Need Upgrade Help

by debbed28 Jul 6, 2007 4:27AM PDT

Hi there-
I'm a mom and have a computer that I am trying to upgrade in order to increase the speed for my son to use for online gaming. (namely America's Army) I need someone to help that is patient!! I can admit that I'm not exactly a newbie, but I also know just enough about computers to be dangerous!!! I have no problem opening up the computer, but I need to know what would be the best items to do...and fairly cheap-don't want to spend a fortune either. (Could go up to $150-$200-preferably cheaper is better!!!!)

If you can help me, please list the things that I need to do, in the order they need to be done. I do not want to screw up the computer as I cannot afford to get a new one... From what I understand, I need to add more RAM, but is there other things I also need/should do?
Any ideas for purchasing the items I need would be a tremendous help also!

THANKS FOR ANY AND ALL HELP!!!!

Here's my info from the Datasheet:
HP Media Center m480n Photosmart PC with Windows XP SP2.
Intel Pentium 4 Processor 3.20 GHz w/Hyper-threading Technology
L2 Cache=512kB: L1 Cache=8KB Data+12,000 uOps Trace
Front side Bus: 800MHz
Memory=512 MB PC3200 DDR SDRAM memory (expandable to 2 GB)
Hard drive+ 200GB Ultra DMA Hard Drive (7200 RPM)
Video graphics=NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 AGP 8X Graphics card with 128 MB DDR video memory, TV out and DVI support
Memory Slots: 2 DIMM (184-pin, DDR) (one available)

If this is not enough info, please let me know and I'll find what we need.....

Also wanting to know if there is an easy way I can check and see what processes are running...I know Ctrl-Alt-Delete, but it doesn't tell me what program it's for and if I really need to keep it going or not...

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!

Discussion is locked

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I'm not a hardware expert

by MarkFlax Former Forum moderator Jul 6, 2007 6:34AM PDT

but it seems to me that your computer seems pretty good.

You could upgrade the RAM from its 512MB to 1Gb or 2GB. That would be a real boost to performance. I know little about video cards, but my own is a Radeon with 128MB of DDR and I have no complaints playing heavy graphical games for the XP Operating System.

You don't mention what type of internet connection you have. That could be a big factor, especially if it is a dial-up connection. For really fast speeds a broadband connection is needed, and no amount of change to the computer can help there. You would need to subscribe to a broadband Internet Service Provider.

The other main factor is general housekeeping and anti-malware control. Don't allow any hackers, viruses or spyware into the computer. And keep the system free from too many startup programs and anything else that hogs memory.

I hope that helps.

Mark

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Sounds to me

by PudgyOne Jul 6, 2007 6:38AM PDT

that you have most of the system requirements.

http://www.americasarmy.com/support/faq_win.php?p=1&t=4

You need to have Windows updated.

Go here and make sure you have all the updates

http://update.microsoft.com/windowsupdate/v6/default.aspx?ln=en-us

The to check and see your programs are up to date, go here

http://www.filehippo.com/updatechecker/

This program looks at your computer and tells you what programs have newer versions. Click on the green arrow to download the latest versions and install them.

Rick

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Mark pretty much..

by jackintucson Jul 6, 2007 6:55AM PDT

hit it. For $150 - $200, the best you'll be able to do is maybe increase memory to 1GB and upgrade the video card to one with 256mb. But tell your son that this machine won't do well with today's 3rd generation online games. You'll need a whole new computer to be competitive. You might want to try used parts from someone who upgraded their machine (maybe Ebay?).

and life goes on...

Jack

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Couple of small additions

by nutjob Jul 6, 2007 7:37AM PDT

I am not a gamer but the four items that speed up most games are:

Ram go to 1.5GB Ram ($70 dollars at Crucial)
Faster internet access.
Fast video card. Your budget really does not allow much faster card.
Fragmentation of hard drive, get diskkeeper and use it oftem $50.00 at your local best buy.

http://www.executive.com/defrag.asp

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Add more RAM.....you can get a 1GB DIMM from

by VAPCMD Jul 6, 2007 11:33AM PDT

Crucial for under $70.. it's guaranteed to work with your PC and you'd end up with 1.5GBs RAM total. Matching DIMMs or pairs are not required according to Crucial. The site indicates your system doesn't have dual channel memory architecture but check your system docs to be sure.

Next go to Tomshardware.com and see what video cards they recommend for what you have to spend. You must also keep in mind power supply requirements as the more powerful video cards draw more power and big box PCs don't typically provide beefy power supplies with their store units.

Keep us posted.

VAPCMD

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Thanks for the help!

by debbed28 Jul 6, 2007 11:11PM PDT

Thanks to all that replied!!

Our DSL speed is 2720 kbps (I used the Cnet test), so I really think our internet speed is ok.

I will be trying out all of the suggestions given to make sure the computer itself is up to par and then I will purchase and install (HA!) more RAM and possibly a video card.

But will the video card make that much of a difference? As you can tell, I don't know that much about them!! Just wondering if it's worth the money...

THANK YOU ALL!!!!!!!!!

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Yup...the video card is a big deal in gaming.

by VAPCMD Jul 7, 2007 1:57AM PDT

With that in mind it might be better to go with adding 512MBs RAM and put the rest of the budget toward the video card. Only problem there is there are are only two slots to add RAM so once the second slot is filled ... you'd have to remove say a DIMM in order to add a hihger density DIMM. And by .... see what hardware is required to efficiently run the GAME(S) your son plays.

That said, here's a link to Tomshardware where you can see their latest recommendations on AGP video cards currently available and the best card for the $.

http://www.tomshardware.com/2007/07/03/the_best_gaming_video_cards_for_the_money/page5.html

Tomshardware also has a section where you can compare video card performance playing different games.

Hope this helps.

Let us know how it works out.

VAPCMD

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