First of all, hello to everyone here at Anandtech. I would explain my whole history of me discovering this site (and stalking these forums for a few weeks) but that'd take to long.
Instead, let me just say that this is my favorite computer site out there and get on with the topic.
As the title says, I need advice on upgrading a few components of my (well, my family's) two and a half year old Dell 4500. It's got to be the single worst comptuer out there that someone actually TRIES to game on (sure, there are probably worse ones people use for nothing more then word processing and internet surfing). At the time, it was all right, but faded FAST. As in, within a couple weeks and it was hopelessly out of date.
I've torn it open a few times, and in conjunction with the Device Manager, I have compiled this list of specs for it,
Dell Dimension 4500 (1 120mm Fan located on back with shroud directing airflow over CPU only, 2 Front USB, 1 Front Headphones Jack)
-Dell Proprietary Motherboard (2 ATA, 1 FDD, 1 AGP 4x, 5 PCI, Onboard Audio, 2 DDR DIMM Slots, 4 Rear USB)
-250 Watt Dell Power Supply (+5V=22A, +3.3V=18A, +5Vfp=2A, +12V=14A, -12V=1A)
-2.0GHz Pentium 4 Processor (Equipped with only a heatsink, no fan)
-256MB DDR PC2100 (266MHz) RAM
-Maxtor 40GB 6L040J2 Hard Drive
-32MB ATI Rage 128 Ultra
-Onboard Audio
-LITE-ON LTR-24102M CD-RW Drive
-Generic Dell Floppy Disk Drive
-Creative Modem Blaster PCI DI5633 56K Modem
-CNet PRO200WL PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
-Windows XP Home SP1
Out of all those, the only thing ever upgraded was the 56K modem, as the stock one died and at the time we were still using Dial-Up (got Cable now)
Anyone with eyes could see the problems I'm having with this computer, namely the 256MB memory and ATI Rage Graphics card. Also, the sole fan that only cools the CPU and weak power supply doesn't help.
In a year or so (whenever I gather up around $2000 or so to build the system in the link in my sig with whatever changes to it I make beween now and then) I plan to just build my own, new, gaming computer, but until then I want to make this computer good enough to settle me down.
Obviously, I plan on grabbing another 256MB of RAM, but here come's my first question, I could tell from the pin alignment on the motherboard it looks like it uses DDR RAM and the current stick lists it as PC2100, but can I use Memory purchased from Newegg (such as this) or does it have to be official Dell Memory I buy from their website?
Second, I need to upgrade the graphics card. However, AGP 4x limits my upgrading potential. Seeing as I have no idea how well the older, cheaper graphics cards run, what is the best AGP 4x or PCI graphics card for under $100, and will it play Half-Life 2 at a decent (30+ on extrememly low quality) framerate.
That's really all I need to know for right now, however any other suggestions (helpful ones...) would be appreciated.
Instead, let me just say that this is my favorite computer site out there and get on with the topic.
As the title says, I need advice on upgrading a few components of my (well, my family's) two and a half year old Dell 4500. It's got to be the single worst comptuer out there that someone actually TRIES to game on (sure, there are probably worse ones people use for nothing more then word processing and internet surfing). At the time, it was all right, but faded FAST. As in, within a couple weeks and it was hopelessly out of date.
I've torn it open a few times, and in conjunction with the Device Manager, I have compiled this list of specs for it,
Dell Dimension 4500 (1 120mm Fan located on back with shroud directing airflow over CPU only, 2 Front USB, 1 Front Headphones Jack)
-Dell Proprietary Motherboard (2 ATA, 1 FDD, 1 AGP 4x, 5 PCI, Onboard Audio, 2 DDR DIMM Slots, 4 Rear USB)
-250 Watt Dell Power Supply (+5V=22A, +3.3V=18A, +5Vfp=2A, +12V=14A, -12V=1A)
-2.0GHz Pentium 4 Processor (Equipped with only a heatsink, no fan)
-256MB DDR PC2100 (266MHz) RAM
-Maxtor 40GB 6L040J2 Hard Drive
-32MB ATI Rage 128 Ultra
-Onboard Audio
-LITE-ON LTR-24102M CD-RW Drive
-Generic Dell Floppy Disk Drive
-Creative Modem Blaster PCI DI5633 56K Modem
-CNet PRO200WL PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
-Windows XP Home SP1
Out of all those, the only thing ever upgraded was the 56K modem, as the stock one died and at the time we were still using Dial-Up (got Cable now)
Anyone with eyes could see the problems I'm having with this computer, namely the 256MB memory and ATI Rage Graphics card. Also, the sole fan that only cools the CPU and weak power supply doesn't help.
In a year or so (whenever I gather up around $2000 or so to build the system in the link in my sig with whatever changes to it I make beween now and then) I plan to just build my own, new, gaming computer, but until then I want to make this computer good enough to settle me down.
Obviously, I plan on grabbing another 256MB of RAM, but here come's my first question, I could tell from the pin alignment on the motherboard it looks like it uses DDR RAM and the current stick lists it as PC2100, but can I use Memory purchased from Newegg (such as this) or does it have to be official Dell Memory I buy from their website?
Second, I need to upgrade the graphics card. However, AGP 4x limits my upgrading potential. Seeing as I have no idea how well the older, cheaper graphics cards run, what is the best AGP 4x or PCI graphics card for under $100, and will it play Half-Life 2 at a decent (30+ on extrememly low quality) framerate.
That's really all I need to know for right now, however any other suggestions (helpful ones...) would be appreciated.
The module you linked to should be fine, assuming you have an open memory slot. Since the Dell won't let you adjust your memory voltage, I would stick with PC2100 or PC2700 for it. Some PC3200 seems to need 2.6 volts or higher for stability.
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