Fans, Wireless, and the neverending computer rehab

[simzebu]

Earlier, I made a post about how my hard drive is failing. It's still going (with some protest), but plans are to look for deals this Sunday (Memorial Day is coming up, maybe we'll get lucky), and buy a new system for the family. I, being my frugal self, don't want to junk this thing quite yet. I have an old laptop hard drive that I'll get a converter for, and I'll use it as a secondary Linux machine. Cost so far: about $10. Then I remembered I need a monitor, cost is about $100, $130 to go with a flatscreen. Total now $140. Then I remembered I need network access.

So here's question #1: I happen to have an old wireless b card lying around. When my home network started, it was wireless b, and I couldn't get a connection in the spot where I want to put this computer with either of two laptops with wireless g cards. But now that I've upgraded to wireless g for the hub, I can get a good connection there. So does the new hub just broadcast better? Will I be able to get a connection with the wireless b card there?
If not, I add another $40 or so for a card, total now $180.

Oh, but it doesn't stop there. The fan in the back has started making a loud griding noise when it starts up. I have an extra fan lying around, but... The one in there now connects to the motherboard with four pins, but my scrap part attaches the same way, but with three pins. All the ones I've found online are three pins, or a different type of four pins (the online four pins use the one you'd attach a disk drive to). How important is the fourth pin? Does it have any function of moving the fan? Or is it just to monitor RPMs or something? In other words, can I use the three pin fan?

[krbe]

If your WLAN router is backwards compatible, you can (probably) use your old card. However, you'll not experience anything near the g speeds (54 mbps or 108 mbps if it's "enhanced"), since the b standards top speed is 11 mbps. That means that you'll most likely experience something around 5.5 mbps. Also keep in mind that the card must be "strong" enough to transmit back to the router, or the router must be capable of picking up weaker signals than your previous network was.

[Meastro444]

as far as i know, fans are always three pin, check the manual of the Mo-Bo to check for other fan connectors. there should be more than one..

[BigSlark]

Where are you buying your parts, simzebu?

From NewEgg.com, I've come up with $22.99 for a great wireless G PCI card (I've been using it for a year with zero complaints) and $149 for a LCD, for a total of $192.72 shipped.

Unless you're lucky enough to have an independent warehouse-style parts outlet in your area, that's about the cheapest place to find decent parts.

Cheers,
Kevin

[callagrafx]

To be honest, if all these things are failing you're throwing good money after bad...I'd recommend saving the cash and buy a new system. That way, the hard drive will work, the wireless will be up to date and probably 108Mbps and the screen resolution will be higher (what's the point in a good screen if the card's old?) and it'll all be under warranty. 

[simzebu]

If your WLAN router is backwards compatible, you can (probably) use your old card. However, you'll not experience anything near the g speeds (54 mbps or 108 mbps if it's "enhanced"), since the b standards top speed is 11 mbps. That means that you'll most likely experience something around 5.5 mbps. Also keep in mind that the card must be "strong" enough to transmit back to the router, or the router must be capable of picking up weaker signals than your previous network was.

Thanks. I doubt that my card is very powerful. For what it costs, I'd probably be best off with a new one.

To be honest, if all these things are failing you're throwing good money after bad...I'd recommend saving the cash and buy a new system. That way, the hard drive will work, the wireless will be up to date and probably 108Mbps and the screen resolution will be higher (what's the point in a good screen if the card's old?) and it'll all be under warranty. 

Well, I am getting a replacement system. Rather, my parents are. This is a mix of an excursion into Linux, and giving myself a cheap Internet computer. For under $200, I'm getting a relatively nice machine, considering what it'll be used for. Whereas, even if I went super-cheap, I'd be lucky to get that price new. I would still need a monitor, which makes up the vast majority of the cost here. Resolution doesn't matter all that much to me, anyway. There are computers at school still using 800x600 CRTs, and my current is supporting my 1440x900 widescreen with no problems. And if I go a year and the whole thing melts into a mess, I'm still ahead (our current $600  computer is about three years old; $200/year. The same approximate value applied to the computer we had before this one. So if I spend $180 on this for a year, I win)

Where are you buying your parts, simzebu?

From NewEgg.com, I've come up with $22.99 for a great wireless G PCI card (I've been using it for a year with zero complaints) and $149 for a LCD, for a total of $192.72 shipped.

Unless you're lucky enough to have an independent warehouse-style parts outlet in your area, that's about the cheapest place to find decent parts.

I searched Best Buy, among other places. I'll look newegg.com; it looks like it has a lot better prices. Thanks for the tip.


Also, I tried out the scrap fan. It spins, and that's all I really care about. I have no documentation except for an anemic user guide, which doesn't have anything about fans in it.