya think o that!???????
+ what are compaq pc's like outta interest????????

Compaqs are good but are not really cheap.......£500 is plenty of dosh for what you want it for....depends if you want a monitor as well for that money....not necessary if you can read the one you've got! :MG:

blue harbour

Discussion Starter · #30 · Apr 23, 2006

Seen a compaq package deal in currys on sat!- £450 for comp with slightly better spec than mine (as far as i can remember/tell!)- comes with tower/keyboard/mouse + 17" tft too!

Does this sound like a good deal!?????????

As long as any comp can do what i've stated above (web browsing, some downloading,odd cd burning- online purchasing etc etc, and maybe odd fartin about with photoshop etc!)- then that's fine by me!

Tbh- this comp would be alright if i could just get GOOD reliability from it, but my faith in this particular machine has been shaken VERY badly!- it's just been trouble since i bought it!- dont know as i want to throw anymore money at it tbph!

blue harbour

Discussion Starter · #31 · Apr 23, 2006

Tonight is the i think the final straw! :bh :bh :bh :bh

Just been mucking about on photoshop wi piccy's o my car, but it's crashing the comp after so long when using this prog! :bh :bh :bh :bh :bh :bh :bh :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust :frust

Is this prog labour intensive or somet??????- a taxing prog for the comp to run!???????

:bh

This really is getting a soddin joke! :frust :bh :frust

It crashses sometimes when im typing reply's on ere! :bh

It crashes if i try n run a FULL scan using windows defender! :bh

It crashes if i go on trend micro housecall 6.5 (won't complete a full scan- just crashes so far through!) :bh

Can't play games for any length o time (not even ruddy simple ones!) :bh

Hell it even goes tit's up sometimes just stood wi screensaver running! :bh

It really is a P.O.S!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :bh :bh :frust :frust :bh :bh :frust :frust

Time to die me thinks, and replace it wi somet else!

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Gas-Axe

· #32 · Apr 23, 2006

blue harbour said:
Is this prog labour intensive or somet??????- a taxing prog for the comp to run!???????

Yes - it is.......put simply!

Rob Cavell

· #33 · Apr 23, 2006

blue harbour said:
Seen a compaq package deal in currys on sat!- £450 for comp with slightly better spec than mine (as far as i can remember/tell!)- comes with tower/keyboard/mouse + 17" tft too!
Does this sound like a good deal!?????????

Yep, it will do you fine.
Seems I use mine for the same as you and my Compaq has not missed a beat for three years now (15" tft). :MG:

Parsec

· #34 · Apr 23, 2006

harbs, I'd got it into my head that you were a serious PC gamer, but if not then either the Compaq or that first Dell you spotted will be fine for your needs. Ignore my suggestions I thought you wanted something for the latest games!

To be honest almost any PC on sale today is easily powerful enough for surfing and office apps.

Photoshop is a heavyweight though if you use it to it's fullest but it mainly uses RAM and disk and any new PC should have plenty, if not they're easily upgradable.

blue harbour

Discussion Starter · #35 · Apr 23, 2006

Cool - cheers guy's!

I might well have a look see at that compaq tomorrow then!

Hopefully i can get into some reliable computing!!!!! :beerchug

HOPEFULLY!!!!!!!! :beerchug

Out of interest though- would there be a preference between either the dell or the compaq????????

Parsec

· #36 · Apr 23, 2006

Not much in it at all to be honest mate, you could say the Dell might be a bit quicker and the Compaq a bit more solid and reliable but to be honest that's just a "branding thing". In reality there's not going to be anything between them if they're the roughly the same spec.

Buy the one that's either better value or looks nicer :lol:

shroonie29

· #37 · Apr 23, 2006

Harbs

I can recomend DELL they are all ive ever used.Yes you can build a cheaper PC with similar spec,but all the DELL PCs ive ever had have been rock solid.They only ever f***ed up when i did

Shroon

blue harbour

Discussion Starter · #38 · Apr 24, 2006

Well the desicion has been made & the money spent! (well flex of the plasitc is more accurate! :lol: )

Got myself a compaq pc with 17"tft & free printer!

:beerchug

Hopefully now i'll be able to enjoy some reliable computing/net browsing/game playing/ photoshopping!

Finger's crossed!

Rob Cavell

· #39 · Apr 25, 2006

blue harbour said:
Well the desicion has been made & the money spent! (well flex of the plasitc is more accurate! :lol: )
Got myself a compaq pc with 17"tft & free printer! :beerchug
Hopefully now i'll be able to enjoy some reliable computing/net browsing/game playing/ photoshopping!Finger's crossed!

Well done harbs you won't be dissapointed...that is after you've spent hours installing all the software you have accumulated!!!
Do however think twice before you install any old programs you may have........ask yourself "Do I really need this program" before you go headlong into it.....it could be the seat of your original problem waiting to bug you again! (not likely if it's a genuine XP rated program). :MG:

bgb_one

· #40 · Apr 25, 2006

shroonie29 said:
Harbs

I can recomend DELL they are all ive ever used.Yes you can build a cheaper PC with similar spec,but all the DELL PCs ive ever had have been rock solid.They only ever f***ed up when i did

Shroon

ive had my dell pc for over a year, no complaints. my dad swears by them he only ever uses dell pc with his company. they offer great value for money, and they do some great offers from time to time, i got free upgraded 17" flat panel and free printer plus free double memory (gig ram and 160 gig HD). the only thing my pc is lacking is a decent graphics card, but got my 360 for game playing. i only paid £380 excl vat

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