Thanks for all your help. There's actually a lot of SDRAM out there just didn't look in the right places. I just have one more question about the ram if that's alright. I can see speeds like 133Mhz, etc. Is it important to match this speed. I tried to use one of those manual entry RAM wizards as my 98 comp isn't online yet, but I don't know what system I have. It's an old gateway PC but the name's not anywhere on the PC and some of the documentation's gone walk-about after so many years. I've tried checking the name of the PC but under computer it doesn't say anything other than gateway. Would it matter which speed RAM I put it or would any speed be ok? Thanks again for all your help

The speed and the possible amount of RAM will be determined by the motherboard.

It is important to match and to do so you are going to need to get it online or find an ID.

Most boards have a label printed on them somewhere. Often by the RAM slots or the graphics slot.

Well, I guess I'm stuck. I've searched the entire motherboard for some kind of hint and there's nothing, no name no label, nothing. I know what more modern motherboards look like but this one doesn't have any obvious name or any info about ram, so I guess I'm stuck with the ram I've gotr for now Thanks anyway for your help.

There are many tools to detect this information including our scan at the top of this page but obviously the computer needs to be online.

Yo Jephree. Won't it be possible for him to download Everest Home Edition exe. to a usb stick from another computer on line and install either Everest, CPUZ, or whatever that way.
Just a idea? If he could also burn a Ubuntu Linux Live cd and boot it up in live mode. He could open a terminal and type in

Code:

sudo lshw

And terminal would spit out all related hardware info. Here is mine as a example.

Code:

harry@harry-desktop:~$ sudo lshw
harry-desktop             
    description: Desktop Computer
    product: 6075BHU
    vendor: LENOVO
    version: ThinkCentre M57
    serial: LKWYYP3
    width: 32 bits
    capabilities: smbios-2.5 dmi-2.5 smp-1.4 smp
    configuration: administrator_password=enabled boot=normal chassis=desktop cpus=2 keyboard_password=disabled power-on_password=disabled uuid=660ABDC5-5EB5-3BDD-BE47-825D2A7B7706
  *-core
       description: Motherboard
       product: LENOVO
       vendor: LENOVO
       physical id: 0
       version: NONE
       serial: NONE
       slot: INSIDE
     *-firmware
          description: BIOS
          vendor: LENOVO
          physical id: 0
          version: 2RKT41AUS (03/20/2008)
          size: 124KiB
          capacity: 4032KiB
          capabilities: pci pnp upgrade shadowing escd cdboot edd acpi usb ls120boot smartbattery biosbootspecification
     *-cpu:0
          description: CPU
          product: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual  CPU  E2160  @ 1.80GHz
          vendor: Intel Corp.
          physical id: 4
          bus info: cpu@0
          version: 6.15.13
          serial: 0000-06FD-0000-0000-0000-0000
          slot: LGA 775
          size: 1800MHz
          capacity: 3600MHz
          width: 64 bits
          clock: 200MHz
          capabilities: boot fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx x86-64 constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts pni monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr lahf_lm cpufreq
          configuration: id=1
        *-cache:0
             description: L1 cache
             physical id: 5
             slot: L1 Cache
             size: 16KiB
             capacity: 16KiB
             capabilities: asynchronous internal write-back
        *-cache:1
             description: L2 cache
             physical id: 6
             slot: L2 Cache
             size: 1MiB
             capacity: 6MiB
             capabilities: burst internal write-back
        *-logicalcpu:0
             description: Logical CPU
             physical id: 1.1
             width: 64 bits
             capabilities: logical
        *-logicalcpu:1
             description: Logical CPU
             physical id: 1.2
             width: 64 bits
             capabilities: logical
     *-memory
          description: System Memory
          physical id: 1f
          slot: System board or motherboard
          size: 2GiB
        *-bank:0
             description: DIMM Synchronous 667 MHz (1.5 ns)
             product: 48594D503531325536344250382D59352020
             vendor: Hyundai Electronics
             physical id: 0
             serial: 00004033
             slot: J6G1
             size: 1GiB
             width: 40968 bits
             clock: 667MHz (1.5ns)
        *-bank:1
             description: DIMM Synchronous 667 MHz (1.5 ns)
             product: 363454313238303230485533534220202020
             vendor: Unknown
             physical id: 1
             serial: 062B5110
             slot: J6G2
             size: 1GiB
             width: 41480 bits
             clock: 667MHz (1.5ns)
        *-bank:2
             description: DIMM Synchronous 667 MHz (1.5 ns) [empty]
             product: 012345678901234567890123456789012345
             vendor: 48spaces
             physical id: 2
             serial: 01234567
             slot: J6H1
             clock: 667MHz (1.5ns)
        *-bank:3
             description: DIMM Synchronous 667 MHz (1.5 ns) [empty]
             product: 012345678901234567890123456789012345
             vendor: 48spaces
             physical id: 3
             serial: 01234567
             slot: J6H2
             clock: 667MHz (1.5ns)
     *-cpu:1
          physical id: 1
          bus info: cpu@1
          version: 6.15.13
          serial: 0000-06FD-0000-0000-0000-0000
          size: 1800MHz
          capacity: 1800MHz
          capabilities: ht cpufreq
          configuration: id=1
        *-logicalcpu:0
             description: Logical CPU
             physical id: 1.1
             capabilities: logical
        *-logicalcpu:1
             description: Logical CPU
             physical id: 1.2
             capabilities: logical
     *-pci
          description: Host bridge
          product: 82Q35 Express DRAM Controller
          vendor: Intel Corporation
          physical id: 100
          bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
          version: 02
          width: 32 bits
          clock: 33MHz
          configuration: driver=agpgart-intel module=intel_agp
        *-display UNCLAIMED
             description: VGA compatible controller
             product: 82Q35 Express Integrated Graphics Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: msi pm vga_controller bus_master cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
        *-communication:0
             description: Communication controller
             product: 82Q35 Express MEI Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 3
             bus info: pci@0000:00:03.0
             version: 02
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm msi bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=heci latency=0 module=heci
        *-ide:0 UNCLAIMED
             description: IDE interface
             product: 82Q35 Express PT IDER Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 3.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:03.2
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 66MHz
             capabilities: ide pm msi cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
        *-communication:1
             description: Serial controller
             product: 82Q35 Express Serial KT Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 3.3
             bus info: pci@0000:00:03.3
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 66MHz
             capabilities: pm msi 16550 bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=serial latency=0
        *-network
             description: Ethernet interface
             product: 82566DM-2 Gigabit Network Connection
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 19
             bus info: pci@0000:00:19.0
             logical name: eth0
             version: 02
             serial: 00:1a:6b:55:6a:32
             size: 100MB/s
             capacity: 1GB/s
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm msi bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
             configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=e1000e driverversion=0.2.0 duplex=full firmware=1.3-1 ip=192.168.2.4 latency=0 link=yes module=e1000e multicast=yes port=twisted pair speed=100MB/s
        *-usb:0
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #4
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1a
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1a.0
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
        *-usb:1
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #5
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1a.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1a.1
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
        *-usb:2
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1a.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1a.2
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
        *-usb:3
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #2
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1a.7
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1a.7
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm debug ehci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0 module=ehci_hcd
        *-multimedia
             description: Audio device
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) HD Audio Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1b
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1b.0
             version: 02
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=HDA Intel latency=0 module=snd_hda_intel
        *-usb:4
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.0
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
        *-usb:5
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.1
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.1
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
        *-usb:6
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.2
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: uhci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=0 module=uhci_hcd
        *-usb:7
             description: USB Controller
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1d.7
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1d.7
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pm debug ehci bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=0 module=ehci_hcd
        *-pci
             description: PCI bridge
             product: 82801 PCI Bridge
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1e
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1e.0
             version: 92
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci subtractive_decode bus_master cap_list
        *-isa
             description: ISA bridge
             product: 82801IO (ICH9DO) LPC Interface Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.0
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: isa bus_master cap_list
             configuration: latency=0
        *-ide:1
             description: IDE interface
             product: 82801IR/IO/IH (ICH9R/DO/DH) 4 port SATA IDE Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.2
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.2
             logical name: scsi0
             logical name: scsi1
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 66MHz
             capabilities: ide pm bus_master cap_list emulated
             configuration: driver=ata_piix latency=0 module=ata_piix
           *-disk
                description: ATA Disk
                product: ST380815AS
                vendor: Seagate
                physical id: 0
                bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0
                logical name: /dev/sda
                version: 3.CC
                serial: 6QZ443QJ
                size: 74GiB (80GB)
                capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
                configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=000e5bc7
              *-volume:0
                   description: Windows NTFS volume
                   physical id: 1
                   bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,1
                   logical name: /dev/sda1
                   version: 3.1
                   serial: 5780-98a9
                   size: 740MiB
                   capacity: 740MiB
                   capabilities: primary bootable ntfs initialized
                   configuration: clustersize=4096 created=2008-10-25 05:40:05 filesystem=ntfs modified_by_chkdsk=true mounted_on_nt4=true resize_log_file=true state=dirty upgrade_on_mount=true
              *-volume:1
                   description: Extended partition
                   physical id: 2
                   bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,2
                   size: 73GiB
                   capacity: 73GiB
                   capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended
                 *-logicalvolume:0
                      description: Linux filesystem partition
                      physical id: 5
                      logical name: /dev/sda5
                      logical name: /
                      logical name: /dev/.static/dev
                      capacity: 70GiB
                      configuration: mount.fstype=ext3 mount.options=rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,data=ordered state=mounted
                 *-logicalvolume:1
                      description: Linux swap / Solaris partition
                      physical id: 6
                      logical name: /dev/sda6
                      capacity: 3121MiB
                      capabilities: nofs
           *-cdrom
                description: DVD reader
                product: RW/DVD GCC-H30N
                vendor: HL-DT-ST
                physical id: 1
                bus info: scsi@1:0.0.0
                logical name: /dev/cdrom
                logical name: /dev/dvd
                logical name: /dev/scd0
                logical name: /dev/sr0
                version: 1.02
                capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd
                configuration: ansiversion=5 status=open
        *-serial UNCLAIMED
             description: SMBus
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) SMBus Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.3
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.3
             version: 02
             width: 64 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             configuration: latency=0
        *-ide:2
             description: IDE interface
             product: 82801I (ICH9 Family) 2 port SATA IDE Controller
             vendor: Intel Corporation
             physical id: 1f.5
             bus info: pci@0000:00:1f.5
             version: 02
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 66MHz
             capabilities: ide pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=ata_piix latency=0 module=ata_piix
     *-scsi:0
          physical id: 2
          bus info: usb@2:4
          logical name: scsi2
          capabilities: emulated scsi-host
          configuration: driver=usb-storage
        *-cdrom
             description: DVD writer
             product: SOHW-1673SU
             vendor: LITE-ON
             physical id: 0.0.0
             bus info: scsi@2:0.0.0
             logical name: /dev/scd1
             logical name: /dev/sr1
             version: XS02
             capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd dvd-r
             configuration: status=open
     *-scsi:1
          physical id: 3
          bus info: usb@1:1
          logical name: scsi5
          capabilities: emulated scsi-host
          configuration: driver=usb-storage
        *-disk
             description: SCSI Disk
             product: TM3200820A
             vendor: MAXTOR S
             physical id: 0.0.0
             bus info: scsi@5:0.0.0
             logical name: /dev/sdb
             version: 3.AA
             size: 186GiB (200GB)
             capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
             configuration: ansiversion=2 signature=7249700e
           *-volume:0
                description: Windows NTFS volume
                physical id: 1
                bus info: scsi@5:0.0.0,1
                logical name: /dev/sdb1
                version: 3.1
                serial: 7c9ec50b-b9af-42fe-98dc-24896cc6f62d
                size: 186GiB
                capacity: 186GiB
                capabilities: primary ntfs initialized
                configuration: clustersize=4096 created=2009-02-02 15:47:11 filesystem=ntfs label=External IDE Hardrive modified_by_chkdsk=true mounted_on_nt4=true resize_log_file=true state=dirty upgrade_on_mount=true
           *-volume:1
                description: Windows NTFS volume
                physical id: 2
                bus info: scsi@5:0.0.0,2
                logical name: /dev/sdb2
                version: 3.1
                serial: f108abcc-7316-4e1c-8e4a-10f60f441b30
                size: 173MiB
                capacity: 180MiB
                capabilities: primary ntfs initialized
                configuration: clustersize=4096 created=2009-03-02 14:08:25 filesystem=ntfs state=clean

Hi, I was away. I'll work on getting my comp online but want to buy new PSU first. Just a couple of PSU questions if that's alright

First do all modern PSUs work with old ATA hard drives and do they all still have a connector to a floppy drive? I've looked online for some PSUs but their descriptions just talk about sata or pci-e connections. Do I need to find one with floppy listed as being there or do all PSUs still contain them? Likewise with the ATA hard drive does it need a special connector? Thanks again for all your help.

Most still have floppy leads plus ATA (molex). Here are two filtered searches at Newegg. First is the old ATX (pre P4) and the second ATX12V is for P4 processors and later. Also note most are 20/24 pin main connections although some older models are only 20 pin.

ATX:

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Power Supplies,Power Supplies,ATX,

ATX/12V:

Newegg.com - Computer Hardware,Power Supplies,Power Supplies,ATX12V,

Hi, ok forgive me for sounding a little dense but I have a pentium 3 computer. Does this mean that any psu will be ok or that I need to buy an old model? On those searches I don't know what the +12V rails stands for as all those atx PSUs seem to have them. I found a PSU at pc world that says it has molex connectors - is this what I need for my ata hard drive? Again, will I damage my computer by putting in a more modern PSU or does it not matter as long as its got the right connections?

Thanks again for your help. I am slowly learning. Oh, and the RAM is taken care of now, just ordering it

All PSUs have either a single or multiple +12V rail(s). The difference between ATX and ATX12V is the latter has either a 4 pin or 8 pin dedicated line for the CPU which only affects P4 or later CPUs. The 8 pin is for quad core CPUs.

Any standard PSU should work for you. You will just have unused wires if you go with an ATX12V.

The main thing to note is the main connector. This is either 20 pin or 24 pin. Most PSU's are adaptable to both and are known as 20+4 pin which will work on any board. Obviously if your board is 20 pin you could not use a PSU that is only 24 pin.

Here are some pics that might help:

Choosing a power supply

Thanks I understand but have run into a new problem. I don't know if this can be fixed. The problem is that I just realised that my pentium 3 processor has no fan mounted on it just a heatsink. The PSU has a fan on it's underside and a large plastic sort of hood mounted that partially covers the processors heatsink, I think it's used to draw the air away from the processor and towards the PSU. There are no other fans in the case and I can only see a place to mount one on the bottom.
The trouble with this set up is that if I put in a new PSU I don't know if it will make the processor overheat as none of them come with this hood, plus the only PSU I found which I want to get doesn't have a fan on it's underside.

I don't know if anyone's seen this hood like thing before. Did they used to make PCs like this or is it a wierd Gateway thing? Would the processor overheat without a proper fan on it or would it be ok If I jsut installed a standard PSU?

Again, thank you so much for all your help.