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Help me build a fast 56K PC.

T

TazExprez

Senior member
I would like to build a PC that works fine with 56K. I built a friend a PC about a year ago, but for some reason it ran very slow with 56K, while his Dell laptop was much faster with the same connection. I ended up building him another PC and keeping the original one I built him. Now he wants another one, but this time I want to make sure I get it right the first time. This person still wants to keep his 56K AOL connection, btw.

I cannot test 56K connections at my house because my VOIP phone service does not support it. I really need your help in building a PC guaranteed to work fine with 56K.

Thanks for any help.
 
Btw, the budget is about $350.00. He already has 256MBx2 PC3200 RAM, a GF2 Ultra Card, a 400W PSU, and a 80GB ATA133 HDD.
 
The only hardware that has anything to do with a 56K connection is the modem....so....get a decent brand modem and you are fine.

There is no reason the first computer should not have worked fine on a 56K connection. If anything, replace the modem.
 
The first PC worked terrible via 56K with 2 different PCI modems and a WiFlyer ethernet modem, but it was fast on my OOL Internet connection.

The 2 PCI modems were pretty old, but the WiFlyer was brand new.
 
Originally posted by: TazExprez
The first PC worked terrible via 56K with 2 different PCI modems and a WiFlyer ethernet modem, but it was fast on my OOL Internet connection.

The 2 PCI modems were pretty old, but the WiFlyer was brand new.
Click to expand...

Like I said, changing the hardware is not going to somehow speed up a slow internet connection. It doesn't work that way. If you want to...go ahead...but if its ridiculously slow your problems lie elsewhere and not in the PC components
 
The Dell laptop, for some reason, was much faster. I don't know if Dell installs some drivers that really speed things up, or what they do. The other PC was somewhat faster, too.
 
Originally posted by: TazExprez
The Dell laptop, for some reason, was much faster. I don't know if Dell installs some drivers that really speed things up, or what they do. The other PC was somewhat faster, too.
Click to expand...

my best guess is there was more stuff cached on the Dell vs the new PC making it seem faster. Clear the cache on the dell and see if this is the case.
 
Thanks a lot for all of your help.

What should I build for about $350, maybe less, using the equipment that he has? Definately a newer modem would be nice. Which one should would be best for AOL?
 
Originally posted by: TazExprez
Thanks a lot for all of your help.

What should I build for about $350, maybe less, using the equipment that he has? Definately a newer modem would be nice. Which one should would be best for AOL?
Click to expand...
One that's v.92. USR is probably the best brand of 56k modems, and the software that it comes with, that let's you answer an incoming phone call while online, works well. I used to have one. Well, I still do, I just don't have dialup anymore.
 
I second the hardware modem pick. You can always find some USR externals on ebay.
A good hardware will deal with line noise as good as any. Line noise will slow down your connection speed. I really like the USR Courier V Everything externals, but you can't always find them on the cheap. The next best thing is a USR Sportster.
(hint: They are compatible with Linux) 😉
 
1. An external USR Sportster modem, about $80.
2. Use Throttle (or something similar) to maximize the modem's throughput.
3. Make sure that the hard drive isn't slowed down, by being stuck in PIO mode.
 
Originally posted by: PurdueRy
The only hardware that has anything to do with a 56K connection is the modem....so....get a decent brand modem and you are fine.

There is no reason the first computer should not have worked fine on a 56K connection. If anything, replace the modem.
Click to expand...

yeh, buy an old school hardware modem.
 
Try different modems .

I was shocked to find that NONE of the pci modems (mostly USR) worked on my new (AMDX2 with XP SP2) rig AT ALL with stock driver settings. I had used these modems on AMD and INTEL for 333Mhz to 2.4 Ghz; with OS from win98 FE to winxp SP1. I finally inherited an old "Dell cognizent sp?" modem and it works excellently (for 56K) with the default xp drivers and settings. I haven't had dialup work this smoothly since my ISA hardware modem.


Jim
 
Originally posted by: TazExprez
The Dell laptop, for some reason, was much faster. I don't know if Dell installs some drivers that really speed things up, or what they do. The other PC was somewhat faster, too.
Click to expand...

When I was gaiming a few years back we all had 56k.....we did some wonderful tweaking of our connections. Not that you cound go faster than 56k but it is possible to tweak your connection using various programs.....do a google search for tweaking 56k.....see what comes up...I use to have all the links...but going to cable mad the links obsolete for me...lol
 
Thank you all for all of your help.

I will be ordering the parts this week and will get one of the modems that were recommended. I will get an internal PCI USR hardware modem. The serial would be nice, but the extra boxes will probably complicate things for my friend. Also, I think everyone should be using broadband at this point in time. Verizon DSL is $14.95 w/ a 1-yr contract. AOL Dial-Up is currently $19.95 w/ a 1-yr contract.
 
Why not tell him to get a broadband connection and switch to the AOL Free thingy, since he loves AOL so much. Just run it on top of the cable connection like any other net app.
 
Originally posted by: TazExprez

I cannot test 56K connections at my house because my VOIP phone service does not support it. I really need your help in building a PC guaranteed to work fine with 56K.
Click to expand...

 
Originally posted by: Raduque
Why not tell him to get a broadband connection and switch to the AOL Free thingy, since he loves AOL so much. Just run it on top of the cable connection like any other net app.
Click to expand...

to let you know, some people need 56k to access server computers across the country, for the simplicity of commands like: turn surveilance cameras off after recording is complete or triggered hard drive array is full.
whereas certain software circumstances which if utlizing a braodband connection may require different software that is not compatibile with some security features where a connection is always on or not able to turn itself off with hardware or software.
a company did this back in 2004 with dial up technology as the fastest route for statistics monitoring projects without the need of overly expensive equipment and extra maintenance.
-for example

you probably didn't want to hear it, but 56k will still be around for a while.

if all you did was check e-mail and needed access to the Internet for only about 15 minutes a day, and read/write e-mails offline for about another 15 minutes a day, I'd pay ten bucks for 56k rather than 30-50 USD + ridiculous activation/service fees, including the possible cost of renting/buying/or monthly payments of a modem.

I can't handle playing Starcraft on 56k anymore, by the way.

OP: "Btw, the budget is about $350.00. He already has 256MBx2 PC3200 RAM, a GF2 Ultra Card, a 400W PSU, and a 80GB ATA133 HDD."

get a Celeron D processor, a 478 mobo with AGP8x for the GF2 card, the memory is sufficient for being total to 512 megs, the case will probably be around 40 bucks including shipping, something nicer, but not too expensive either for a case.

Cel D - $50
478 mobo - $35
Case - $40

so far the total is $125

225 left now

LCD 15" - $150

75 bucks left for Windows Home

-dump the LCD for a CRT if you want XP Home and perhiperals together
 
Originally posted by: fire400
Originally posted by: Raduque
Why not tell him to get a broadband connection and switch to the AOL Free thingy, since he loves AOL so much. Just run it on top of the cable connection like any other net app.
Click to expand...

to let you know, some people need 56k to access server computers across the country, for the simplicity of commands like: turn surveilance cameras off after recording is complete or triggered hard drive array is full.
whereas certain software circumstances which if utlizing a braodband connection may require different software that is not compatibile with some security features where a connection is always on or not able to turn itself off with hardware or software.
a company did this back in 2004 with dial up technology as the fastest route for statistics monitoring projects without the need of overly expensive equipment and extra maintenance.
-for example

you probably didn't want to hear it, but 56k will still be around for a while.

if all you did was check e-mail and needed access to the Internet for only about 15 minutes a day, and read/write e-mails offline for about another 15 minutes a day, I'd pay ten bucks for 56k rather than 30-50 USD + ridiculous activation/service fees, including the possible cost of renting/buying/or monthly payments of a modem.

I can't handle playing Starcraft on 56k anymore, by the way.
<snip>
Click to expand...

OPs friend wants it for AOL; he didn't mention dialing into a corporate network. Your examples also don't actually dial into the Internet; they dial into a server listening on a modem. 768K can be had for the same price as an AOL dial account (14.95 + fees and taxes, I should know, I worked for VOL) and AOL is now free, so it's perfect for BYoC.

And I know 56k is going to be around a while (even though it should be completely phased out by now), I was on 21.6k until May this year, and there's STILL no plans by a broadband provider to wire up the admittedly very rural area I lived in.

And honestly, you can't tell me if you were one of those email-onlys that upgraded to a HSI connect, you wouldn't be tempted to use it for say, news clips on CNN, youtube videos, or streaming radio stations?
 
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