Upgrading questions

**Ryan1522** · December 22nd, 2004, 02:56 AM

Heres a list of hardware on my computer. Its a couple years old but I was looking at upgrading a few things. First I'd like to put a new hard drive in. Best Buy has a western digital 80GB (WD800JBRTL) hard drive for like $30. Can this be installed in my computer and without any extra assesories. I read something about a IDE and SATA adaptor. Would I need one? I also was looking at getting a motherboard and/or processor. What would some recomendations be? Something cheap but faster than what I have. ALso i put extra ram in so its at 640mb now but if the processor or motherboard changes will that type of memory be no good? There is 2- 256mb unbuff SDRAM PC133 and 1-128mb PC133 non ECC SDRAM. The current hard drive is a Ultra ATA100 40GB. Athlon 850cpu with heatsink. Heres a list from pcpitstop.

Computer Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) PC
DiskDrive WDC WD400AB-00BVA0
DISPLAY NVIDIA NVIDIA RIVA TNT2 Model 64/Model 64 Pro
hdc Primary IDE Channel
hdc Secondary IDE Channel
hdc Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
Media Creative Technology Ltd. Creative AudioPCI (ES1371,ES1373) (WDM)
Ports Communications Port (COM1)
Ports ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
System ACPI Fan
System ACPI Thermal Zone
System Microsoft System Management BIOS Driver
System PCI standard host CPU bridge
System PCI standard ISA bridge
System AMD AMD-751 Processor to AGP Controller
System AMD AMD-756 Power Management Controller
System Microsoft Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System
USB Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) AMD 756 PCI to USB Open Host Controller
Thanks

**proffit** · December 22nd, 2004, 03:00 AM

errrr way to much info. well if it is ide it will be fine if it is sata yuo might run into some problems.

**HeadBand** · December 22nd, 2004, 03:05 AM

that hard drive will not need any adapters it is an ide drive so there is no need for an adapter

newer boards use ddr memory so you would not be able to use your old stuff with it...the good news is sdr ram still goes for quite a bit on ebay

how much are you looking to spend on a new mobo & cpu

**Ryan1522** · December 22nd, 2004, 03:11 AM

I really dont know the prices of new motherboards and processors. I do know that I probably dont want to spend that much since computers are getting cheaper and cheaper and out of date so fast. I do think my computer is still quite fast and is good at many processes. I can run Photoshop much better on my computer than my girlfriends new G4 powermac laptop. I probably wouldnt want to spend anymore than $150, since i would have to get new memory, etc. Also what would be the best upgrade or should I just say its good enough? I would like to get that hard drive though since its cheap and then I could use my current one as an external and backup.

**originel** · December 22nd, 2004, 03:17 AM

Interesting...they labeled the drives using the Unix convention...intersting.

Anyways...you do not have support for serial ata (sata) drives, which means to use it in your current computer would require an adapter PCI card.

However, if you want to upgrade a couple of things, doing several things at once would be benificial.

Most new motherboards come with sata support, so if you were to upgrade your motherboard and processor (which must be done at the same time), you could also use the new hard drive.

If you upgrade you will need new ram too since sdram is basically obsolete. Here's my suggestions for a new and fairly cheap machine (prices from newegg.com):
processor
Motherboard
Memory
total cost: $349

you can add the hard drive that's on sale to this system without any adapters. The only thing you might need to upgrade in addition would be your power supply, but i'm not sure since it's not listed above. I have a system very similar to the one i listed and it's very powerful.

EDIT: forget the adapters on the hard drive...it's not sata, even though the description you gave mentioned it...wierd. And forget the system upgrade, since you put a limit at $150. I don't think you can upgrade for $150.

**Ryan1522** · December 22nd, 2004, 03:24 AM

Is there a way to easy find out about my power supply without taking the panels off?

**Ryan1522** · December 22nd, 2004, 03:28 AM

Oh and I looked at the mother bord and cpu. Do I really need the 64bit? Isnt there something else that may be faster than mine but not as much?

Like what about this from newegg
AMD Sempron 2400+ 1.667GHz, Socket A Processor
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...128-259&depa=1

Its faster than my current and doesnt cost much, is it a piece of crap? And what motobd goes with it? Are there many compatible ones.........

**originel** · December 22nd, 2004, 03:33 AM

As for the power supply, no you will have to take the side panel off.

You don't need 64 bits, it's just a lot cheaper than what intel has to offer. If that's still not cheap enough, you can get an AMD sempron, which is just a re-badged athlon xp. The cheapest ones are $50, and you can get a motherboard for around $50 as well. Memory is kinda expensive right now though, so that could still be a bit of a problem. The cheapest recognizable brand (getting off-brand is not advisable) is still around $70 for a 512mb stick.

**Ryan1522** · December 22nd, 2004, 03:36 AM

Opps wrong link but you where thinking what I was. But what kind of memory does that one take? I wouldnt need probably more that what I already have. So a couple 256 should be fine.

**originel** · December 22nd, 2004, 03:43 AM

the sempron is a socket A processor. Most motherboards on the market for Socket A processors take pc3200 (DDR400) memory, although a few still take the older pc2700 (DDR333).

**Ryan1522** · December 22nd, 2004, 03:54 AM

Ok so basically if you could give me your opinion, does it seem that I would be better off just saving the money from any type of upgrades since I dont think it seems resonable to spend a lot on the upgrade and just put that money towards a new computer when the time comes? I like many have probably bought cheaper things to get by but soon realize that if you spend the little extra you would be much happier. Its seems this is what is going on. But besides that I should have no problem with putting in the new hard drive right? It says you need an EIDE interface (40-pin connector), which I think my computer has? I think I'll get the hard drive since its so cheap and I could use the old one as an external.

**originel** · December 22nd, 2004, 03:13 PM

well, my recommendation is to save up for the upgrde i mentioned above (or something similar). If you replace those components in a computer, any computer, then it actually is a new computer because those are the only components that affect performance. Everything else won't be any different on a new machine from yours.

EDIT: graphics cards also affect performance if your a gamer...but that is easy to upgrade independantly.

Also that hard drive will work fine in your system.