Info needed on USB stuff

[dajoga]

Since a lot of 'puter stuff connects with USB, what do I need to add that to my PC? Should I add a card or can I use a USB-9pin addapter? Also I've noticed that USB cords sometimes have a sq. end and sometimes rectangular. What is the diff?
I have a Compaq DP 4000, 233 MMX running 98se with 128 RAM. Also, what's the diff between USB 1 & 2? Whew, this 'puter stuff is givin' this old fart a headache. Where's my coffee? http://freeconservatives.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon109.gif

[tacitus]

dg maybe this will help. (http://www.usb.org/home)

I bought a USB card at Walmart for $30.00 with 4 external USB 2.0 ports and one internal. That's in additions to the four on the MB and two on the keyboard.

Why so many? USB printer, scanner, keyboard, mouse, digital camera. I'll be adding more later.

[dajoga]

That website was a big help--thanks, tac

[nosferatuscoffin]

One thing though. What version of Windows are you running? Windows 95 has no native USB support built into, so if you are looking to add USB devices, make sure you have at least Windows 98. Granted, I would be shocked if you were still running 95. http://freeconservatives.com/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

But, you never know.

[tacitus]

[ QUOTE ]
running 98se

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks like Win98se

[nosferatuscoffin]

[ QUOTE ]
tacitus said:
[ QUOTE ]
running 98se

[/ QUOTE ]

Looks like Win98se

[/ QUOTE ]

DOH! Sorry, I overlooked that. Must have been reading too fast.

Anyway, I would go ahead and recommend, as Tacitus said, a 4 port USB upgrade card. You can usually get them for $30 at your local Staples, OfficeMax etc. It is a pure plug and play device, so you can just drop it in to a free PCI slot and go from there.

[dajoga]

Thanks for the help--one more ?--I was looking at a Sony 48x12x48x burner and it said that system reqs. were PII 400 mhz or faster. Do I need to look for a slower unit for my PII 233MMX? If so, what can I run?

[tacitus]

dg your system may not be able to handle this cd burner. Have you thought of buying a new one? There are some great deals out there, and building your own from scratch is a bit less expensive (if you have that knowledge).

Check out some of the `puter places for barebones systems.

[nosferatuscoffin]

Most burners require at least a Celeron/PII 300 or better. I doubt you will find one that will run on a PII/233. Funny, one of the other PC's on this network here is also a PII/233 and I have not even bothered trying to get a burner for it, as it is mainly a glorified jukebox for now.

One of the best places to shop for barebones systems is 3btech.net (http://www.3btech.net/3btech/). They have excellent prices and a VERY high rating at Resellers.com (9+ out of a 10 rating)

Prices for barebones systems there run from about $150-$300 or so. Check them out for sure.

One that I might get or ask for at Xmas is this one: (http://www.3btech.net/3btech/amd17atcpumi.html)

Includes an AMD 1800+ AthlonXP CPU
Biostar M7VIG-Pro Socket A MotherBoard With Via KM266 Chipset
Supports all Socket A AMD processors (Athlon XP(266)/Athlon/Duron) up to XP 2600+
Includes 128MB PC133 SDRAM
Mid Tower Case with 400W P3 and P4 Approved Power Supply. Holds 4-5.25" Drives 2-3.5 Exposed 1-3.5 Hidden Drives. Front USB, And Front Audio

Stereo AC'97 CODEC 100% Sound Blaster compatible sound card and game port
4x Onboard AGP video - Uses shared memory from the system memory adjustable up to 32MB
4x AGP Video Slot for future video expansion
Onboard 10/100 Ethernet Network Card
PS/2 Keyboard and Mouse Ports
Four USB 2.0 Ports - One 25 Pin Parallel

[tacitus]

nos those people are giving away barebones systems. Adding a $63 HD and away you go.

[dajoga]

Ah, ha--I needed a good excuse to upgrade--but, do I go for it now or wait until Feb? My new son-in-law said his company is planning to get all new PC's then and they sell their old ones to employees for pennies on the dollar. I'm sure all of them are PIII's. He got me my current flat screen 17" monitor for $10.

[tacitus]

Wait until you can get one from your son-in-law, if they are P3's.

[nosferatuscoffin]

If you can get something 80-90% off from your relative, then wait. Otherwise, go ahead and get a good barebones system. I try to dissuade people from waiting for months at a time, since it is usually tilting at windmills. In this case, maybe not.