Mainboard considerations | Forums

[nightnight]

Hi! I,m tired of my Compaq built machines mainboard and is considering bying a new one. I,ve got a p4 800FSB (3.0), 9800 pro and 1 gig of pc 2700, SB audigy. The mainboard is made by Asus and is called P4SD-LE, based on a 865PE. The problem is that I can,t change hardly anything in BIOS, not even cange AGP aterture size which is set to 64MB! Not even to mention any overclocking. There is no way around this, I,ve been in contact with Compaq and I canâ´t change BIOS via ASUS. This is driving me crazy since I feel I canâ´t exploit the potential of my machine. I have done some reading but will be grateful any tips, I was thinking of ASUS P4P 800 deluxe or AOpen AX4SPE MAX. So, what do you think?
S! nightnight

[nightnight]

Hi! I,m tired of my Compaq built machines mainboard and is considering bying a new one. I,ve got a p4 800FSB (3.0), 9800 pro and 1 gig of pc 2700, SB audigy. The mainboard is made by Asus and is called P4SD-LE, based on a 865PE. The problem is that I can,t change hardly anything in BIOS, not even cange AGP aterture size which is set to 64MB! Not even to mention any overclocking. There is no way around this, I,ve been in contact with Compaq and I canâ´t change BIOS via ASUS. This is driving me crazy since I feel I canâ´t exploit the potential of my machine. I have done some reading but will be grateful any tips, I was thinking of ASUS P4P 800 deluxe or AOpen AX4SPE MAX. So, what do you think?
S! nightnight

[Hunter82]

Check with Asus about the possability of purchasing a bios chip. This will take out all the nasty Compaq you can't touch this info The tool can be ourchased at a store like Radio Shack or from Asus also I believe. Total cost should be under $50 for both. Make sure it will work though by talking to an Asus Rep.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by nightnight:
Hi! I,m tired of my Compaq built machines mainboard and is considering bying a new one. I,ve got a p4 800FSB (3.0), 9800 pro and 1 gig of pc 2700, SB audigy. The mainboard is made by Asus and is called P4SD-LE, based on a 865PE. The problem is that I can,t change hardly anything in BIOS, not even cange AGP aterture size which is set to 64MB! Not even to mention any overclocking. There is no way around this, I,ve been in contact with Compaq and I canâ´t change BIOS via ASUS. This is driving me crazy since I feel I canâ´t exploit the potential of my machine. I have done some reading but will be grateful any tips, I was thinking of ASUS P4P 800 deluxe or AOpen AX4SPE MAX. So, what do you think?
S! nightnight


http://w1.319.telia.com/~u31938662/h...tnightsig1.jpg
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

==============================
Mudmovers
ATI Catalyst Beta Tester
Catalyst Feedback
Catalyst Driver Download
==============================

[nightnight]

Thx for tip, hunter, I will try talking to them again, but last time I tried they just said that it wasn,â´t possible...of course itâ´s worth trying again. What about them mobos, any other ideas, anyone?
regards nightnight

[warweapon2]

There is a way if I remeber correctly to allow bypass the no-touch thing. I remember doing it in windows a couple years ago to disable it so I could access the boot menu. There is also away to do this if you have your bios re-flashed. The reason they do this is so you will have to pay em for maintanace and what not.

[x6BL_Brando]

"The reason they do this is so you will have to pay em for maintanace and what not."
The worst company for that was Tiny computers here in England. You had to insert all their recommended hardware like NIC's & so on, & the use of just any hardware was prevented by the Tiny shell-program. They also preferred their punters to send rigs back to the depot for these "fittings", paying their own postage as well as a fee for this highly technical work!!
These guys have a similar ethos -
http://www.compaqsucks.com/

If you can't get a new Bios chip then I would grab a new mobo, and a new case to fit it in and transfer the goodies over to that. Go to your local car-crusher and lob the Compak junk in and just forget about it. Just a bad dream...

Brando

[LuckyBoy1]

Ok, here's my worry for people like NightNightDude and others considering doing the same thing. Everything will be fine until for some reason, you want to like, reformat or reinstall your operating system.

I own a Dell 8200 series desktop and was chatting with ChicagoChad about him replacing his motherboardon his Dell computer. On the Dell reinstall disc for my Cousin Billy's XP home edition it says...


Only use CD to reinstall the operating system on a Dell computer. For distribution only with a new Dell computer.


What this means is the CD will ask the computer's bios what motherboard it's dealing with before allowing the install to proceed. So, if you replace the motherboard or the bios chip (which is what tells the CD which motherboard you have) the CD won't work. My understanding is that this is the same for Compaq, HP, Gateway and even many no-name computers because they get cheaper programming by agreeing to have this limitation.

The more I learn, the more I know I should have built it myself!

Luckyboy = Senior hydraulic landing gear designer for the P-11

[x6BL_Brando]

I guess you could get past it by grabbing a new hard-drive along with the mobo (or re-flashed Bios), or even just a full format & re-install of the OS on the current HD. Just destroy the manufacturer's "repair disc" in case you're tempted to use it! But the reflash (or newer mobo) has to accompany the reformatting as the Shell Program is present in both.

[Bearcat99]

Thats one reason why I will nEVER buy a packaged computer. i work PT at BB in thier computer dept. and I see more people coming in with crap computers and problems...a LOT of prprietary BS just like that.

<UL TYPE=SQUARE> [/list]<UL TYPE=SQUARE>vflyer@comcast.net[/list]<UL TYPE=SQUARE>99thPursuit Squadron IL2 Forgotten Battles[/list]

[nightnight]

Thx guys for replies! Well I agree for sure, I will build my next system myself. However I think I can get around the OS thing, I have bought a XP pro version, licensed from my university, otherwise thats correct for sure , luckyboy. I think a full reformat of the hard drive should do it, donâ´t want to get a new one, itâ´s a 7200 250 gig. The reason I got the Compaq was that I could buy it through my work in a special offer. Didnâ´t realize they were so locked! Aaargh! I think I,ll go for a new mobo, what do you think of those mentioned?
Regards