HELP: P3 Specs Too Old for YouTube??

G

gumlor

New Member
Hello, I have a 6 years old PC. It's good for word processing and web browsing, except for watching YouTube. The videos are always choppy. The CPU tops 100% when playing the Flash video. Here are the specs:

CPU: Intel P3 800EB 133 FCPGA
Motherboard: ASUS CUV4X VIA 694X/Z FCPGA 300-800MHZ+ UDMA66 1 4XAGP 5PCI
RAM: MICRON PC133 512MB SDRAM
Video: ASUS V3800Magic TNT2 M64 32MB AGP

1. Do you think I can upgrade the CPU to 1.1GHz and/or video card to have smooth YouTube?

2. When I checked the CPU speed (during NO video playing) in > My Computer > Properties, it showed 497MHz, not the expected 800MHz as in the specs. Was it normal, or was my CPU under-performing?

Thanks
 
my computers play videos on the internet like shit also, think it has 2 do with my internet speed, i got 768K DSL, and 4 some reason, the videos have 2 buffer alot...

what internet do you have?
 
gumlor said:
Hello, I have a 6 years old PC. It's good for word processing and web browsing, except for watching YouTube. The videos are always choppy. The CPU tops 100% when playing the Flash video. Here are the specs:

CPU: Intel P3 800EB 133 FCPGA
Motherboard: ASUS CUV4X VIA 694X/Z FCPGA 300-800MHZ+ UDMA66 1 4XAGP 5PCI
RAM: MICRON PC133 512MB SDRAM
Video: ASUS V3800Magic TNT2 M64 32MB AGP

1. Do you think I can upgrade the CPU to 1.1GHz and/or video card to have smooth YouTube?

2. When I checked the CPU speed (during NO video playing) in > My Computer > Properties, it showed 497MHz, not the expected 800MHz as in the specs. Was it normal, or was my CPU under-performing?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Upgrading to 1.1Ghz isn't going to make much of a difference, sadly. I would suggest just starting over. You can get a nice computer for under $750 these days, that would rip your current computer to shreds.
 
It's Telus ADSL. I don't have the actually speed figure, but it's rated at 1.5 Mbps on their site.

But it's not due to my internet connection speed, because my laptop (centrino) uses the same network but shows YouTube super smooth. My PC has wired LAN, but my laptop connects wirelessly. So it must be the PC specs causing the problem.
 
A P3 shouldn't have any problems on Youtube. I've used a Duron 650MHz on there...it skipped but if the computer had been cleaned up it probably would of done alright...

But definetly don't invest in upgrading that machine. It's way too old unless you just get free parts, or stuff for next to nothing. If you're going to spend a decent amount, just get a new machine.
 
Plus, look for a speed test server that's near your location, it will give you an idea of what you are actually getting in terms of speed, and not what the ISP is advertising.
 
gumlor said:
Motherboard: ASUS CUV4X VIA 694X/Z FCPGA 300-800MHZ+ UDMA66 1 4XAGP 5PCI

2. When I checked the CPU speed (during NO video playing) in > My Computer > Properties, it showed 497MHz, not the expected 800MHz as in the specs. Was it normal, or was my CPU under-performing?
Click to expand...

notice it says 300-800MHZ, probrably means it can run at 300MHZ, and can run at the full 800MHZ..
 
That's just the speeds of the chips that the Mobo can handle, the chip should be an 800MHz chip, from the description...
 
:o I didn't even look at the 2nd part. Yeah, there's definetly a problem in your settings. I'm quite sure the PIII's didn't underclock like current processors do.

Come to think of it, I had two motherboards from around the PIII era that would go back to about 500MHz when they got reset. It could always be a bad CMOS battery...
 
Hey you guys are so helpful!! thankx!!!!

I think the CMOS battery is about time for replacement too.
How do I know if my FSB and multiplier are set wrong?
 
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