Need some help with an old pc

mp3guy

I've landed myself a Digital Venturis 5133. Its' really old, and googling doesn't say much about it. I do know that it has a P1 133MHz, and 32MB of ram inside. The HD is bust, only was a Caviar 21600. It's got a Hitachi cd drive of some sort too. No sound card, and 2 PCI and 2 ISA slots. I've no idea what motherboard it's got, so could someone help me out on that or tell me where it should say on it. Also, i'd like to refurbish this upto 600MHz somehow, maybe a 20gb drive, SB16 and maybe a GeForce2. That's the second thing, do i need a new motherboard? Or maybe a new case?

-Edit, it's got a Phoenix Bios version 4.04

-Edit, 2 photos, case shows the whole thing... PSU in the top right, HD sits on top, motherboard shows motherboard, CPU bottom right, ram bottom centre.

airetam_storm

Anything that old cant have an AGP slot so prob a new mobo

mp3guy

i'll settle for a PCI geforce2

airetam_storm

Never seen a 600mhz p1 or p2 __could be wrong?

Should be no prob with a new HD tho

mp3guy

i mean put a P3 in, will it work with the current board?

airetam_storm

no!

mp3guy

ah, crap.... can you recommend a board i should get?

SantaHoe

Yup new mobo looks likely... although you could perhaps get a socket7 amd-K6 in there and overclock it to 600MHz (ala. Toms Hardware) ... although that's depending on what fsb/multi/vcore the board can even manage... the later socket7 mobos should do it easily enough.
Trying to track down who exactly made your mobo can be a nightmare, I'd suggest just looking closely at everything on the board for signs of branding... or alternatively run something like sisoft sandra to see if it can lift any hardware vendor ID from your motherboard.
It's hardly worth salvaging, but I know how these things are

mp3guy

i can't run sandra, don't have a HD, and because of that, i don't know how big of a HD to buy, a vicious circle

SantaHoe

mp3guy wrote:

i can't run sandra, don't have a HD, and because of that, i don't know how big of a HD to buy, a vicious circle

Tried PEbuilder?
Has tons of plugins that can ID hardware >>try here<<
All run from a 'live cd'... assuming the CDROM drive actually works

mp3guy

CDROM works good, but the damn PC won't boot, even with the HD in or out it says, invalid system disk, replace and press any key. Can you recommend a mobo i can get for it?

SantaHoe

Man that sounds dodgy, I cringe at suggesting you check the boot order in the BIOS... feel free to slap me upside the head
You'd be hard pressed to find a socket7 for sale these days, although most people probably have one lying around.
It just so happens I've still got my old socket7 mobo that used to run my P166mmx then later my k6-2 450MHz... I'm pretty sure it still works, and I'd love to see it go to a good home.
Free if you want it.
(pic attached, don't let the dust bunnies scare ya)

mp3guy

i don't think it'lll fit in my case... i think i'll have to get a new one.... can i buy a case in the US that has a PSU? Will the psu work over here?
And yes, i did check the BIOS

SantaHoe

If the PSU has a voltage stepdown switch it'll work fine... otherwise no.
It's just a small switch on the outer face of the PSU that toggles between 110/230v... the wrong voltage will either fry the PSU or just not do anything depending on which side of the atlantic you're using it.

Frank Drebin

Have you tried some gas and a match yet?

mp3guy

no.... not yet... still it's a challenge...

Frank Drebin

There is nothing a big enough hammer can't fix.

mp3guy

probably.... but the cd drive is still good, so is the floppy drive..

Nukem

Damn if ya get it goin that would be some achievement.
May the force be with you.

dunco

did you set the bios to boot from cd

Frank Drebin

Nukem wrote:

Damn if ya get it goin that would be some achievement.

I disagree.... It would be a miracle!

mp3guy

yup, tried a floppy and cd... no go

padraigf

Itd be as easy and as cheap to buy an entirely new rig id have to say.

gline

padraigf wrote:

Itd be as easy and as cheap to buy an entirely new rig id have to say.

Ah messin around wit old pcs is a bit of craic, it is a challange

dunco

yes messing with old pc is good i have 2 socket7 and 1 socket8 all work fine

airetam_storm

Keep an eye on the FS Computers / Hardware / Components board

All sorts a old stuff pops up here