# Requiem for my computer **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 1, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requiem-for-my-computer/454861 "2008-07-01T03:48:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GameHat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ed655f/32.png) [@GameHat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GameHat)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requiem-for-my-computer/454861/1 "2008-07-01T03:48:40Z")
So: My main hobby is my computer. I use it to game, to listen to music and to post my ravings on message boards (like this one!) I’ve been using this computer since 2000. Sure, I’ve upgraded and replaced every single component except the sound card at least once. But it’s still my computer. See: [Theseus’ Paradox](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ship_of_Theseus) But now I’m stuck. The mobo won’t support a new processor. Nor a new video card (AGP for the lose). The case is damaged. Too many LAN parties have left it bent and it doesn’t close anymore. A recent thunderstorm caused a surge that damaged the power supply. I have to physically reseat the main power connection to the motherboard every few days and I crash often. Sigh. I have no good upgrade possibilities. I simply need to start over and build a new machine. I really don’t have the money at the moment. I suppose I’ll have to put it on credit. It’s kind of sad. This computer has years of me put into it. But it’s time - I need to retire it. RIP GameHat’s compy 2000 - 2008 ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requiem-for-my-computer/454861/2 "2008-07-01T14:11:36Z")
Why don’t you just get a new case? There are still ATX ones available. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requiem-for-my-computer/454861/3 "2008-07-01T16:19:27Z")
Thunderstorm surges are bad news. Have you tried Dell or HP for a replacement? ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requiem-for-my-computer/454861/4 "2008-07-01T18:59:39Z")
1. LAN parties? 😕 2. If you’re this handy with a computer, why aren’t you using a surge protector? 3. Have fun building your next one! ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requiem-for-my-computer/454861/5 "2008-07-01T19:19:07Z")
[QUOTE=flyboy] 2) If you’re this handy with a computer, why aren’t you using a surge protector? [/QUOTE] A surge protector won’t protect your computer against lightning strikes, regardless of what the manufacturers claim. An top-end surge suppressor will handle about 1,000 joules at most. A lightning bolt probably carries a hundred times that at minimum. ---
**Author:** ![flyboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@flyboy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flyboy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requiem-for-my-computer/454861/6 "2008-07-01T19:31:33Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] A surge protector won’t protect your computer against lightning strikes, regardless of what the manufacturers claim. [/QUOTE] See, this is why I like this place. So what should I be doing? I have my comps on a surge protector now. And there’ve been a lot of storms around here recently. I can’t always unplug the things. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requiem-for-my-computer/454861/7 "2008-07-01T19:36:57Z")
[QUOTE=flyboy] See, this is why I like this place. So what should I be doing? I have my comps on a surge protector now. And there’ve been a lot of storms around here recently. I can’t always unplug the things. ☹ [/QUOTE] What you’re doing now. You should still use a surge protector - just don’t bother crying to the manufacturer if your computer still gets fried. It’s just one of those things. \*You can get a “whole house” surge protector installed by a qualified electrician which I gather is much more effective against lightning strikes. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requiem-for-my-computer/454861/8 "2008-07-01T21:31:26Z")
From the “Told to me by someone with extensive electrical knowledge, but I can’t say 100% that it’s true” file: Quick-n-dirty trick: tie your surge protector’s cord in a knot. Electricity prefers to travel in a straight line, and a large enough surge would prefer to just blow out the side of the cord rather than try and negotiate a knot. Whether or not the surge winds up someplace more dangerous than your computer would depend on cord placement, I assume. ---
**Author:** ![Hal\_Briston](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a9a28c/32.png) [@Hal\_Briston](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hal_Briston)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requiem-for-my-computer/454861/9 "2008-07-01T21:38:38Z")
From the “Told to me by someone with extensive electrical knowledge, but I can’t say 100% that it’s true” file: Quick-n-dirty trick: tie your surge protector’s cord in a knot. Electricity prefers to travel in a straight line, and a large enough surge would prefer to just blow out the side of the cord rather than try and negotiate a knot. Whether or not the surge winds up someplace more dangerous than your computer would depend on cord placement, I assume. ---
**Author:** ![Hodge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Hodge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hodge)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requiem-for-my-computer/454861/10 "2008-07-02T02:05:29Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] \*You can get a “whole house” surge protector installed by a qualified electrician which I gather is much more effective against lightning strikes. [/QUOTE] This. It looks like a plastic box hooked up to the main at your electrical panel. Lightning’ll blow it out but save your electronics. > [@Hal Briston](#): > > Quick-n-dirty trick: tie your surge protector’s cord in a knot. Electricity prefers to travel in a straight line, and a large enough surge would prefer to just blow out the side of the cord rather than try and negotiate a knot. Smells like an urban legend to me but I’ll admit I’m not an expert. Coincidentally, I’m meeting with a qualified electrician tomorrow evening, so I’ll try to remember to ask him about this. ---
**Author:** ![slaphead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9bcb4/32.png) [@slaphead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/slaphead)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2008, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/requiem-for-my-computer/454861/11 "2008-07-02T14:37:46Z")
[QUOTE=GameHat] it’s time - I need to retire it. RIP GameHat’s compy 2000 - 2008 [/QUOTE] If you plug some of the old components into the new machine, the spirit of the old computer can be transferred. Fact. Anything you had in the old machine is likely to be integrated into the new mobo, but if you have a PCI card or two you can plug them in for old time’s sake. How about that sound card?