Hardware questions

[Laogeodritt]

Firstly, I'm planning to buy a second internal IDE hard drive for data. Which brand would you consider most reliable? I've heard Seagate is good.



Next, for the following case, would getting more RAM or a video card better?

I currently have 256 MB of RAM, minus the 32 MB used by my intergrated video card. I mostly surf the web and do other tasks, such as word processing and slight image editing. I occasionally play games. The most demanding game memory and graphics-wise I play or plan to play is Age of Mythology and Sims 2. I often am low on memory when I have a lot of things at once (email program, Firefox with 10+ tabs and music notation program, for example). Also, in Age of Mythology, I do get a lot of lag in large games when game gets busy, and I believe it's memory-related.

I have a SiS intergrated graphics card with 32 MB shared memory.

Would an extra 256 MB or 512 MB RAM module boost overall performance more, or would it be advantageous to get a graphics card instead?



Lastly, how difficult is it to install the following components yourself? What problems are commonly experienced? I'm planning to install something myself (depending on what I decide to buy now) for the first time, I know how (to an extent), but I'm just a little worried about problems that may arise.

The components are:
- RAM
- PCI card
- AGP video card
- IDE hard drive


Let's see... I've forgotten what else I had been meaning to ask. I'll post it once I think of it.

 

[SrGuapo]

The integrated video is probably fine for now if those are the most demanding games you play. I would upgrade the RAM first. If the graphics start to strain on later games, you can always upgrade your card then...

The RAM and HDD should be fairly easy to set up. You will probably have to mess with some jumpers on the HDD, but nothing major (you may want to buy retail so you get thew manual and everything). The RAM should just slide in as well.

 

[Appledrop]

yes computer will run quite alot nicer with another 256

 

[Laogeodritt]

Thanks for the responses. So I'll upgrade RAM first.

Well... I've just found some 512 MB RAM (PC2700 and 3200) for quite a nice price.

Anyway, is Kingston reliable?

 

[SrGuapo]

Yes, Kingston is one of the better brands. Make sure your motherboard supports the size and type of RAM you want to use. I am guessing this was a premade system (Dell, HP, etc.), but these upgrades shouldn't be a big deal. Good luck and post if you need anymore help.

 

[Laogeodritt]

Yep, it's a Cicero. I regret choosing this one, actually. I should have gone with Dell, I think...

Unless this mobo only has one slot for RAM, there shouldn't be any problem. I've never opened this computer yet. It can handle up to one GB or two IIRC, so 768 MB shouldn't be a problem. By type, you mean like DDR?

Thanks for the responses.

So, which brands of HDD would you guys consider most reliable? I don't believe Pine Technology would be one... Maxtor? Western Digital? Seagate?

 

[Blain]