General PC hardware questions...

[steff]

Can a graphics card be taken from one PC and put into another? Like is it as simple as that? It's taking a newer Nvidia card and replacing an older Nvidia card.

Can I take my 2x1GB of DDR2 RAM from my old PC and put it in my even older PC (my little brothers) without complications? He has 4 DIMM slots according to Belarc with only 1x1GB in it right now.

[hoos]

depends on a lot of different things besides how many DIMM slots it has. What are the bus speeds for each? What kind of OS does he have? Where is Asshole, when you need some advising? :P

[spankme]

video card: if it is PCIe to PCie or AGP to AGP you are OK
here is info on what each looks like, and why one is preferred over the other:

What is PCI Express? A Layman's Guide to High Speed PCI-E Technology-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com (http://www.directron.com/expressguide.html)

as for the ram -- it ALL has to do with the motherboards. not only do the motherboards control what speed and maximum ram memory that can be used, they also regulate the type of ram being used

ddr = 184 pins
ddr2 = 240 pins
- so you can't plug 1 onto slots made for the other.

so, can u give your brother some ram?
to answer that, we'd need to know what the ram is (speed and type) and what motherboard he has

[Sir Brian]

video card: if it is PCIe to PCie or AGP to AGP you are OK
here is info on what each looks like, and why one is preferred over the other:

What is PCI Express? A Layman's Guide to High Speed PCI-E Technology-Best Computer Online Store Houston Buy Discount Prices Texas-Directron.com (http://www.directron.com/expressguide.html)

as for the ram -- it ALL has to do with the motherboards. not only do the motherboards control what speed and maximum ram memory that can be used, they also regulate the type of ram being used

ddr = 184 pins
ddr2 = 240 pins
- so you can't plug 1 onto slots made for the other.

so, can u give your brother some ram?
to answer that, we'd need to know what the ram is (speed and type) and what motherboard he has

geez, you'r actually good at something. :thumbs:

[steff]

I can't get the info needed since my other PC is fucked. Let me rephrase the first questions.

Will it damage my brothers PC if I put too much RAM in it or will it only use the ones it can?

[spankme]

u can get enough info from the ram itself for that part

then just the motherboard info is needed

if the speed isnt the same as what your brother is now using, it may cause issues
if it is more ram then his PC can use, I think it will only recognize the max it can read

CTD - I am both A+ and MCSE certified

[Dymond]

It won't hurt the PC if it fits.. DDR2 RAM will not fit in a DDR RAM slot so if its not going to work it won't even go in. If your RAM is faster than the MOBO the MOBO will drop the speed down to what it can handle. If you have MORE RAM than the MOBO can handle it won't boot. It won't hurt anything it just won't boot up.

As for the Card if the same thing applies. If it fits most likely it will work. If the PC can't handle it (ie agp 8x vs 4x) it will just run it at the speed it can handle.

[Sir Brian]

CTD - I am both A+ and MCSE certified

i'm glad to hear they are giving you medication.

[Jacx]

the thing with mixing ram is the slowest ram stick will be the speed you work at..so if your brothers ram is 1 gig at pc 2100 and your 2 gig sticks are at say pc5400 then your lil bros pc will have 3 gig at pc2100...basically the 2 extra ram will give a boost but will not perform at their correct speed...which can sometimes cause errors.

Basically yes it can work, but if your ram is better speed than his, just put the 2 in and take the slower 1 out.

[Asshole]

erm if its a really old motherboard.. then putting too much ram in it will cause a nice popping sound a bad smell and some smoke,

if you haven't resolved this yet let me know and ill help you out, im sure you have me on msn ?

[Dymond]

it WILL NOT.. worse case is it won't boot..

[steff]

I haven't got my new PC through so I haven't even looked at any of the PC's or tried to put things in.

[Asshole]

I haven't got my new PC through so I haven't even looked at any of the PC's or tried to put things in.

let me know if and when you need a hand

[steff]

Another few questions relating to OS's...

1. Will a downloaded OS with serials work just as well as a purchased one? Or will it eventually say "hai, you are using a blacklisted serial!"
2. I have 4 PC's with XP home running on them. I'll have a 5th PC soon without an OS (only 2 PC's are required). Can I use one of my old XP serials from the PC's I don't use anymore?
3. What would happen if I used the same serial twice, would it reject it? Would it ask me to enter another serial on one of my PC's?
4. Can you change the serial whilst it's still in use?
5. Does each serial correlate to a certain pack? (as in would code A only work for XP home edition SP1 whereas code B would only work for XP home edition SP2?)

[Asshole]

Another few questions relating to OS's...

1. Will a downloaded OS with serials work just as well as a purchased one? Or will it eventually say "hai, you are using a blacklisted serial!"
2. I have 4 PC's with XP home running on them. I'll have a 5th PC soon without an OS (only 2 PC's are required). Can I use one of my old XP serials from the PC's I don't use anymore?
3. What would happen if I used the same serial twice, would it reject it? Would it ask me to enter another serial on one of my PC's?
4. Can you change the serial whilst it's still in use?
5. Does each serial correlate to a certain pack? (as in would code A only work for XP home edition SP1 whereas code B would only work for XP home edition SP2?)

1 to a degree, most of microsofts software (updates service packs etc) needs to validate your copy, there you will hit a snag with certain CD-keys

2. In theory it would work if you use the right installation.

3. i believe you can use any purchased windows serial on two PC's, as in its licensed for use on two PC's

4. there is a way i believe but im not sure how

5. yes

Oddthought.com does not condone the use of illegal or pirated software, and neither does asshole.. generally

[steff]

Thanks :)

[VanityKillz]

I can't get the info needed since my other PC is fucked. Let me rephrase the first questions.

Will it damage my brothers PC if I put too much RAM in it or will it only use the ones it can?

If the ram isn't compatible it'll either beep a bit on boot or start smoking ! and by smoking I mean fry the board. j/k it'll beep if it's not gonna work or just not boot at all

[Dymond]

I got a copy of XP that blew through all the validations..

[Colonel Sanders]

Yeh just go to any torrent site and 90% of the pirated OS's listed will have no trouble with validation and are completely genuine copies.

There are many Keys out there and more simpler ways of just bypassing the whole process at installation. Unless you send an e-mail to Mr. Gates himself saying your using a pirated version it is impossible for the authorities to know that you are.

Even so Microsoft doesn't care if you pirate it's shit unless your a company...hell they made it easier to pirate Vista in the last service pack and it was very much intentional....in the end they still make money off you using their OS whether or not you pay the $100 for the CD.