Upgrade Stories of Packard Bell PB 520r Owners

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02/09/99 03:53:59

Name: Michael P.	My URL: Visit Me	My Email: Email Me
Motherboard #: 520R	Model Name: Pack-Mate3980CD	When Purchaced: 6/8/98 (from previous owner)
Original RAM: 8 MB	Original CPU Speed: 60Mhz	Original Video memory: 1 MB

Comments:
I upgraded the RAM to 40 MB, I put an Overdrive processor and it put it to 133 Mhz, then i put a S3 Virge GX/DX 2D/3D acceleator w/ 4 MB, I also put a new Sound Blaster 16 PnP, A 56K X2 V.90 modem, a 3COM network card, and a Maxtor Caviar 1.2 GB hardrive ecause the old 450 was broke, i put in a additonal Western Digital 200 meg hardrive in one of the 5 1/4 bays with an adapter, and i got a new Toshiba Tekbright 15" moniter. I run Win 98 and Red Hat Linux 5.2...I also occasionlly overclock my video process r with MCLK

02/08/99 00:47:40

Name: David Gunn	My URL: Visit Me	My Email: Email Me
Motherboard #: PB 520r	Model Name: Legend 300 CD	When Purchaced: April 95
Original RAM: 8 MB	Original CPU Speed: 60 mHZ	Original Video memory: 1 MB

Comments:
I have upgraded nearly everything imaginable on this system--CD ROM drive, video card, sound card, modem, memory, hard drives, and most recently, the CPU. I installed a PowerLeap PL-54C/MMX accelerator. I had just successfully overclocked the CPU to 66 HZ, so when I installed the PL-54C, it took the speed to 233 mHZ, which has been great. There have been problems, though. Nearly every upgrade I have made has required many hours of troubleshooting. The video card (a Diamond Stealth II S220) took about 16 hours and two people to get it working right--the computer simply refused to do ANYthing when I first intalled it. The major problem with installing the PL-54C was that the computer would freeze every time I started it up, I think when attempting to l ad Windows drivers. I would have to press the reset button, have the computer go to the Windows error menu (where I was prompted to start the computer using Safe Mode), choose Normal (bypassing a Safe Mode start), and then everything would load properly. It did this for about three weeks, then suddenly just decided to start booting up properly. The only thing I changed was to switch antivirus programs from McAfee to Norton--no other changes, and it starts working right. While this computer has been a m jor pain at times, patience and persistence have paid off. I now have a good-running machine that can handle all the programs currently available, and have done so at a reasonable price. My word of caution is to buy a PB system only if you are very comp ter savvy and know how to troubleshoot--I work with computers for a living (I am a computer suppport analyst), and I had to have help with some of the upgrades.

12/17/98 09:48:25

Name: Bill	My URL: Visit Me	My Email: Email Me
Motherboard #: PB520r	Model Name: Executive Multi-media	When Purchaced: October 1995
Original RAM: 8Mb	Original CPU Speed: P60	Original Video memory: 1Mb Cirrus Logic 5354

Comments:
Like everyone else, I believed my machine was state of the art and when I bought it along with a Canon BJC4000 bubblejet printer it cost me about £2000 (UK Pounds) which was about $3300 (US Dollars) at that time. I've not really done much to it and it is only this year that I have started to tinker about and try and get more out of the machine. The first thing I did was to add an extra 16Mb of RAM to total 24Mb. I then added an external 28.8 Motorola modem. I heard about a company called Powerleap(USA)who were trying to make it possible to upgrade the P60 Chip, which was pleasing as I felt that the people who had shelled out some serious money on a P60 were left to flounder without any chance at a decent pro essor upgrade by Intel. The only one being the P120 Overdive Chip. This Chip was however phased out very quickly and we were once again left out to dry. I contacted Powerleap and spoke to Nate in customer services and he answered any questions that I had with complete thoroughness and without making me feel like an idiot because of my lack of knowledge. I took the plunge and decided to order the PL54C-233MMX Upgrade board and Intel 233MMX chip. It was shipped to the U.K. and I had it within 8 days. Whilst I was waiting for the delivery I started to read through the Powerleap site (discussion areas)and found that a few PB 520r owners had struggled with the upgrade. I noticed that Ray was there offering what help he could. I believe that through the help of Powerleap and other users a large proportion of buyers eventually found success. When I received the PL54C-MMX and Chip I tried to fit it and initially was met by failure. I contacted Nate at Powerleap and he(and others at Powerleap) could not have done more to help. After a bit more tinkering around I was successful at fitting the unit.(The problem was that the chip was not firmly seated into the extender that I had fitted to clear some switches in front of the Processor. I got round this by gently bending the connec ions forward and this meant I no longer needed the extender) I also changed the clock speed from 60Mhz to 66Mhz (j17). I couldnt be more pleased with the outcome of the fitting the Powerleap PL54C-MMX and Chip. It is now shown as 233Mhz MMX enabled by Wintune 97 and is tested at Dhrystone 433 MIPS and Whetstone 132 MFLOPS. It has run without any problems for about 5 month now. I next tried to fit a Creative Labs Graphic Blester Exxtreme Graphics card. This was a total disaster. When I first fitted it, it would only run with 16 colours. Even this was achieved by having to start up in safe mode. The video tests using Wintune 97 were showing that my machine was running at least 4 times more sluggushly than before. I contacted Creative Labs on the telephone and after being passed from one person to another I was told to go to their Web site and download a particular driver and extract it to my system. I did this and that was the last time I saw my machine working for quite a few days. Everytime I turned the PC on it would stall a re-boot itself. I contacted Packard Bell and they led me through an examination of my system and it was eventually decided that I should remove the Graphic Blaster Exxtreme and try again. I did this and it still wouldn't work using my old Cirrus Logic Chip. I ended up having to wipe my hard drive and totally reformat/repartition it(under the guidance of Packard Bell, as I said I'm no expert). Needless to say the Blaster Exxtreme is tucked safely away where it cannot attack any unsuspecting PC(and owner) ever again. When I've got some courage back I hope to change the hard drive as my 518Mb drive is woefully inadequate for modern software. Sorry my ramblings are neverending but maybe if you're lucky Ray will "accidentally" hit the edit button. Lastly, well done on a superb site Ray, I visit it frequently and will continue to do so if you'll have me back after this literary onslought.

09/23/98 15:56:40

Name: Robert	My URL: Visit Me	My Email: Email Me
Motherboard #: 520r	Model Name: Legend 68 CD	When Purchaced: Aug 95
Original RAM: 8mB	Original CPU Speed: 60	Original Video memory: 1mB

Comments:
This machine has almost been completely upgraded, and I am quite pleased with the results. I am using a Powerleap PL54C/MMX adapter with an Intel 233MMX chip. Have two HD's in it (1.2gB and a 3.1gB) 80mB of RAM (yes eighty) a 56k modem, SB sound card, and a Diamond DM9750 PCI video card. The system is very snappy, and runs a close second to a Pentium II 300 system that I have. The first upgrade to this machine was to 'overclock' it to 66mHz way back in 96. Then next was to get rid of that weird Aztech mode /soundcard thing.

08/02/98 02:00:25

Name: Randy G	My Email: Email Me	Motherboard #: 520R
Model Name: BL210	When Purchaced: 9/23/96	Original RAM: 8MB
Original CPU Speed: Pentium 60	Original Video memory: 1MB

Comments:
This was a great bargin and had reasonable power when I bought it "way back" in '96 Didn't take too long for "reasonable" to become not very reasonable. First upgraded memory to 24MB (only 2 SIMM slots) then to 40MB Next was a Pentium 120mhz Overdrive Processor. I have considered overclocking to 133, but haven't convinced myself the the gain out weighs the risk. New Cardinal 33.6 modem replaced the 14.4 on the soundcard I tried installing a "Genoa Raptor 3D" graphics card with no luck. Returned it and got an "ATI 3D Expression+". Everything installed perfectly and is working great!! I also put in an internal IOmega Ditto 2GB tape backup. I will say the despite all the "bad press" Packard Bell gets, this machine has been extremely dependable from the start and nothing I have replaced was due to orignal part failure. And it is now fast enough to do what I need it to do.

05/12/98 01:45:00

Name: Thomas McConnell	My URL: Visit Me	My Email: Email Me
Motherboard #: 520r premiere/pci lc low profile code name Robin LC	Model Name: Executive 8910	When Purchaced: early 95
Original RAM: 8Mb	Original CPU Speed: 60MHz	Original Video memory: 1Mb

Comments:
First I would like to say if it was not for Rays Site I might not have had the bottle to upgrade and alter my PB,Cheers. cpu is now intel pentium 120 overdrive have changed bus speed to 66 MHz pc now runs at 133MHz thinking of changing cpu voltage jumper as well need more details on this. Dram=48Mb, video=Creative Labs blaster Extreme great card, Sound=Creative Labs AWE 64 Value CD=Liteon 16x, extra hardrive=QuantumBigfoot2.1Gig Modem=Supra Express 288i voice fax. better speakers hp printer and Logitech sheet fed scanner. thats about it I did not have much probs with all of the above if anybody is interested in any aspect of the above I will try to answer but remember I aint no expert. Cheers Tom...

04/30/98 04:28:26

Name: Doug Stacy	My URL: Visit Me	My Email: Email Me
Motherboard #: PB 520R	Model Name: 300 Legend cd	When Purchaced: 02/25/95
Original RAM: 8 meg on mb	Original CPU Speed: 60 mhz	Original Video memory: 1meg

Comments:
This machine has been a pain since day one. The following updates have solved all the problems I've had. constant lock-ups and crashes. Hours on the phone to tech suppoet at PB. (they were very helpful and friendly). 450 meg H.D. to a 850 meg conner HD. t at was the hardest upgrade. ( I was still using windows 3.11) Upgraded to win 95 OS2. that solved all of my system problems. Replaced compo soundcard/modem with a generic 16 bit PnP soundcard and a davicom 33.6 modem. Replaced 2x cd-rom with a 24x cd-rom. upped the ram to 32 meg. A word of caution: If you have fast-page ram on the motherboard, EDO ram can cause some really weird problems with your PB machine. So stick with fast-page. Upgraded the video card with a trident 4meg card put pulled it out becaus my .32 moniter couldn't use it and there was no change in the graphics. The POWERLEAP upgrade with a PL-54c was a total failure. The PL-54C/MMX was even worse. The system got so screwed up i had to re-format my HD and stsrt all over again. Well thats ab ut it. It is a really good solid machine now, very dependable,a little slow but a great machine to learn with. Anyone with any questions can e-mail me and I'll try to answer any questions about my PB520R.

02/21/98 23:13:49

Name: Thomas	My URL: Visit Me	My Email: Email Me
Motherboard #: 520r	Model Name: executive 8910	When Purchaced: 03/03/95
Original RAM: 8meg onboard	Original CPU Speed: 60mhz	Original Video memory: 1meg

Comments:
Being a complete novice when I purchased my P/B have learned quite a bit since, m/c itself has been really great so far no real problems to speak of maybe just starting to fall short of my needs now. RAM upgraded to 48mb intel 0verdrive p120mhz 28k modem supra express (magic modem) 2.1GIG HARDRIVE Quantum Bigfoot creative labs awe64 value sound card & also video blaster 2d 3d card with 4meg vid ram 16 speed cd rom (lighton) HP Deskjet 660c printer Logitech sheet fed scanner