The exact mainboard is this:
http://global.aopen.com/products_detail.aspx?auno=255

BIOS: Award Phoenix

I actually try to look at the BIOS to see whether anything to tune there, but looks like it is sort of economy mainboard, so not much things to tune there.

Also found out 32MB of RAM has been allocated for video (shared memory). This is the lowest system shared memory I can allocate, if go below then video play become lagging. Of course 32MB don't make so much difference, I try to reduce that to 4MB don't see much changes in performance other than video playback having jumpy shadowy colors.

Biostar G31-M4: Socket LGA 478
Supports Intel Pentium 4/ Celeron D Processor
Supports FSB 533/800MHz
Support Intel Hyper-Threading Technology
Ya need a GPU, bought that HD4670. Played Company of Heroes2 and Torchlight2 on it

Can't expect more performance with a Pentium 4, even with 2GB of RAM. I think you can try older version of web browser for faster internet browsing. I have old laptop Pentium M, 256MB ram. Install Peppermint linux OS there and very fast and smooth than widnows xp.

This board had an AGP slot thus you can try using an AGP graphic card. Besides tuning Windows XP (by reducing the amount of background services and programs), adding more memory would help though...

Like I've mentioned earlier, get a graphic card so that you can free up that shared memory space as well as freeing up the shared memory bandwidth. The discrete graphic card will have its own video memory. Just make sure the graphic card is at least AGP 4X type or better, for video playback performance. And if you are looking for an AGP graphic card with hardware H.264 decoder then look for those ATi Radeon 4000 series such as this example: HIS Graphic Cards: Products > Desktop graphics > AGP Edition > HIS HD 4670 IceQ Native HDMI 1GB (128bit) DDR3 AGP. Do note that GPU based H.264 hardware decoders does not support Hi10p formats (a variation on H.264 codec)...

That is quite surprising, a Socket-478 board utilising Intel G31 chipset. Due to the processor socket type, the maximum/highest processor is Pentium 4 3GHz. Nice thing about that board is the ability to use PCI Express x16 graphic cards...

At moment, think I'll just opt for the RAM option if I come across some offers (there's one of you offering it free, thanks but I'm not Selangor), scared AGP is hard to find or expensive. I don't intend to spend too much to upgrade the existing hardware because I know it's outdated like changing the processor or mainboard. Would be happy if Facebook can load smoothly though.. LOL.. Currently each time open Facebook, scroll down a bit freeze half a minute and scroll up also. Also webpages with a lot of scripting like the flight radar tracker site also unstable. Other than that, open Lowyat for example is smooth. And play video also smooth with the existing spec.

Oh ya, regarding outdated browsers, I think don't want to install overly outdated browsers cos it may have security issues. Lightweight ones I have tried Opera, the best so far (except heavy script website like FB). K-Meleon seems to be buggy, always close because of some errors, don't feel like using that anymore. I tried this called Midori during my search for lightweight browser, it isn't really light in my opinion after using.

So overall, just intend to use it for web browsing (hopefully if can FB smoothly would make my day). And watch some movies, which has satisfy my target at the moment. Not a gamer so don't think will be using any games on it.


A lot of good info thanks.

This post has been edited by filage: Oct 31 2014, 09:39 PM

How much are you willing to spend anyway?

Probably 100 or 200 max. Unless it is looks promising to become a monster production machine, but I think p.4 still can't compare to those multi core today right? Don't think it's worth to overly upgrade it. So for browsing, words and watch movie what I target at moment.

This post has been edited by filage: Oct 31 2014, 09:45 PM

Try this:
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopic=3385104&hl=g41

Much more powerful. You can buy SATA to IDE converter for RM20 or less for your IDE hard disk.

That freeze and slow downs are most likely due to the swap file, that is the operating system is using the hard drive as part of the "virtual memory" system. Having more memory help to reduce this effect (less swap file operations). Generally AGP graphic cards are easy to find, just that its hard to get those higher end ones (such the that ATi Radeon HD4670 I've mentioned earlier). Generally any AGP 4X graphic card or AGP 8X graphic card will do.

That should be enough for additional memory, an AGP graphic card and possibly a faster processor. Can also opt for the package pointed out by TristanX as well...

Bro, too much pain.
P4 is too ancient.
AGP is too slow.
IDE
That's why I got the G31-M4 mobo, slot in 4Gb ram and a HD 4670 on the PCI with 4 units of 1TB HDD.
But that was like 4 years ago. Now I think better you save money for better machine.

That Pentium4 may be ancient but still faster than even those processors found in many mobile phones and phablets (using the single thread performance metric). The processor was pretty sufficient for web browsing purposes provided there is plenty of memory available. And IDE hard drives can be as fast as the first SATA hard drives. The only difference is the I/O interface speed but generally hard drives are the same. The only time the AGP graphic card can be considered slow is when using it for playing 3D intensive games and playing high resolution videos (such as those 1080p ones). Have tested various AGP graphic cards (S3, NVIDIA, ATi and SiS) many years ago and the conclusion is that for video playback (for 480p and higher) minimum would be an AGP 4X graphic card.

Didn't realise that some motherboard manufacturers used the Intel G31 chipset for a Socket-478 motherboard. Some of the areas (in web browsing) that may be a problem for Pentium4 processor would be playing non-hardware accelerated Flash Player videos (may struggle even at 480p only) and certain web-based 3D intensive Flash games...

This post has been edited by lex: Nov 1 2014, 05:49 AM

If u are serious, I may sell you my G31-M4 mobo + cpu + 4GB ram+ HD 4670, COD.
PM me?

I still recommend that E7200 combo. It has a lot more upgrade options in the future. It also comes with 2GB RAM.