upgrading my computer?

upgrading my computer?

Come on then techies, give me a hand… I ve got a Athlon 600 with 128mb RAM, a cd writer at 16x windows 98 Second Edition a DVD Drive, a 15GB HD and a 56k Modem, oh and a Matrox G400 Graphics Card… And the system is running shit, burning cds is pot luck, it might work, it might not, and the whole system runs pretty slow. I need advice on upgrading it to run faster, but more importantly to stop crashing/freezing... What should i do, how should i do it, what should i buy...


please help

erm..


delete temp files... free up disc space... download norton utilities.. defragment ur hardrive (in norton) get more ram....delete any unused programs...

Dont go to PC World

get 1 built up cheaper n better!

Good advice probs the best anyone will give you!!!

But if you want your system to run faster and burn CD better then i would get a new processor!!!

I have the same problem but for i differnt reason I have to much hardware and my system runs slow because of it!!! So I can even burn any audio CDs only smaller files at the mo!!!

lol, cash atm I have none… but for sake of argument lets say I can put £150-200 a month towards it… I want to use my computer for downloading music, messing about in internet, recording music from dex, gaming, watching DVDs, college work, yeah that ll do!

If your finding its running really shit and buggering everything up, theres nothing like a good old format of your c drive.
It'll be like a new pc when you get it all set back up.


Just upgraded mine -
Now got, Pentium 4 2.4gz on a new motherboard with 512 ram
200 gigs hard drive on a RAID board to go with my 40 and 60 gig drives.
DVD drive
Already had a Plextor 24x CD-RW and Geforce 2 and soundblaster Live.
Spent 750 quid upgrading.

there's a decent shop in Low Fell on Old Durham Road called Computer Orbit. They do a complete base units, ready built (no OS) from about £200 (Duron 1.3G) upto £360 (XP 2.2G). Keep yer old monitor, kbd, stuff like that. Good set of guys with a big selection. CD writers for like 30 quid!!

website is ok, but in the shop is better

www.computerorbit.co.uk

Think thats a bit far for him to travel coz he is in london!!!



Just out of interest how did ya find out about that shop:spangled:

my mate used to work at a different pc shop in birtley, and he used to deal with them. bigger shop hence better prices.

So what do we reckon... is it worth gettin a new CPU... and keeping flat screen/keyboard etc...

or trying to upgrade what ive already got?


and can someone give me a decent step to step guide to:

1) formatting hard drive (i aint stupid, and can work things out!)

2)details on how to get a better internet connection


What do people recommend to use to burn cds... one thta can handle cue files preferably...

Also a decent DVD player, anyone got a crack for a Aopen DVD drive so i can play multi-region..

Damn a few beers. n im all full of questions

I'd get more ram before upgrading the processor, 128mb itsn't that much these days + ram is really cheap ATM, check that you've got the latest certified drivers for windows (WHQL) and like they said, if all else fails do a reformat.

CDR-Win is about the best for burning using cue sheets, use Nero for everything else.

how do i know what type of memory to buy, and how much should i have... i ve got 128mb at moment...

Code Description 1+ Price Inc VAT 1+ Ex VAT
NM26D 32MB SDRAM 9.99 8.502
NM27E 64MB SDRAM 19.99 17.012
TL08J PC133 128Mb DIMM 24.99 21.268
TL18U 256Mb PC100 DIMM 54.99 46.8
VG55K PC100 32M DIMM 6.98 5.94
VG56L PC100 64M DIMM 19.99 17.013
VG57M PC100 128M DIMM 29.99 25.523
ZS16S 512Mb PC133 SDRAM 134.99 114.885
ZU05F PC133 256Mb DIMM 49.99 42.545


say thats the choice above...

Ouch my eyes.

Reformat....?!?! sheesh, paddle before you swim

New processor.... not necessary in most instances. More often that not, you will not utilise all of your CPU unless you are using it an intense environment - such as video editing.

RAM - PC100 or PC133 < they are your choices for DIMMS etc. Speed wise, depends on system age and what the system bus can handle. Amount wise, well, that is your call. 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024.... heh.

DVD Player = Linkage

Internet speed - Current modem, age, type?
What is the line like in your house, on an extension, any interferance on line, which ISP, contention ratio? etc.
On another level - Broadband possible?

Just remember the simplest of things can support an improvement for your system more so than an extreme. It is a mistake I see often from buyers. They order top spec hardware when there is no chance they will utilise it.

Take care of your system, and it will take care of you - within reason

CD Burning, burner manufacturer and model.... up to date drivers? Which burning software? Any system lockups on burning.

Removing lockups - so many ways. Provide a specific problem or error, advice will follow.

Enough rambling from me I think, wouldn't want to bore you all any further.

Re: Ouch my eyes.

quality all cheers, bought another 256mb RAM, comps workin quite a bit better.

tut tut tut!

now there was a time i would agree.

anything i want now (usually) i will just pop over to local pc world - their prices are now in the real world - and you ALWAYS have the piece of mind you can take things back.

the little pc shops, fairs etc maybe a few punds cheaper (altho not always these days!) but they aint always nice ppl and sumtimes takin stuff back is virtually impossible!!

After your RAM upgrade doggie, if you wanna play all latest fancy games stick yaself a new gfx card in the system...shud handle that.

Your CPU aint the latest but its acceptable id say.......

But yeah, stick everythin u wanna keep onto cd (or a 2nd hdd is u got 1 yet?) then format ya system and re-instal windows, you will be amazed at the speed-up u get!!!!

SUmtimes it just gets to a time where its time to bite the bulit and format - sounds like the time has come for u too

CPU speed is a major factor in successful burning hence most CDR/CDRW drives list a system specification, which includes a suitable processor speed!!!

So if doggie has a fast CD-RW and a processor that isnt up to date then problems will arise! However this may not be the case because there are lots of other factors that can cause such problems.

Main factors associated with CD Burning:

Processor

Memory

Hard drive speed

CD-RW drive (and speed you run it)

So if you know then doggie could you list them of pm me then so i could give ya some suggestions!

For the moment doggie the best advice i can give for more successful burning is to run your CD-RW at a lower speed! this will increase the chances of a successful burn!