Bob, Lawrie and Manning,

Thanks, lads (or should I say "mates") for your various words of assistance. The issue is partially solved, thanks to you.

To take your posts in order:

1. Manning. The beeps are according to the Gigabyte manual for the GA-K8NF-9 mobo indicate a DRAM error. I see above I got the model no. wrong. Whoopsie, sorry about that. Well spotted, Lawrie.
Manning my man, I would love a new rocket ship PC such as you've pointed out in your post but can't really go the $400-500 just now for a new mobo and CPU + 4G plus of RAM. I don't do a lot of gaming (although sometimes wind down with a spot of MS Flight Simulator) and use the PC mostly for web and PTPA needs. 2.2Ghz plus the current specs as above is probably enough for that, so the old girl is going to have to hang in bit longer. I just indulged in a snappy little camcorder (Sanyo Xacti HD2000) which set me back about what a thorough engine and ancillaries swap for the PC would cost, so thats my Christmas and NY budget blown. The camcorder shoots in various resoloutions and I find my PC struggling with the CPU redlining at 100% to play full HD at 30fps, but hey, the end product is going to end up as a DVD anyhow (it's an oral retrospective by my beloved Dad of his life, we're going to capture it before he drops off the perch), so better to just shoot at DVD res and don't flog the CPU into the ground.

2. Lawrie, nice pick up re the mobo designation. Yours truly showed up as just too lazy to drag his miserable carcass from the study into the kitchen last night and pick up the manual off the table to ensure I specified it correctly. The existing memory was (and I quote from the sticks themselves) 1gig of Hynix PC 3200DDR, + 512mb of Kingston KVR 400X64c3AK2/1G. That Kingston looks by the suffix to be 1 gig, don't it, but seems to add 512mb only. Go figure. Your comment about incompatible RAM was spot on though. The new Hynix RAM (2* 1G sticks) would not work along side the existing RAM in any configuration within the 4 available RAM slots. I'm sure I tried all the mathematically possible combinations.

3. Bob, you get the best suggestion prize. I took your advice and removed all the existing RAM and replaced it with the new Hynix 1G + IG sticks. Bingo, it's a happening thing. Kind of expensive way to add just 512mb of RAM for a new total of 2G but I'm sure we've all had expensive lessons in the computer domain before. At least I've got a smidge of improvement.

Thanks again chasps.

Cheers for now,

John