Computer Upgrade

[Gary A]

My computer sometimes gives me the message, "keyboard not detected" and sometimes the USB ports stop working in addition to sometimes not booting until after several tries.

The existing P4P 800E Deluxe motherboard may have problems and in any case it cannot be upgraded. I have a good Antec case, the video card is fine, the DVD read write drive is fairly new and one of the SATA hard drives is fairly new.

I'm not a gamer and don't need a powerhouse machine. I just want something that boots quickly and is dependable.

The below are the components I have picked. I just want to make sure they are a good match to each other.

Motherboard - ASUS "P5VD2-VM SE" VIA P4M900

CPU - Intel Pentium E2200 2.2GHz 800FSB 1MB shared L2 Cache EM64T LGA 775 Dual Core CPU

RAM - Geil Value Series 240 Pin 2GB (2x 1GB) DDR2 667 PC-5300 RAM

[Daffy D]

I also have an ASUS MB though a different model and have/had keyboard problems.

Sometimes I would be typing something then suddenly for no apparent reason the computer would beep and keyboard and mouse lock up. On restart would get the “No keyboard” message.

I though it must be the MB first obvious suspect but actually the problem was insects inside the keyboard.

Before I took the keyboard apart to clean it I would get frustrated enough to bash the keys or thump the whole thing and that would sometimes clear the problem.

If you open up the keyboard, which is a fairly simple job, just be careful of the little plastic cup things that are under the keys. They are super light and will blow away at the slightest breeze. That’s only half the problem as not all the little holes have little cup things, like the enter key has three holes but only one cup, so best to mark all the non cup holes as soon as you open the base, you don’t want to spend hours on hands and knees looking for blown away no existent little plastic cups.

[Gary A]

I also have an ASUS MB though a different model and have/had keyboard problems.

Sometimes I would be typing something then suddenly for no apparent reason the computer would beep and keyboard and mouse lock up. On restart would get the “No keyboard” message.

I though it must be the MB first obvious suspect but actually the problem was insects inside the keyboard.

Before I took the keyboard apart to clean it I would get frustrated enough to bash the keys or thump the whole thing and that would sometimes clear the problem.

If you open up the keyboard, which is a fairly simple job, just be careful of the little plastic cup things that are under the keys. They are super light and will blow away at the slightest breeze. That’s only half the problem as not all the little holes have little cup things, like the enter key has three holes but only one cup, so best to mark all the non cup holes as soon as you open the base, you don’t want to spend hours on hands and knees looking for blown away no existent little plastic cups.

Thanks, but no cigar. I have another keyboard and it makes no difference which one I try. I have to keep re-booting until it recognizes the keyboard.

[jeffer]

VIA always suggests el cheapo to me. For another 500 baht you could get a P5B-VM SE, then you can use DDR2 800 although it may not be the type of board you can overclock. I have the original version and it's useless for any sort of overclocking but is otherwise a very good motherboard.

Also look at some of the new Gigabyte boards if you want more than 4 USB ports on the back. A lot of their new boards now have 8 USB ports but they will cost at least another 1500 baht. I'm considering switching back to Gigabyte for that reason as I'm wanting an upgrade from my Asus P5B-VM.

Get the E-2220 for a little speed boost, extra 300 baht. Otherwise next step up is a Core 2 duo E4600, 4100 baht.

[JSixpack]

VIA always suggests el cheapo to me. For another 500 baht you could get a P5B-VM SE, then you can use DDR2 800

Agreed. I had thought VIA had finally got its act together but friend of mine bought a couple lof VIA boards ast year for his office machines and they've never worked up to standard.