DSL service

MarkV · Apr 4, 2001

Hi all. I am not sure what I am good at, but I know it is not computer terms. I am considering a DSL hook up here at home to turbo charge our internet speeds. It is getting to hard to keep up with all the TBN posts at the snail pace of my dial up system./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif I am hoping that some of you computer savey types can tell me if my computer will handle a DSL system. The local provider calls for a Pentium class processer with 100MHz or faster. Our 5 year old Dell system has a Pentium Pro with, from what I remember, 66MHz. Don't know how to find out for sure how many MHz I have. I don't even know what MHz do, so am I out of luck?

Thanks for any advice you can offer.

MarkV

ejb · Apr 4, 2001

Normally if someone has a computer and uses it for the internet access thru a dial-up ISP, if they have any problems about speed, it is almost always the speed of the dial-up modem that is the bottle-neck. Almost any computer can run fast enough to keep up with even a 56K modem...BUT, if you truly have a 66Mhz computer (which is verrrry slow), and if you get DSL service, your computer will really be limiting your experience, the DSL line will be pumping in data much faster than your computer will be able to effectively prcocess it so it may not appear as fast as it really is.

If I were you, I'd go ahead and get a new PC if it is in the budget. A top of the line home machine will run around $1500, but you could get something not top of the line, but still mighty fast, for as little as $400-$500 if you shop around.

I am a professional software developer, and my primary development machine (which I bought at Ubid.com a few months ago for $599) is a 400Mhz machine, that is plenty fast enough for what I do...and I work at least 60 hours a week in front of it. (and I have a full T1 at home).

Good luck.

ddl · Apr 4, 2001

The MHZ is related to how fast the processor can process an instruction. The inverse of this MHZ gives you the time of one cycle. An instruction may take one cycle or more to complete the instruction. The problem that I see is not so much the speed of your processor but the speed of the buses in your computer. A five year old computer has max bus speed of 66 to 100 MHZ or slower. The rate at which data will travel in a DSL connection is lost id your computer can not keep up. If you decide to improve your computer, compare throughput rating of the computers. A true rating of the speed of the computer. Throughput is measured with what is called benchmark teats which not only measure the process speed but all the buses in your computer. For the fastest your computer can operate is as fast as your slowest bus in your computer. Buses don't travel the same speed. Some are using the front and back bus speeds as the bus speed, but this is wrong, for that bus is only about an inch long and the longer the bus in inches and the further the distance is away from the processor the slower the bus speed. If you want more technology let me know.

Dan L

GlueGuy · Apr 4, 2001

Well, I think that a 66Mhz Pentium can keep up with a DSL line. DSL really only goes at a couple hundred thousand bits per second. Just a fraction of ethernet speeds. A more relevant question is how much memory you have. If you are using Win95/Win98/Win ME (probably), then you should have at least 64MB of memory, and hopefully more.

If you don't have that much memory, then you might spend more money getting the memory upgraded than it is worth for that old machine.

My wife runs a 166Mhz machine with 64MB, and it keeps up with ethernet speeds just fine (for what she does).

The GlueGuy

Boondox · Apr 4, 2001

Unrelated, but I've got to share this. Several years ago I bought a screamingly fast (for the time) Pentium 266 from Dell. Had a three year warranty. After 2 1/2 years the SIMM went bad, so I called Dell and they sent me a replacement memory stick. Plugged it in, turned on the PC, and the memory started smoking!

Called Dell. Turns out they had sent me the wrong type of RAM. Their fault. They told me to unplug the PC and throw it away; a replacement would be shipped that day.

Well, they didn't make 266s any more, so Dell replaced mine with a brand new Pentium III 600, ten times larger hard drive, 128M of RAM vs my original 32M...and they refunded $700 because the replacement PC was that much cheaper than the 266 when I bought it!!!

Still a very satisfied customer.

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

Boondox · Apr 4, 2001

Re: DSL vs Starband

I was looking at DSLs and discovered a similar thing called StarBand. Anyone out there heard anything good or bad? It doesn't require a phone line, strictly satellite both uplink and download. Supposed to be VERY fast, but costs $70/month plus installation fees. Can't install it yourself because of the uplink; aimed improperly it could screw up other satellites or something.

Anyway, living in the sticks at the very end of a long dirt road, my phone service is about as bad as it gets. Any improvement would be appreciated.

Pete

www.GatewayToVermont.com

2710Fan · Apr 4, 2001

MarkV,
A little detective work here and we might be able to figure out what you are running.

The Pentuim Pro came out about 5 years ago...2 or 3 Models 150MHZ to 200MHZ. It came out before the Pentuim II but had the same architecture as the PII except did not have the Multimedia extensions (MMX). It was targeted at the server market and still is an excellent processor. In fact, I have one on a workstation that I use frequently.

Now lets look at the significance of 66MHZ...The bus speed discussion aside. Pentuim I and 486's came in 66MHZ cpu speeds. The MHZ means how many million instructions/second the cpu is capable of handling. In general, the higher the number the faster the processor. In your case let's hope that you are actually remembering the bus speed rather than the processor speed, because it will not satisfy your ISP's needs.

Now for the detective part:

As your computer boots watch the display carefully. There is usually a quick display that shows the vital statistics of the system. This is called the BIOS display. If you hit the 'Pause' button on you keyboard you may be able to stop it during the boot. (The key might be labelled Pause Break). Take notice if it mentions anything about the MHZ or Pentium or 486.

You may have to restart your computer if the pause worked. It will not have booted so you can safely press CTRL-ALT-DELETE. Assuming you have Windows 95 or later you can go to the Start Menu, Click on Settings -> Control Panel. When the window opens click on System. The window that opens will tell you the processor type in your system.

If it comes up 486 you are definitely out. If it says Pentuim you might be out. If it says Pentuim Pro you are all set.

Failing this you might call Dell with your Serial Number.

One last note...This is for real. Windows 95 can only use 64MB of memory. Any memory you install beyond this limit is not used by the system.

Hope this helps.

JB

LarryT · Apr 5, 2001

Re: DSL vs Starband

Bondox, this subject came up a couple of months ago. I'll repeat what I said at the time. Satellite internet is my profession. Starband is the very first offering. Hughes Direct PC is the second offering. Depending on your urgency, either will provide a substantial increase to very remote users over dial up service. Beginning early next year, there will be many other satellite internet service offerings that substantially increase the options and offer significant competition in the market. My earlier advice is to make sure that you are not committed for any long term and that your initial investment can be easily written off as new offerings arise. I still have in my attic at cell phone that I paid $3000 for. It didn't work very well, but it was first to market. Personally, I'd recommend to wait as long as you can because the service will get better and the price will come down fast as more suppliers hit the market. And for the record, no, my company will not be competing with Starband, Hughes, or any other direct to home service provider.

Larry...

MarkV · Apr 5, 2001

Thanks Everyone,

Looks like I got lucky for a change. JB's idea of some detective work shows me that I have a Pentium II 233MHX with MMX and 64MB RAM. There was a whole bunch of other stuff, but this is already more computer terms than I have ever put in one sentence./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif Looks like I am OK for DSL. Guess when I was thinking 66MHZ I was remembering the computer I replaced with this one.

Thank you all for walking me through this. Now I can tell the wife you saved us from having to buy a new computer and we can go buy more tractor stuff./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

MarkV

Gfsimon · Apr 5, 2001

Another newer option for rural internet is Wireless....looks to be very promising. As Larry mentioned, don't get locked into anything for any length of time.

Check this site for a decent story (and links) on Wireless internet:
http://news.mpr.org/features/200103/26_newsroom_wireless/rural.shtml

Jerry
<font color=orange>SE Minnesota</font color=orange>