Upgrade

[rake1]

I have an older amd see below, can I upgrade this to a little better computer or is it just to old. Don't need a lot just a bit more speed for multitasking.
Sorry if this is not the right spot to post.


OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Version 5.1.2600 Service Pack 3 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
System Name KEVIN-KUJRQAEWK
System Manufacturer VIA Technologies, Inc.
System Model KT600-8235
System Type X86-based PC
Processor x86 Family 6 Model 8 Stepping 1 AuthenticAMD ~1497 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date Phoenix/Award Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG, 08/01/2004
SMBIOS Version 2.3
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS
System Directory C:\WINDOWS\system32
Boot Device \Device\HarddiskVolume1
Locale United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer Version = "5.1.2600.5512 (xpsp.080413-2111)"
User Name KEVIN-KUJRQAEWK\Kevin macLean
Time Zone Atlantic Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory 1,024.00 MB
Available Physical Memory 495.96 MB
Total Virtual Memory 2.00 GB
Available Virtual Memory 1.96 GB
Page File Space 2.41 GB
Page File C:\pagefile.sys

 

[kimsland]

I think with such an old computer 1.4Ghz made before 2004, it would be much better for you to purchase a faster computer, and not "upgrade" exactly, this one

I usually recommend minimum 2.8Ghz , but if you were able to, you are best going to Dual Core. It all depends on your finance.
You may be able to sell the one you have to help build this finance as well

Personal feeling do not upgrade your current computer, best to buy a newer one

 

[rake1]

I thought that is what I was going to hear thanks for the reply.

 

[kimsland]

I wouldn't worry too much
We still get posts with 800MHz and Windows ME
Obviously it's all about how much we can afford, for me not much either

 

[captaincranky]

At most you could add a bit more RAM. This would help with burning DVDs, running Photoshop, and/or surfing the web with 70 or so tabs open. A word here, when you are running PS, (or PSE) in the slide show mode, memory consumption can be formidible.

This obviously dependent on how much memory that board will allow.

 

[rake1]

You know this thing really doesn't run bad but I do have some problems when I watch videos on some of the sports sites. They keep braking up on me. What do you guy suggest if I were to go with a new setup? I would want at least a quad core correct? What other components should I look at to give me a reasonably good setup. Also I live in Canada any place where i could buy and build one?

 

[captaincranky]

Actually, sports video can be sort of crappy in the first place. The Bejing olympics were supposed to be in "high def" but they were so over compressed as to be almost unwatchable. They were great when everybody was standing still, but that wasn't really the point, now was it? Then there's the s*** on our channel 10-3 (Phila),even lower grade standard def, of formerly lousy high def, garbage.It's sort of cute actually, all the little figures are mostly blurs.

Part of video downloading is the speed of your internet connection.

Actually, unless you do a lot a lot of actual video editing, (hard core, with rendering), a very fast machine can be constructed around an Intel E7400 or E8400 dual core CPU. (about $120.00 and $165.00 USD, respectively). This would cost between perhaps $500.00 and $650.00 USD. I use USD because they're the only reference I have. And yes, it's not that awful hard to build one yourself these days.

 

[klepto12]

you can go to http://www.newegg.ca/ its all Canadian and the prices are not much higher than us.

 

[rake1]

Thanks for the info guys a big help

 

[rake1]

Ok guys here is the question if I were to build a good system what do I have to buy to do this ? Please be specific as I haven't done this before, I have replaced components before so I believe I can do this. I don't need a top of the line system just a little better than average would be good for what I do.

 

[captaincranky]

Renew.....

Motherboard;Gigabyte EP-45-UD3R
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128359
About $120.00

CPU; Intel E7400 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115206
About $120.00

HDD: Seagate "Barracuda" 250GB
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148262

I recommend that everybody have 2 HDDs, one for the OS, and transient files, and one for permanant file storage. Hence the small HDD recommendation.

If you don't wish to do this try this HDD; western Digital "Black" Editions
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 @640GB
or this @ 5 bucks more'
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 @750GB

DVD Drive Pioneer DVR-117BK (IDE)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129040
I don't waste the IDE buss on any board. The buss is three times faster than than the drive anyway.

Video Card: any ATI HD4770 chipset card. These are the everybody's darlings right now but, Newegg can't seen to keep them in stock http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0549 106792627 1067947628&name=Radeon HD 4770

Memory; GSkill 2GB kit (1GB x 2) @1066Mhz (With XP)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231144
The 1066Mhz memory is the fastest that the E7xxx series FSB speed will accomodate. For Vista maybe the 4GB kit might be better.

Case; Everybody's favorite Antec 900
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811129021

PSU Antec EA380 or EA430 If I we're builing this, I'd pick the EA-430, But the EA-380 will more than easily power the system I've described. (In my own similar system, I have the EA-380, with an EA-430 sitting around as backup, probably won't need it though.
EA-380; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371005&Tpk=Ea-380
EA-430 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371006&Tpk=EA-430

DO NOT, under any circumstances pay these prices for either of these PSUs. Subscribe to Newegg's Emailings, and wait for the sale!

You will have to buy an OS. ATM you can buy either XP or Vista, maybe even wait for Windows 7, your choice.

If the price of the case is a deal breaker, you can opt for a much less expensive one, as long as it's got enough spaces for big fans. (120mm )

This "combo deals" page is courtesy of Rage_3K_Moiz :http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&SubCategory=7&SortField=0&PageSize=10&page=1

The Antec 300 Case with either an EA-380 or EA-430 PSU would save quite a few bucks.

 

[rake1]

Thanks for the info I will price this up.

 

[Tedster]

if you're going to spend more than $300 - get a new system. For general productivity, even an old computer will do the job. I still use my 5 year old laptop to write my books, surf the net, play movies while on the go, listen to conservative radio, watch TV, skype, and play some cheesy games...

I don't need anything fancy. Sometimes it's a little slow, but it does everything I need it to do.

 

[rake1]

I wouldn't mind spending 800 to 1000 for a new system

 

[klepto12]

well man i think i have something for you.
case-Antec Nine Hundred
cpu-AMD Phenom II X4 940
mb-GIGABYTE GA-MA770-UD3 AM2+
ram-G.SKILL 4GB (2 x 2GB
HDD-Seagate ST3640323AS 640GB
PSU-BFG Tech GS-550 550W
video card-SAPPHIRE Radeon HD 4670
DVD burner-Sony Optiarc Black 24X

i didnt see anywhere that you were a gamer so i put the 4670 as the video card it will do the job just fine also this is a quad core system and will last you a long time compared to the duel core system and its alot faster. total cost is around $780 CA this is without rebates or shipping man. hope this works for you.

 

[rake1]

DVD burner-Sony Optiarc Black 24X,PSU-BFG Tech GS-550 550W are botn deactivated at newegg can they still be bought. Any other comments on this sysyem thanks Klepto12.

 

[captaincranky]

Pioneer DVR-117-BK (IDE)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827129040

 

[klepto12]

ide drives are a thing of the past get a sata drive there much faster.
LG Black 22X
CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W
try these they will work great man.

 

[captaincranky]

ide drives are a thing of the past get a sata drive there much faster.
LG Black 22X
CORSAIR CMPSU-400CX 400W
try these they will work great man.

Optical drives transfer at a maximun about 25MBs. They are usually connected @ATA66 (66MBS) or DMA-4. So, they can only transfer data @ 40% of the rate of the buss they are connected.

So, take a moment to explain how given the same optical system and the same data transfer rate how the drive will be "much faster", simply because it's hooked up to a faster buss.

What SATA optical drives actually do is tie up a SATA tap that someone could be using for a HDD,

Just as a point of trivia, "there" is an adverb, indicating location. "They're", would be the contraction of a 3rd person pronoun and the 3rd person of the verb "to be". The uncontracted iteration would be, "they are".

 

[rake1]

This tech stuff is greek to me, I have a DVD rw now and hardly ever use it so I will probably just keep it as is. Unless of course you guys tell me it won't work with the system that Klepto12 suggests. Is there anything else I will need to get this up and running. I do have the Xp pro OS I can install any cons to using it or should I go with Vista?

 

[captaincranky]

The only cons I can think of with respect to using XP Pro, is the necessity of installing SATA drivers to run the HDD(s) as SATA. If the copy of XP Pro is 32bit OK, but if it's 64 bit, I've been told that Vista has better support with respect to 64bit drivers. The XP may still be actually a bit faster than Vista, or so said "PC World" magazine a few months back.

So, if you already have the XP, the price is, "way more better". You know how I get into price.

At this point it wouldn't make a whole heck of a lot of sense to spring for Vista anyway, Windows 7 is just around the corner. So, use what you have.

 

[klepto12]

well crank look up the difference in the drives if you dont believe me i have a machine with a 20x ide drive and one with a sata 20x and the sata transfers way faster ide is a thing of the past some mb dont even have it anymore.

 

[captaincranky]

@klepto" First you post that the SATA drive is "220x" and that the "ide" is "20" So it seems that you've edited the post to say that the DATA drive is "20x" and the "ide" is "20x". So,"20x" is not "way faster than "20x". Let's assume that you meant the SATA drive is "22x", So, 22x isn't that much faster than "20x". 90% plus of blank DVDs max out at 16x burning speed, so here again, what difference does it make how much faster the SATA buss is than the IDE, since the discs are slower than the newest drives, and the drive's optical system is "way slower" than the ability of either drive to transfer DATA. Look that up.

The optical systems of the newest IDE drives have improved greatly, so that when I remove one of my earlier Pioneer IDE drives, and replace with the newest model, it's "way faster". Nero want's to run the latest drives @18x versus the older ones @ 8x. Well @ 18x, nine out of ten discs are good, but when I throttle them back to 16x, >>(the speed of the DVD blanks)<< ten out of ten are good.

So, I'm sure whatever you have is better than what I have, simply because you picked it out, not to mention that the person who sold it to you told you so.

PS2 keyboards are becoming a thing of the past also. But guess what, no human being can out type the speed of the PS2 buss!

 

[klepto12]

omg crank lol you need to get over your self ide drives are a thing of the past and you need to realize that. whats with the long analysis of someone else's post they are both 20x drives the reason i edited it was because i hit 2 twice which was 220. No one told me either way its the truth and i have proof to back it up with my own drives also by reading tons of reviews on the drives myself since i build systems all the time for people. IDE drives are old and slow there is no reason to use an outdated technology in a brand new build.

 

[Tedster]

any basic system will do general productivity as I stated. You don't need to spend a whole lot of money nowadays to do a lot. You are getting far more bang for the buck as tech keeps getting better. $800 to $1000 will get you a lot.