upgrading computer??

[Fastrap]

I first purchased my current computer in 2003.
it is a compaq with these specs:

System Information
------------------

Machine name: YOUR-N3TY7ATHD5
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp2.030422-1633)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Compaq Presario 06
System Model: DC475A-ABA S3000NX NA110
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2000+, ~1.7GHz
Memory: 224MB RAM
Page File: 188MB used, 358MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)

Display Devices
---------------
Card name: S3 Graphics ProSavageDDR
Manufacturer: S3 Graphics Co., Ltd.
Chip type: S3 ProSavage DDR
DAC type: S3 SDAC
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_5333&DEV_8D04&SUBSYS_90121509&REV_00
Display Memory: 32.0 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)

Sound Devices
-------------
Description: VIA AC'97 Audio (WAVE)
Default Sound Playback: Yes
Default Voice Playback: Yes
Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1106&DEV_3059&SUBSYS_90121509&REV_50

Sound Capture Devices
---------------------
Description: VIA AC'97 Audio (WAVE)
Default Sound Capture: Yes
Default Voice Capture: Yes
Driver Name: viaudios.sys
Driver Version: 6.14.0001.3950 (English)

I have no problems playing old school games with my pc but, I cant even thank about playing current PC games like fear and call of duty 2. I would like some suggestions on what i should upgrade on my computer to be able to play these games with all the settings turned up. I dont want to lower in game settings so the frame rate doesn't drop. the only thing i currently have purchased is a
120 GB hard drive and it is inside my playstation 2, is it possible to delete all of the games on the ps2 hard drive and have the computer shop in my neighborhood install it as a second hard drive when they upgrade this computer?


thanks in advance to anyone who can help

[peat moss]

Sell your computer and buy a new one , you'd just be wasting your money upgrading your current one .

[tesco]

Or if you really just want to upgrade the current one you should definately get more ram, atleast 512mb maybe 1gb.
A new video card for sure as well.

[peat moss]

Thats just it Ross he's probably limited at 512 mb .


http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/prodinfoCategory?lc=en&cc=us&dest_page=prodinfoCategory&tool=prodinfoCategory&dlc=en&product=311368

[lynx]

Thats just it Ross he's probably limited at 512 mb .


http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/prodinfoCategory?lc=en&cc=us&dest_page=prodinfoCategory&tool=prodinfoCategory&dlc=en&product=311368

Memory Max 1 GB:rolleyes:

[Fastrap]

Memory Max 1 GB:rolleyes:


so i can buy a gig of ram and it will work right?

[Fastrap]

you guys are confusing me.

Can I upgrade my PC or not?

[fkdup74]

Memory Max 1 GB:rolleyes:

you walked right into that one peat :P

can't find anything on HPs site (not surprising), but,
you my have an MS-6390 mATX mobo (what mine had at least)
which isn't a bad mobo, it's just old, and....well.....old

you should have an AGP 8x slot, which is serviceable,
and 2 DIMM slots that you can run up to 1GB (512MB x2) DDR333/400
(it'll only run at 266 MHz, but with slightly improved timings)

it runs OK with some hardware upgrading at least IME
pretty solid board that took a lot of abuse from me and kept ticking
but the bus speed just...well....kinda sucks.....266MHz :sick:
and it's socket A, which has been phas(-ing/ed?*) out for quite some time
the HDD is chitty too, a 5400 RPM job

probably better to just grin n bear it for now,
and save up the dough for a 64 bit upgrade
keep the compaq for fuggin around with office apps, old OSs, or something
or sell it for 50 bucks



*think they're pretty much not selling em anymore


-edit-

you guys are confusing me.

Can I upgrade my PC or not?

you can, at least the RAM & gfx, which you will need to run higher end games
onboard gfx really dont cut it with games, unless you're talking Minesweeper or something :P

[Fastrap]

:rolleyes:

you walked right into that one peat :P

can't find anything on HPs site (not surprising), but,
you my have an MS-6390 mATX mobo (what mine had at least)
which isn't a bad mobo, it's just old, and....well.....old

you should have an AGP 8x slot, which is serviceable,
and 2 DIMM slots that you can run up to 1GB (512MB x2) DDR333/400
(it'll only run at 266 MHz, but with slightly improved timings)

it runs OK with some hardware upgrading at least IME
pretty solid board that took a lot of abuse from me and kept ticking
but the bus speed just...well....kinda sucks.....266MHz :sick:
and it's socket A, which has been phas(-ing/ed?*) out for quite some time
the HDD is chitty too, a 5200 RPM job

probably better to just grin n bear it for now,
and save up the dough for a 64 bit upgrade
keep the compaq for fuggin around with office apps, old OSs, or something
or sell it for 50 bucks



*think they're pretty much not selling em anymore


see? i dont even know what you just typed

[fkdup74]

see? i dont even know what you just typed

the short & skinny of it:

you're thinking of pouring money into an older, slower system

the only serviceable parts in that PC are the video and memory
if, by chance, you find that your processor is lacking,
you most likely will not be able to upgrade it
(although I do have an Athlon XP 2400 collecting dust if you want it) :P

[peat moss]

I did walk it to that no ? :D I posted the link too . :lol:


I'm assuming he has a 256 mb strip of pc 133 ram now ? Yes he can upgrade but soon as I saw "Gamer " in the thread I thought oh oh . Better to buy a new one I guess ,with out knowing Fastraps finances its a tuff call . He could get an older agp card like a Ati 9800 pro for $200.00 Cnd . and the ddr ram as you suggested Fkdup . :)

[fkdup74]

I did walk it to that no ? :D

hey I've walked into a few in my time as well :P

[Fastrap]

would any of these be a good purchase?


http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Desktop-Gaming-PC-Computer-AMD-64-Alienware-Soft_W0QQitemZ8729586476QQcategoryZ114192QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/3-0GHz-DVD-RW-120GB-F-1-GAMING-PC-FREE-5-GAME_W0QQitemZ8730550235QQcategoryZ51145QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/3-0GHz-64Bit-200GB-1GB-DDR2-ORGE-GAMING-PC-FREE-2-GAME_W0QQitemZ8731581018QQcategoryZ52476QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[peat moss]

All of the above ? Just kidding now we know were you stand , good luck on the gaming . :)



Have you thought about just buying a Xbox 360 and keeping said computer for the net and school etc. :O

[tesco]

They all have bad video cards, but it says in the first one (maybe the others) that u can upgrade the vid card.
Of those 3 the first one is the one I would pick, but I'm not sure if that's a good price or not...

[Fastrap]

All of the above ? Just kidding now we know were you stand , good luck on the gaming . :)



Have you thought about just buying a Xbox 360 and keeping said computer for the net and school etc. :O


im through with console gaming.

with a upgraded computer i can play dreamcast games at a good speed with chankast. i can play the arcade versions of blitz, killer instinct, tekken etc. with MAME. I can play games like fear which look just as good as any xbox 360 game. I can download mods for games like GTA san andreas and play online. the possibilties are endless when it comes to a gaming pc. And eventually Im going to get a PC gamepad with a rumble feature and hook my PC up to a HD TV so i can watch my movies from my pc on my TV.



basicly the good outways the bad when it comes to PC gaming VS. Console gaming

[fkdup74]

the prices don't look bad considering I paid $400 + tax for:


Athlon 64 3500+ Venice
some freakin Gigabyte mobo that I can't be arsed to find the model #
1GB (2x 512) DDR400 Patriot RAM


he can grab a whole freakin assembled box for $675?
if it's on the up & up it's a hell of a deal, no?