Help me upgrade a 5-year old computer!

[jaydee]

Hi all, it's been awhile since I've been anywhere other than FS/FT, (moved onto other hobbies) but I kindly ask for some advice regarding an older system. I have a feeling that I'll get a lot of questions asking me why I don't just buy a new machine for $300, but I'm honestly not interested.

Here's what I have:
Dell Dimension 4600
CPU: Pentium 4 2.4Ghz 512Kb cache 533 Mhz bus
RAM: 2x 128MB Infineon 333 Mhz DDR1 or 2?, I have 4 total channels
HD: 40 GB IDE ????RPM (don't think I have SATA capabilities)
Video: GeForce4 MX440 AGP 8x with VGA and DVI
Motherboard: I took the case off and the markings on the southbridge is FW82801EB, so does that mean it's the i828 chipset I assume?
OS: Windows XP Professional

My wife's mother bought this for her for college back in 2003 and it's the original configuration other than I bought/installed a DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive about a year ago and my Sceptre 20" LCD. I bought her a new laptop a month ago and want to use this machine for myself. All I really want it to do is run OpenOffice, Rosetta Stone, web browsing, and MAYBE very rarely play some of my old games like Madden 2004, Age of Empires II, certainly nothing new.

I have a budget of about $50-75 (used is ok), and I might throw a little more money into it next year as well if it's working out. My first instict is more RAM, (seems really cheap right now, just looked on Newegg) but I'm not sure what the max speed is for this chipset, also the hard drive is probably 5400 RPM and I also see it's cheap, but after looking on Newegg, am unsure if I'd benefit more from the 2MB cache "Quiet" or the 8 MB "High Performance" variety.

Please help! Thanks!

 

[RebateMonger]

The most glaring "problems" are the low memory and one of the world's worst video cards. I'd up the memory first. Especially if the video isn't bothering you.

It uses PC 2700 or PC3200 memory, which is about $15 a Gigabyte on rebate right now. Your motherboard can handle up to four memory modules up to 1 GB each. Go to http://crucial.com and run their automated memory advisor to see. 1 GB will be plenty.

There's not much selection in AGP video cards unless you go to eBay. Something like a Ti4200 would be a big improvement and could probably be gotten cheaply. You can get new AGP NVidia 6200 cards, for sure, but they'll probably be around $50 after any rebate.

If you need more hard drive space, it's easy to clone your hard drive to a larger drive using the disk maker's free utilities. New drives start at around $50. It really won't matter what drive you get, as long as it's big enough for your needs.

If you aren't keeping ongoing backups of your PC(s), and if you get a new drive, consider putting the old one in a USB housing and use it for backups of important data. You could also leave the drive in the PC as a secondary drive, but if you get hit by a power surge, you might lose both drives.

 

[Roguestar]

Hahaha, I remember the GeForce 440MX. I bought one when I wanted what was essentially onboard graphics I could pull out and throw in the bin when I had saved up enough for the 9700 Pro. Good times.

RebateMonger has cleverly suggested Crucial's memory advisor, the benefit of that is once you know what it'll take you can then use those stats to go shop around other memory suppliers .

Putting 2x512MB of RAM and maybe a newer hard drive in it will give it a good performance boost, for very little money.

 

[Blain]

Take your wife out to eat on the $50-$75.
The money will be better spent than any upgrade you can afford. :thumbsup::laugh:

 

[mpilchfamily]

Blain is right. The money is better spent else were. There really is no upgrading a 5 year old system. Especially a OEM system like that. Just deal with what you have for now and wait for your tax refund in april. Then take that and buy a new system.

 

[RanDum72]

Two (maybe three) things you can upgrade.

RAM: It takes DDR ram. Look for a second hand 2x256mb or 2x512mb memory ( and you can hopefully still use your old memory, depending on compatibility). DDR2700 or 3200 doesn't really matter.

Harddrive: I would guess 40gb ain't cuttin it. You can get a cheap 160 to 250gb PATA drive for $50.

Unless some gaming is planned, I would leave the video card alone. If you have an extra 35-50$ extra, that MX440 needs to go. I would guess cheap AGP video cards can be had used.

 

[HBTech]

Hi gays
Change your RAM and Processor and big Space hard disk i think best performance your PC.

 

[mpilchfamily]

Originally posted by: HBTech
Hi gays

Wow! :Q

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: HBTech
Hi gays
Change your RAM and Processor and big Space hard disk i think best performance your PC.

You're kind of stereotyping aren't you?
Not everyone in these forums is gay.

BTW, Did you even read the OP budget for upgrading before you posted... $50-$75?

 

[happy medium]

Yes I agree........

1 gig Ram upgrade first.

 

[DSF]

If I can find them, I have 2x256MB of DDR that are working pulls from a Dell I had. If you're interested in buying used, PM me.

 

[0roo0roo]

ram if you can find cheap.
anything else is a waste of money. its past the point of being cost effective upgrade.

 

[Roguestar]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: HBTech
Hi gays
Change your RAM and Processor and big Space hard disk i think best performance your PC.

You're kind of stereotyping aren't you?
Not everyone in these forums is gay.

BTW, Did you even read the OP budget for upgrading before you posted... $50-$75?

Anything I've seen HBtech post tends to follow the same example:

"Hi gays
[useless half-contributing post, containing information gleaned by scan-reading the first reply, usually spelled particularly badly or sometimes just completely irrelevant]"

Rinse, repeat. Take a look at his posting history, it's something that would make a mod cry.

 

[JDMnAR1]

The 4600 does have two SATA connectors available. RAM is going to be your most noticeable upgrade for cheap since you only have 256MB. A CPU upgrade would be cheap, but might not net you a big performance boost - you can go up to a 3.0GHz in either 533/800MHz FSB per the docs, and a BIOS upgrade may bump that up even further.

4600 Specifications - chipset is Intel 865PE

 

[Denithor]

Actually, going from a 2.4/533 to a 3.0/800 would be quite a noticeable improvement. And if I recall correctly, there's an online retailer that sells these old P4 chips quite cheaply... anyone remember the name? (Note: or look on eBay - 350110732868 $36.50 shipped)

Add 2x512MB sticks to your current 2x128MB sticks (total 1.25GB) for about $25.

You can probably do these two upgrade for about $75.

Your gaming experience will suffer with that crappy video card. If you can cough up a little more, look on eBay for like this EVGA 6800 (260302057248 $46 shipped).

 

[jaydee]

Thanks for all the replies so far. Scrounging on the forums, I've found 4 x 256MB PC3200 RAM for $17.50 shipped, and an ATI Radeon 9600 XT for $25 shipped, a DVI cable for $6 shipped. Sound like good deals?

The reason I'd upgrade the hard drive, is not space, 40GB is fine, and I have more space on an external drive and I back up music and pictures on DVD-R's. I'd upgrade the hard drive for faster/quieter operation and plus from past experience, I don't really trust hard drives more than 5 years old. So that's the one component I would buy new (even if I went with a new computer in a couple years, I could buy an enclosure and make the new one an external drive, so if I'm overbudget a little I wouldn't mind terribly).

One more question, do I need to install the RAM in pairs?

Thanks again!

 

[Denithor]

RAM is best in pairs for dual channel operation (better bandwidth) but it really doesn't make that much difference.

4x256MB for $17.50 shipped is not bad.

9600XT for $25 isn't bad either, although for $20 more you could get that 6800 I referenced from eBay (much stronger card). But if you're a casual gamer the 9600XT may work fine for you.

After some searching, I found the website I was looking for: Pentium 4 3.0GHz 800fsb socket 478 for $36. Now THAT will improve your performance significantly.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: mpilchfamily
There really is no upgrading a 5 year old system. Especially a OEM system like that.

x2

Just wait for a Black Friday deal. You can already buy brand new complete systems for $300 that would run circles around that old Dell (hint, it is another Dell) at regular price. Who knows what the day after Thanksgiving would bring?

 

[Blain]

If his MB is based on the 845 chipset, it doesn't support dual channel memory.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Blain
If his MB is based on the 845 chipset, it doesn't support dual channel memory.

Intel 865PE chipset. It supports Dual Channel memory.

 

[jaydee]

Ok, so I´m set on RAM, I´m buying 2x512 MB PC3200 sticks from a friend here for $20.


Video card. I´ve seen a Radeon 9600 XT for $25 shipped, ATI Radeon X800Pro 256MB AGP - $20 shipped, a Gigabyte FX5200 128MB DDR AGP for $10 plus shipping


Processor. Someone PM´d me about a 2.6 Ghz w/800 FSB, hasn´t given me a price yet.


Keep in mind, the computer only has a 250 Watt PSU according to the Dimension 4600 spec sheet link above. If you think one or more of these might push me over the edge, let me know (I´m kind of thinking the Radeon X800 Pro would be too much?) Thanks a ton guys, this is really helping me out.

 

[techmanc]

I would love to pick up 1gb PC3200 memory kit for $20ish any idea where?

 

[RanDum72]

Originally posted by: jaydee
Ok, so I´m set on RAM, I´m buying 2x512 MB PC3200 sticks from a friend here for $20.


Video card. I´ve seen a Radeon 9600 XT for $25 shipped, ATI Radeon X800Pro 256MB AGP - $20 shipped, a Gigabyte FX5200 128MB DDR AGP for $10 plus shipping


Processor. Someone PM´d me about a 2.6 Ghz w/800 FSB, hasn´t given me a price yet.


Keep in mind, the computer only has a 250 Watt PSU according to the Dimension 4600 spec sheet link above. If you think one or more of these might push me over the edge, let me know (I´m kind of thinking the Radeon X800 Pro would be too much?) Thanks a ton guys, this is really helping me out.

Get that X800pro ASAP!

 

[Blain]

The X800 Pro isn't a power hog

 

[Denithor]

X800pro is a great old card, you'll be set for your style of gaming until the system burns, falls over, and sinks in the swamp. Then you can build another one.