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Upgrade or replace??
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Senior Member
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6. December 2005 @ 12:24 |
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I know a little about computers but I'm hoping that somebody can help me here. I have the following pc (4 yrs old): http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?dlc=en&tool=prodinfoC...
I have made some changes to it: doubled memory, added 2 external hard drives (400GB) and replaced both 5.25" drive slots.
My question is...would it be worth trying to upgrade this computer or would it be cheaper to get a new one. If there is a chance that an upgrade would suffice, can anybody give me any info on what to upgrade...and what to upgrade it with? I don't play a lot of games on my pc. I really just use it for burning and downloading (newsgroups).
Any help is greatly appreciated!
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Senior Member
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6. December 2005 @ 12:46 |
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i think you'd be better off buying/building a new system, could try upgrading but limitations apply..., i built my comp System 1 for less than £500 as a guide, and now you can get a X800 graphics card for the price that i paid for my 9600 XT one.
System 1 :- Main PC: AMD XP 3200+ - OC Slightly 2.31Ghz, 1024 MB DDR PC2700, 1 x 40GB Hard Drive, 1 x 60GB Hard Drive, ATI 9600XT (256 MB)Graphics Card.
Laptop 1: 1GB DDR2 Ram, 100Gb Samsung HDD, ATI X700 128mb Graphics Card.
System 2: Downloading PC: AMD Sempron 2500+, 512 MB DDR PC2700, 1 x 40GB Hard Drive.
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ddp
Moderator
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6. December 2005 @ 12:47 |
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how far do you want to go in upgrading as this will burn dvd's with no problem if have 512meg of ram.
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Senior Member
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6. December 2005 @ 12:59 |
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I don't really have a standard that I want to reach.The problem that I'm having now is that whenever I run two different programs (such as IML2ISO and ISOBuster), my computer really starts to lag. The only other thing that I usually have running is my antivirus/spyware programs.
Also, I only have 256MB RAM right now. Would an upgrade to 512MB fix that?
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ddp
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6. December 2005 @ 13:06 |
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should help. take a look at creaky's sig as i think he uses a slower computer than you do for burning.
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6. December 2005 @ 13:14 |
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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 6. December 2005 @ 13:26
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Senior Member
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6. December 2005 @ 14:51 |
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That upgrade will seem big, especially in an older rig. Why not another 256mb instead of 1 512mb? Would be cheaper. If no slots I understand.
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ddp
Moderator
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6. December 2005 @ 16:24 |
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Deadrum33, board supposedly goes to 512meg but maybe able to go higher.
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bakbukkem
Junior Member
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6. December 2005 @ 16:53 |
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If you consider the memory upgrade you're talking about first make sure your system supports 512 MB memory modules!! Lots of SDRAM system boards only support memory modules of 256MB max. Depends on the chipset. Intel's (otherwise terrific) BX440 chipset is infamous for only supporting 256MB memory modules. Intel's 815 and 820 chipsets DO support a memory module of 512MB, but that's also the maximum system memory they support, so beware of that...
So if you have a chipset like that and you insert a 512MB dimm, the memory you already had will be rendered worthless..
That may be what is mentioned as "Total system memory" for your system. So beware of your chipset when upgrading memory on a system like you have. You don't want any unpleasant surprises!
Bukkem
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SypherTek
Suspended due to non-functional email address
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7. December 2005 @ 02:23 |
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From the looks of that system id say you should just buy or build a new one. The memory upgrade would help you a little but evrything in that machine is old and you will need to replace it soon anyway if you intend keeping up 2 date
You can build a cheap computer that would give you conciderably better performance for multi tasking for less the £200 if you play your cards right. just keep evrything like the CD, DVD and hard drives and any PCI devices then just put them all onto a new Board with new processor and memory and use your existing case.
Something like a sempron 2500 with an asrock board and 512 meg of mem would do you great for burning and such and it will keep you going for a while longer than your current machine as it would be more upgradeable
Studio Comp: AMD Athlon XP 3200+ OC ~ 2.35GHz runs at 40 celcius idle and 48 under stress (aerocool GT1000 really works!), Asrock K7VT4A , 1024MB Dual Channel DDR 400, MSI Nvidia FX5200 128MB OC ~ 600MHz mem 350MHz core,80GB SATA + 200GB SATA + 120GB IDE, 7.1 Channel Soundblaster Audigy 2 Platinum EX sound and midi interface. 19" Sony SDM-HS95 TFT monitor - sweeet
Comp2: AMD Sempron 2400+ OC ~ 2.0GHz (Stable), Asrock K7S41GX, 512MB DDR 333, Onboard Graphics, 40GB Maxtor IDE
set of monitors on the way soon :P
Google is your friend...
WorkComp: LAPTOP, intel celeron D 2.4GHz, 256MB DDR, 20GB hd. NO SCREEN IT WAS SAWN OFF :S (bag of crap) |
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bakbukkem
Junior Member
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8. December 2005 @ 14:13 |
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That advice sounds about right to me SypherTek.
The only thing I'm not sure of is if Jamaal10 is comfortable with such an "operation" since he says he knows little about computers.
Jamaal are you up for SypherTek's suggestion? I would certainly go for it, but not everyone feels comfortable with entire pc "transplants" of course ;-)
PS: speaking of upgradability: choose 2X256 MB instead of 1X512 MB, that way you keep the option to later on upgrade to an Athlon64, which supports dual channel memory, and thus requires 2 dimms.
Bukkem
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 8. December 2005 @ 14:18
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Senior Member
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12. December 2005 @ 11:32 |
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First off, Thank you for all of the info. I think I might give SypherTek's suggestions a go as long as it's not too hard of a process! Just in case I decide to just buy a new system, can anybody recommend one that's not too expensive (less than $1000). I have a decent monitor which will work fine since the extent of my pc gaming stops at Solitaire and Minesweeper.
I found some different systems here, but not quite sure if they'd work or if they're reliable: http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/category/category_slc.asp... Any suggestions?
Thanks!
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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. December 2005 @ 12:07
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Senior Member
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12. December 2005 @ 12:23 |
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I'd say stay away from e-machines and Gateway but closer to HP/Compaq if looking at those in yer link. I have been able to fix and upgrade friends machines that were that brand, but have heard bad stories about the others. I'm no tech or professional, just a home schooled punk. I'm sure others have other opinions, just telling you whats worked for me. stay away from Dell too. Under budget of $1000??? For that money you can easily build a computer that beats any of them and retails for around $2000!!!
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 12. December 2005 @ 12:27
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Senior Member
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12. December 2005 @ 12:35 |
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Now when you say that I could build a good computer for $1000, do you mean if I do it myself or can I have it done somewhere? If I can have it done, who would do something like that? Just a local PC place or somewhere specific?
Sorry for all of the questions.
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ddp
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12. December 2005 @ 16:11 |
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build it yourself or have a computer store build 1 for under a $1000. don't get an emachine or any other name brand if the only slots are pci & not agp or pci/e as you can only get pci videocards that run slower than agp or pci/e.
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Member
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14. December 2005 @ 14:55 |
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go to www.crucial.com and run a system scan it will tell you how much memory u can upgrade ur computer to if u dont like what u see then just buy/build a new one
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Senior Member
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15. December 2005 @ 10:10 |
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This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 15. December 2005 @ 11:37
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ddp
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15. December 2005 @ 11:19 |
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can't put an intel socket 775 cpu on a socket 939 designed for amd as they are different physical sizes.
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Senior Member
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15. December 2005 @ 11:28 |
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Quote:
External 5.25" Drive Bays 5
External 3.5" Drive Bays 1
Internal 3.5" Drive Bays 4
Expansion Slots 7
The web page you linked said all that.
external for floppy drive, internal for hard drives.
You will get the best directions from looking at DIY websites, just put plug "a" into slot "b" and its done. BUilding is easy, installing all software and getting all to see each other is harder it seems.
This message has been edited since posting. Last time this message was edited on 15. December 2005 @ 11:28
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Senior Member
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15. December 2005 @ 11:42 |
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Sorry! I wasn't lying when I said I don't know what I'm doing!!
@ddp: I changed the processor to an AMD socket 939
@Deadrum33: Thanks for the clarification. I feel way more comfortable with the software than the actual installation, so that makes me feel a little better.
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bakbukkem
Junior Member
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18. December 2005 @ 07:43 |
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That setup sounds quite allright to me.
What kind of FAN do you want advice on? CPU fan, Case Fan?
A good and silent CPU fan for S939 is thermaltake CL P0200
http://www.thermaltake.com/coolers/cl-p0200silent939/cl-p0200.htm
An excellent Case fan is CoolerMaster AAF B12 E1. There's also an 80mm version. Check out:
http://www.coolermaster-europe.com/index.php?LT=english&Language_...
There's plenty of good memory out there, one good choice is crucial ballistix pc3200, choose two modules of either 256MB or 512MB.
This memory has an excellent price-performance ratio as well as excellent (overclocking) performance.
A sound card you don't need, since the Motherboard has already 7.1 surround sound onboard.
Also, since you mentioned you don't play any heavy games, you won't need a top of the line graphics card. But the other guys can tell you all about that I reckon (most of them have more gaming experience than me).
Bukkem
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trgrpullr
Member
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18. December 2005 @ 19:32 |
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Athlon64 San Diego core 3700+, ASUS A8N-E, Sapphire X1900XT, 320GB WD SATAII HD, 2GB Gskill mem. Win XP Pro SP2. Pioneer DVR111D. Nero 6.6.1.4, DVD decrypter 3.5.4.0. ,PS2 V7 w/no-solder and swap magic
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