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General discussion

Need a lil advice on upgrading my pc!

Apr 17, 2005 2:43AM PDT

hi guyz...
my computer's pretty old (like maybe arnd 2-3 yrz),and i got dsl,so i'm running out of hard disk space,i juz wanna a lil advice :

my pc's current specs:

P4 2Ghz ( i knw thts SLOW now! )
40 GB HDD
256mb DDR ( bios says it runs @ 233mhz)
Intel MotherBoard D45GVSR
Sony 52X CDRW

well since i'm running on a tight budget i was planning 2 get an extra 80 Gb or possible a 120 GB hard disk,and get additional 256 mb ram.

the doubt i have in my mind is ,when i get a new ram should it also be running @ 233 mhz or can it be some other speed,and if i could get a 512mb ram,can i use both of them on my computer,i.e 512 Ram + 256 Ram.

well,thats all for now guyz,
thanx for ur time Happy

Discussion is locked

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And what power supply is there?
Apr 17, 2005 2:51AM PDT

Each drive taxes the PSU with about 20 Watts. A stick of RAM is about the same.

If this was my machine, I'd get some 120GB 7200 RPM drive (1!) and move over from the 40 then go to EXACTLY 512MB RAM. No OS or video card was noted so I can't comment further.

Bob

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thnx 4 replying !
Apr 17, 2005 4:27AM PDT

i checked the back of my pc where i insert the powercord and it said 230V.

well...i was planning 2 use 40gb as well as the new 120GB hard drive,installing my os and other programmes on the 40GB HD and use the new one primarily for downloads,and backing up movies,etc.

and you recommend tht i use exactly 512 ram ? coz i read somewhere that using too sticks of ram reduces the speed,but based upon ur advice,i guess it would be better if i just get an additional 256 ddr ram ,and should it also be @ 233mhz ,as my old one is ,or can it be at a diff speed like 333 mhz ,etc ??

sorry for not providing more details in my previous post:
Operation System : Win XP
No video card,use Intel's built in shared memory.

if i've left out more details,please let me know,so that i tell you guyz.

thanx again.

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Odd.
Apr 17, 2005 4:34AM PDT

I've never read that. I do know that payback diminishes past 512MB (try 5 minute savings on a 6 hour run.)

XP's "sweet spot" is exactly 512MB for most owners.

As to the hard disks, that's 40 to 60 Watts so you have to consider not only power but if your machine has connections for these drives. Most machines support jsut 4 drives on IDE. Since this was recently discussed in gritty detail, I'll let you read the other discussion why this is so.

Bob

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fine
Apr 17, 2005 7:40AM PDT

cool....so 512 Ram its gonna be,(its gonna save me a bit of a money too which i could possibly spend on a video card! Wink,maybe a 64mb one !!)...as for the hard drive...since the mother board supports 4 drives,i guess an additional hard drive could be accomodated ....

thnx again!Grin

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you aren't listening to bob, or providing correct info
Apr 17, 2005 11:18AM PDT

A) he asked for PSU capacity, not it's voltage intake abilities, you stated 230V, which is current, a number with a W value would be better (As he is giving answers in W value, it would make sense you find out how many W your PSU is)

B) just because the motherboard is capable of 2-4 hard drives doesn't mean you should, a 120GB drive would easily accomidate you (they are around $80 @ www.newegg.com) as it's 3x the 40 you have, and it would use less power than having both (if you want more space, spend the extra $20 and get a 160GB drive...)


C) the RAM thing:

2 sticks of RAM running in dual channel increases the memory bandwidth, which is helpful for Pentium 4's, and also for AthlonXP and Athlon64, but not as neccisary

you have to have 2 sticks of the same capacity and speed (and from the same maker, but not necisariliy the custom paired kits that retial for $175+)

you also have to have a chipset that supports dual channel, and afaik the 845 DOES NOT

running 512MB is ideal, meaning get another 256MB and your fine...it won't give you dual channel btw

233MHZ is very odd for RAM speed
you have the following:

SDRAM:
PC 100 (100MHZ)
PC 133 (133MHZ

RDRAM
PC 600 (600MHZ)
PC 700 (700MHZ)
PC 800 (800MHZ)
PC 1066 (1066MHZ)
PC 1600 (1600MHZ, and afaik it's vapor-ware)

DDR SDRAM
PC 1600 (100MHZ (DDR 200))
PC 2100 (133MHZ (DDR 266))
PC 2700 (166MHZ (DDR 333))
PC 3000 (188MHZ (DDR 376))
PC 3200 (200MHZ (DDR 400))
PC 3500 (216MHZ (DDR 433))
PC 3700 (233MHZ (DDR 466))


alright
now just as a little aside, PC 3700 is OC'er RAM, and no OEM uses it (PC 3200 is the max spec for RAM in systems (the highest AMD acknowledges, and Intel doesn't cetify certain speeds between 3200 and 4000)

i'm guessing you have 133MHZ RAM, or PC 1600
please, don't buy PC 3700 DDR

check what kind of RAM you have
do you have SDRAM?
RDRAM?
DDR SDRAM?
some freak chance of DDR-II is non-existant

none of the above are cross compatable
and in terms of speed
233MHZ DDR would be...FSB 116.5
which would be FSB 466 for Intel and FSB 233 for AMD

neither exists
Intel has FSB 400, 533 and 800 (and 1066, 666 was planned, but never done, they just went to 800)

so idk what your using

but it's not normal


aside the fact from that
i would suggest finding out what your PSU is, what RAM your system takes, and about the gfx, you might not have an AGP slot, which means you couldn't have an AGP graphics card (meaning only PCI, which means slow and old)

i would not say just because the motherboard can take the drive, that it is a good idea
as the PSU might not take it

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thanx ozos!!
Apr 18, 2005 12:36AM PDT

hey ozos,thanx for the reply,that was really a long post,and really appreciate the time you spent on it!Happy

comming to my problem,i've been a lil stupid ,the ram i hav is 256 mb(DDR266) and not 233 as i had earlier mentioned.apologize again.

regarding the PSU,would you please let me know how to find the powersupply.i thot it might be the power unit that comes with the cpu,and i checked it,and mine says 400W,i hope thats what you were looking for.

the hard disk,i dont think i could get a 160Gb one,and i would'nt know what to do with the old 40Gb one,thats why I had decided to use both of them,but if you dont recommend it,then i'll stick to 120Gb HD only Sad...

and the GFX,well my motherboard supports a PCI only.and it comes with a built in 64mb internal shared memory for grapics.seeing your review on PCI ( old and slow ) i think i might just stick to what i have!.

please let me know if i can use both 40GB and 120Gb together,and if the new ram stick i buy should also be DDR266 ?.

THANX AGAIN! :-D

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That's a relief.
Apr 18, 2005 12:46AM PDT

Unless you really load up a machine, most 400 Watt PSUs will do just dandy and last a few years with no issue.

-> Just be sure your case is well ventilated and you leave a space inbetween your hard disks and CD/DVD drives so they do not cook.

Bob

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yeah, you got a decent system
Apr 18, 2005 11:15AM PDT

i'd say get the 120GB, and use both

it should handle it

it might be a low end unit, but it shouldn't have any issues given the low power of the CPU (while Pentium 4's take power, the Pentium IV 2GHZ (i'm guessing Willamette) only needs 10A to 12A on the 12v rail (this is NOT adviseable however (unless the system is VERY under-loaded (like 1 CD drive and 1 hard drive) Intel's spec is 10A to 12A (was i shoudl say, idk what it's at now, but i'm guessing 16A or higher)


i would say get the 120 if you want it
and for video, a PCI card would be an improvement over the integrated in a few respects:

A) it would offload video processing from the CPU, meaning it would speed up games

B) it would add better 3D support, giving higher performance


since you'd be going from the 64MB Shared controller to a 64MB to 128MB PCI card, you would have a considerably noticeable performance boost


another option (assuming you have a Socket 478 chip, and not a Socket 423) would be buying a new, low priced, but still decent motherboard

if your CPU is a Pentium 4 Socket 478, I would suggest this motherboard:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=1196210&CatId=182
and an AGP 8x 9600Pro

all you do is buy that mobo, and the video card
remove the current hardware from your current mobo
install it on that one
connect it in (make sure you do this all in a static safe enviroment (only setting hardware on, or in, static bags, or grounded surfaces (the case)

and you got AGP
the best PCI video card is $90
that mobo + 9600Pro AGP would be just at or around $150
with the extra 256MB of PC 2100 DDR, it'd cost around $180...and you'd have a system good to go for any game out there

BUT
spend another $10
buy this graphics card:
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=14-145-113&depa=1

and it'll play any video game (including Unreal 3, which requires FP32 and PS3.0 (that card supports those features) and it'll be faster than the 9600, and your only limiting factor will be the 32-bit Pentium 4

and when you go to upgrade in a year or so, you just grab a new off the shelf system
to replace this system and it's $200 upgrade

that is what i'd do
the Abit board, another 256MB of RAM, the 6600nU AGP, oh wait, forgot the 120GB Hard Drive

well
with that it'll be $260
with the 160GB think $290
your choice

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whoops
Apr 18, 2005 12:32PM PDT
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THANX
Apr 23, 2005 6:48AM PDT

hey guyz......ozos and bob,juz wanted 2 say thanx,i got my 120gb HD and an extra stick of 256 ram..and so far evertything's goin on fine! thanx for the help guyz,would'nt have been able 2 do a lot of stuff without ur help!! had 2 cut out on the graphic card coz i could'nt get a PCI interface card here.thanx again,now i need 2 go and look for some good info on formatting and partioning,and i might juz turn 2 u guyz if i dun find d rite info :-p.

a big thannx! :-D

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Could be worse...
Apr 25, 2005 2:36PM PDT

Awesome you got it worked out. Kudos to the help - long posts and it really was useful info.

Your power supply issues could be a lot worse. Take for example the POWERFUL 7 year old Pentium II I am running currently. My power supply issue is I have to bend over and feed the hamsters carrots every hour or so or else the PC dies. stupid rodents....

actually for a PII it is still running pretty well (but I do very little gaming, mainly used by kids). on 24/7, I have upgraded all kinds of things, and NO issues yet. I kind of wish the dumb thjing would die on me so I could get a new one, but gotta stick with it for now.

Anyway, congrats again