can i upgrade my processor

[hobblehobble]

my computer now

i upgraded the ram
the graphics card
the power unit

it is a pentium 4 PC, sr1230 UK version,

upgraded to a 9500 gt,
2 gb ram
700 watt power unit etc

my question is, can this be upgraded ? and if so, to what ?
and i dont know how to physcially upgrade a CPU, only ram, graphics cards and power units

thank you

and how easy is it to do compared to putting a new graphics card in ? easier ? the same ?

[RicheemxX]

well looking at the specs Compaq Presario SR1230UK Desktop PC Product Specifications - HP technical support (United Kingdom - English)

and the mobo specs Motherboard Specifications, PTGD1-LA (Grouper) - HP Customer Care (United States - English)

you could upgrade, but depending on what cpu is in there now its more than likely not going to be worth it. Hell tbh I wouldn't have done the upgrades you've done. I would have saved a few bucks and bought/built something newer. And why you added a 700w PSU to that system is way beyond me!! Hope you didn't spend a fortune on it

[hobblehobble]

yes, thats it

no, just upgraded the graphics card and such

well, what can i do ?

[RicheemxX]

Like I said I WOULD NOT have bothered with the upgrades you did. I don't know what you spent but you are adding onto a dead end platform that realistically spending more money on would be pretty pointless. I know DDR prices are pretty high these days and probably cost more than it would have to buy DDR and a newer board, a decent CPU to add in there, even if found, would likely cost more than it would to buy something newer and with far less performance.

Sadly this is the downside of trying to replace parts on old systems, you really hit a point that its better to dump it and build something a few generations newer. You probably could have bought a newer low end system for what you've spent (or are wanting to) and doubled (if not more) the performance of anything you could add onto that older system.

[hobblehobble]

Like I said I WOULD NOT have bothered with the upgrades you did. I don't know what you spent but you are adding onto a dead end platform that realistically spending more money on would be pretty pointless. I know DDR prices are pretty high these days and probably cost more than it would have to buy DDR and a newer board, a decent CPU to add in there, even if found, would likely cost more than it would to buy something newer and with far less performance.

Sadly this is the downside of trying to replace parts on old systems, you really hit a point that its better to dump it and build something a few generations newer. You probably could have bought a newer low end system for what you've spent (or are wanting to) and doubled (if not more) the performance of anything you could add onto that older system.

are the dual core pc's on ebay worth it ?

spent about 60 upgrading my PC

[JLK03F150]

The Intel i915G chipset (your motherboard) won't run a dual core processor. It will only run single core Pentium 4's with HyperThreading.

[RicheemxX]

I think he's referring to buying a complete build off eBay like he did last time with the old p4, not buying a new dual core chip.

Are the PC's worth it, well hell man that's a hard question to answer without knowing anything about the PCs you are looking at or knowing what you intend to use them for.

How much total have you already dumped into this thing, purchase price plus upgrades??

[hobblehobble]

my current pentium 4 with bad graphics card and 512mb

cost me in 2001 about 400 pounds

spent about 60 on upgrading ram, card and power unit

i only use internet and gaming

is this good
GAMING OFFICE DUAL CORE DESKTOP PC COMPUTER 500GB E3200 on eBay (end time 26-Sep-10 13:28:56 BST)

[stroyal]

I hope you are joking, dual core Celeron and Integrated graphics.
I guess you could do worse, but not much, unless you are talking about internet games.

Edit; Oh, and the power supply is most likely junk, as no specs are given

[ShyguyXPC]

I wouldn't, the ones selling that PC are sugar coating it with false advertising, a Dual core @ 2.4Ghz does NOT = 4.8GHz, its still only 2.4GHz, just on 2 Cores.

For example, if your running a Program that DOES NOT use both cores, it will only use one and still be running 2.4GHz.

Now its a Certainty that this Builder KNOWS this, and is just Sugar coating and feeding people crap marketing.

Even Intel Doesn't Market their CPU's in this way.

(As a side note, the CPU is a Good Budget $50 Dual core, I own one, and are supposed to be Good Overclockers if you decided to do that, I haven't yet, as its in a Small Mini ITX PC, with a Low profile cooler, not intended for OCing)

they Don't list the Power Supply, just that its 450W, which more than likely is a Crap unit.

They Don't list the hard drive, Brand, Model, or real Specs ( RPM, Access speeds, etc)

The motherboard, is Older, for the price it should at least be a G41 chipset, G31 even predates the Celeron Dual core that is in the System (Though they will run in the G31 board no problem), Those Celeron Dual cores only came out end of last year, beginning of this year, depending on the Model, and there's only 3 or 4 of them (2.4, 2.5, 2.6 GHz for sure, and I think, but can't remember for sure, there is/was a 2.7GHz as well)

but for the price it isn't bad (except maybe for the PSU, since we have no clue what is in it), but for what your getting, you could easily buy all the parts separately, and build it yourself, heck for the price you could probably AT LEAST have a Quality Power Supply installed in the System.

They List it as a $250-ish US Dollar Price range.

For $290 USD, using newegg as a source I could easily Build a comparable system with a better case design, Quality 460W PSU, Slightly Better DVD Burner, slightly Better CPU (2.5GHz and 2.4GHz models sell for same price), Slightly Better RAM. and a G41 Chipset Motherboard.


Add in the fact its Self built, so that Diagnosing, and/or communicating potential problems to others, I will know the parts I have in the system, and be able to better fix them on my own.

Unlike a Pre-built system, where most users can't even find the Most basic specs for a given part, like the Motherboard Model, which is usually printed on the board itself.



If your Looking at Buying a New PC, what kind of Budget do you have towards one?

Would give a better idea of suggestions.

[stroyal]

Don't forget, exactly what games do you play.
That is needed for the most cost effeciant graphics card.

[hobblehobble]

im looking for something good enough to run gta 4 on pc

and i have a budget of about 200 english pounds

[hobblehobble]

i only upgraded my pc to play day of defeat source and half life 2

i dont want to play gta 4, just have a pc good enough for it

[ShyguyXPC]

i only upgraded my pc to play day of defeat source and half life 2

i dont want to play gta 4, just have a pc good enough for it

Huh?

I'm sorry man, but that makes NO sense at all.

I want a PC capable of playing a certain game, but I'm not going to play that game?

WTH?

are you just messing with us or what?

200 Pounds isn't going to get you much, and no where near enough to be able to run GTA 4 decently.

Hell the game is so buggy even top end systems have trouble with the game sometimes.

You could maybe muster together a basic budget grade PC with graphics soldered onto the motherboard, but there is no Motherboards with Onboard graphics as good or better than the 9500GT you already bought. which is already about the lowest you can go for any sort of Gaming these days.

it'll play HL2 and other games, fine, but GTA 4 is out of the question, at least as far as playable frame rates and decent settings go.


You can maybe get a decent case, quality PSU, motherboard, CPU, 2GB DDR2 RAM, Hard drive and DVD Burner for that price, with out a new copy of Windows.

no keyboard, mouse, speakers or anything extra with it. which you should be able to use your old ones for the time being.

get a Decent Quality Brand name 300-400W Power supply for the new System and you should be able to use your current 9500GT just fine in it.

[hobblehobble]

i just want an up to date PC

this one is from 2001

but it still runs half life 2 and episode one and two ,

its struggling with these new games

[TheyCallMeT]

It seems to me that you have two options from what the more knowledgeable OPs stated. Either pour a lot of money into your current pc that has limits and eventually you will have to end up buying a new pc in the next couple years.

OR

Build one for yourself that is comprised of well known trusted brands, yes it may cost a little more but long term you will be doing yourself a favor.

This is simply observational but it appears to me that you want them to tell you to keep upgrading your current pc and they have explained why that is not the best idea as far as cost vs. reward.

Best of luck to you.
-T

[RicheemxX]

Hmm I was reading your older posts and thought this was the system you had bought off eBay last year, guess I was mistaken. Either way as mentioned you are really at the end of your rope with this one. Adding in another P4 cpu isn't going to help much.

What PSU did you buy? make, model ect?
Looking at eBuyer, for £158.28 inc Vat you could get this setup
Intel Pentium Dual Core E6500 Socket 775 2.9GHz.. | Ebuyer.com
Gigabyte GA-G31M-ES2L iG31 Socket 775 onboard VGA 7.1.. | Ebuyer.com
Crucial 4GB Kit (2x2GB) DDR2 800MHz/PC2-6400 Memory.. | Ebuyer.com

you'd have to double check to make sure that board supports that chip, and there might be better options I was just going for something qick and easy

[hobblehobble]

yes i did, but that was for somethin else