What brands don't use a lot of proprietary parts - PSU, etc.?

[Doc]

Looking to get an Ebay computer for video editing, probably in the faster
PIII or Earlier P4 range and want to be able to grab replacement parts like
the PSU off the shelf if need be, which I found is problematic with my PIII
Compaq. What brands should I be looking at? Or will I need to look at a
homebuilt to ensure this?

Also, is there a good site that explains the various mobo/CPU/RAM
types/families - i.e. Socket whatever, etc.? Trying to sort it all out.

Thanks.

 

[Robert Baer]

Looking to get an Ebay computer for video editing, probably in the faster
PIII or Earlier P4 range and want to be able to grab replacement parts like
the PSU off the shelf if need be, which I found is problematic with my PIII
Compaq. What brands should I be looking at? Or will I need to look at a
homebuilt to ensure this?

Also, is there a good site that explains the various mobo/CPU/RAM
types/families - i.e. Socket whatever, etc.? Trying to sort it all out.

Thanks.

Virtually any brand-name computer has proprietary hardware and/or
software (if so, usually embedded on the hard drive).
Virtually any no-brander has no proprietary stuff.

 

[paulmd]

Looking to get an Ebay computer for video editing, probably in the faster
PIII or Earlier P4 range and want to be able to grab replacement parts like
the PSU off the shelf if need be, which I found is problematic with my PIII
Compaq. What brands should I be looking at? Or will I need to look at a
homebuilt to ensure this?

Also, is there a good site that explains the various mobo/CPU/RAM
types/families - i.e. Socket whatever, etc.? Trying to sort it all out.

Thanks.

Dell, HP, Compaq, Gateway, Emachines Etowers (newer emachines use
standard mATX), have a propreitary power supply.

Micron, Alienware, Tiny i think use, a standard atx.

Most small shops use a standard atx.

 

[Ralph Mowery]

Looking to get an Ebay computer for video editing, probably in the faster
PIII or Earlier P4 range and want to be able to grab replacement parts like
the PSU off the shelf if need be, which I found is problematic with my PIII
Compaq. What brands should I be looking at? Or will I need to look at a
homebuilt to ensure this?

Also, is there a good site that explains the various mobo/CPU/RAM
types/families - i.e. Socket whatever, etc.? Trying to sort it all out.

You almost have to go with the home built computer to insure this. Maybe
one built by a local computer shop or one of the ones put together by a mail
order company.
Dell, Gateway,Compaq, and E machines usually have their own special parts.

 

[Arno Wagner]

Looking to get an Ebay computer for video editing, probably in the faster
PIII or Earlier P4 range and want to be able to grab replacement parts like
the PSU off the shelf if need be, which I found is problematic with my PIII
Compaq. What brands should I be looking at? Or will I need to look at a
homebuilt to ensure this?

Take unbranded hardware. All others have a tendency to design their
own stuff or have it designed for them.

Also, is there a good site that explains the various mobo/CPU/RAM
types/families - i.e. Socket whatever, etc.? Trying to sort it all out.

Difficult. You need to spend a lot of time on this. And it is
s movinf target.

Arno

 

[Pooh Bear]

Looking to get an Ebay computer for video editing, probably in the faster
PIII or Earlier P4 range and want to be able to grab replacement parts like
the PSU off the shelf if need be, which I found is problematic with my PIII
Compaq. What brands should I be looking at? Or will I need to look at a
homebuilt to ensure this?

Compaq is probably the worst example to have gone for ! Del have oddball psu
connectors and I'd give HP a miss too.

Any 'generic' pc is fine though. If you're into it, homebuilt is grest.

Also, is there a good site that explains the various mobo/CPU/RAM
types/families - i.e. Socket whatever, etc.? Trying to sort it all out.

Umm..... I knew one.
http://www.pcmech.com/cpuindex.htm

Not the one I was thinking of but looks ok.

Graham

 

[Bob Eager]

Compaq is probably the worst example to have gone for ! Del have oddball psu
connectors

Used to have..

 

[JDL]

Looking to get an Ebay computer for video editing, probably in the
faster PIII or Earlier P4 range and want to be able to grab
replacement parts like the PSU off the shelf if need be, which I found
is problematic with my PIII Compaq. What brands should I be looking
at? Or will I need to look at a homebuilt to ensure this?

Also, is there a good site that explains the various mobo/CPU/RAM
types/families - i.e. Socket whatever, etc.? Trying to sort it all
out.

Thanks.

Just get the fastest cpu in your price range/budget. Don't be afraid to
go AMD for your CPU. They're a better value. I've been using AMD's for
10 years and never had a problem (started with a Cyrix). Just get a
non-brand name PC. Something like this one would be good for you.
Cheap. Easy to upgrade. Good graphics card. Just need to put more RAM
in it for video editing.

http://cgi.ebay.com/AMD-64-2800-160GB-HARDDRIVE-BOISTAR-BOARD-9600-
ATI_W0QQitemZ8825269400QQcategoryZ51146QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[Nigel Heather]

Beg to differ. I tried to upgrade a Compaq Evo at work (new Motherboard,
CPU, RAM). Although the case was standard and took the ATX board without
any problems the PSU was just weird.

Firstly it had a power connector that must have been unique to Compaq - I
checked all the known PSU pinout arrangements and this was a totally new
one.

So I decided to buy a replacement PSU. Found that the size and the position
of the mounting holes for the Compaq unit were non-standard. I ended up
having to cut some of the case chassis away and mount the PSU on 2 screws
out of 4.

Compaq may have changed their act now but I can say with confidence that it
wasn't always the case.

Cheers,

Nigel

 

[Bob Eager]

Beg to differ. I tried to upgrade a Compaq Evo at work (new Motherboard,
CPU, RAM). Although the case was standard and took the ATX board without
any problems the PSU was just weird.

I was referring to Dell...sorry.

 

[Pooh Bear]

Used to have..

But would you risk it ?

Graham

 

[Bob Eager]

But would you risk it ?

Easy enough to check...

 

[Pooh Bear]

Easy enough to check...

Assuming you knew about it.

Graham

 

[Jerry G.]

From what we have seen, all the brand names use their own propriotory
parts.

Your best bet is to build up your own computer from scratch using
generic cards, mother board, case, power supply, drives, and etc. This
way, you can add almost whatever you want, as long as it is both
hardware and software compatable to the system you put together.

When building your own system yourself, take care that YOU are the
technical support for your own system.

You will save a few dollars on the construction of the system, but you
are on your own.


Jerry G.
======

 

[DaveW]

The major brands of computers ALL use prioprietary parts that they can buy
for cheaper than stock manufacturers parts. That's the main reason people
bother to build home grown computers.

 

[Pooh Bear]

The major brands of computers ALL use prioprietary parts that they can buy
for cheaper than stock manufacturers parts. That's the main reason people
bother to build home grown computers.

They actually rarely use proprietary *parts* such as semiconductors since these
are available on the open market. What they may do for reasons known only to
themesleves is to package them in non-compatible ways.

Graham

 

[paulmd]

Beg to differ. I tried to upgrade a Compaq Evo at work (new Motherboard,
CPU, RAM). Although the case was standard and took the ATX board without
any problems the PSU was just weird.

Errrr. Reread the post, you're not differing.

 

[Pooh Bear]

Errrr. Reread the post, you're not differing.

Errrr... when posting a comment half way through only *please* trim the remainder
!

Graham

 

[nos1eep]

On Fri, 09 Jun 2006 00:49:39 +0100, Pooh Bear

|
|
|[email protected] wrote:
|
|> Nigel Heather wrote:
|> > Beg to differ. I tried to upgrade a Compaq Evo at work (new Motherboard,
|> > CPU, RAM). Although the case was standard and took the ATX board without
|> > any problems the PSU was just weird.
|>
|> Errrr. Reread the post, you're not differing.
|
|Errrr... when posting a comment half way through only *please* trim the remainder
|!
|
|Graham

**** off, Nazi control freak.

 

[Pooh Bear]

|
|> Nigel Heather wrote:
|> > Beg to differ. I tried to upgrade a Compaq Evo at work (new Motherboard,
|> > CPU, RAM). Although the case was standard and took the ATX board without
|> > any problems the PSU was just weird.
|>
|> Errrr. Reread the post, you're not differing.
|
|Errrr... when posting a comment half way through only *please* trim the remainder
|!
|
|Graham

**** off, Nazi control freak.

Godwin's law is invoked. YOU LOSE !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godwins_Law

Your hostility to a simple mouse action is noted btw.

Graham