Need upgrade help

[johnq86]

This is my current laptop system and I would like some help upgrading instead of buying a new laptop.
Operating System: Windows Vista™ Home Premium (6.0, Build 6002) Service Pack 2 (6002.vistasp2_gdr.090803-2339)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Acer
System Model: Aspire 3100
BIOS: Ver 1.00PARTTBLl
Processor: Mobile AMD Sempron(tm) Processor 3500+, ~1.8GHz
Memory: 766MB RAM
Page File: 1196MB used, 601MB available
Windows Dir: C:\Windows
DirectX Version: DirectX 11
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 7.00.6002.18107 32bit Unicod

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Display Devices
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Card name: ATI Radeon Xpress 1100
Manufacturer: ATI Technologies Inc.
Chip type: ATI Radeon Xpress Series (0x5975)
DAC type: Internal DAC(400MHz)
Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_1002&DEV_5975&SUBSYS_009F1025&REV_00
Display Memory: 382 MB
Dedicated Memory: 255 MB
Shared Memory: 127 MB
Current Mode: 1024 x 768 (32 bit) (60Hz)
Monitor: Digital Flat Panel (1024x768 60Hz)
Driver Name: atiumdag.dll,atiumdva.cap,atitmmxx.dll
Driver Version: 7.14.0010.0612 (English)
DDI Version: 9Ex
BGRA Supported: Yes
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
Driver Date/Size: 8/30/2008 03:43:56, 3841024 bytes



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Disk & DVD/CD-ROM Drives
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Drive: C:
Free Space: 21.8 GB
Total Space: 52.9 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: ST912082 2AS SCSI Disk Device

Drive: D:
Free Space: 52.5 GB
Total Space: 52.6 GB
File System: NTFS
Model: ST912082 2AS SCSI Disk Device

[Artemis]

It's a laptop & therefore there is only a limited upgrade path. The two things that leap out at me is first the meager amount of RAM 766MB ? I take it the rest is dedicated to the Graphics card ? If you doubled the RAM from 1GB to 2GB then you will see a marked increase in speed.
Another big improvement is to go to Windows 7, your CPU is only a single core Semperon & Vista will be working it hard, the upgrade to Windows 7 will actually improve the speed of the laptop.
The other thing I can suggest is doing some research on the maximum supported CPU for this motherboard, if it supports a late model Semperon like the 3500+ it will probably also support the Turion dual core mobile chips. Having a dual core processor will greatly increase your computing power with the laptop.

[johnq86]

Are cpu's difficult to install?Also i know i cann look up on googl but what would you recommend in a decent price range no more than $200?

[Artemis]

With a laptop, the CPU is difficult to remove/install. They are tightly packed and it takes some knowledge to be able to do this correctly. There are some user installable parts on a laptop, the RAM of course being one, but for the grief that could happen you are honestly better to pay a tech to install a replacement CPU, it will not take them long, maybe half an hour tops. It is just the consequences of getting it wrong are expensive.
If you look on the base of the laptop and give me the Acer part code for the laptop I can do some research for you on upgradeability.

[Morpheus]

There's a point where upgrading just isn't worth the time and money. Personally, I think this is one of those times. It's like buying DDR RAM and an AGP card for an older computer. If you're looking to squeeze every little bit out of the laptop and you're not planning to buy one for 2+ years, than sure, I suppose it's "worth" it.
Assuming the motherboard can support dual core, you're easily looking at ≈$130 [which I think would be better spent towards a modern laptop] 2GB of RAM for a laptop is around $60 and if you buy a mobile dual core on ebay that's $70. I don't know of any well known online/local retailers that sell or even keep mobile processors in stock.
Paying a tech guy is some more cash. If you wanted to upgrade the video card and HDD on top of the CPU and RAM, you're looking at close to the cost of a modern day computer. Granted, your upgraded laptop wouldn't be as good as a new one.

[johnq86]

I bought 2gb crucial ram..took about 2 minutes to install and the difference is amazing. Thanks for all of the help guys!