Dilan77
asked on
Upgrading RAM/ CPU
Hi there,
I'm not at all an expert on desktop hardware, so thought I'd throw this out to you guys...
We have several, fairly old, Compaq EN-series Deskpros here. CPU is about 500 Mhz and RAM is 125Mb. They have about 10 GB hard drives.
They're all running Windows XP, Office 2003 pretty slowly, although it is manageable.
We were contemplating throwing these away and getting new machines altogether, but I'd like to boost their power and save them.
I guess I could add more RAM, but is there anything I could do to boost the CPU power? Is it possible to buy new CPU chips and, if so, how much do they normally cost (I'm in the UK)?
Thanks!
I'm not at all an expert on desktop hardware, so thought I'd throw this out to you guys...
We have several, fairly old, Compaq EN-series Deskpros here. CPU is about 500 Mhz and RAM is 125Mb. They have about 10 GB hard drives.
They're all running Windows XP, Office 2003 pretty slowly, although it is manageable.
We were contemplating throwing these away and getting new machines altogether, but I'd like to boost their power and save them.
I guess I could add more RAM, but is there anything I could do to boost the CPU power? Is it possible to buy new CPU chips and, if so, how much do they normally cost (I'm in the UK)?
Thanks!
Callandor
If these are PIII's, the maximum speed replacement cpu will depend on the form factor (slot1 or socket370), the ability to update the BIOS to recognize the new cpu, and the FSB the motherboard supports. CPUs can be compared here: http://www.cpuscorecard.com/cpuprices/ip3.htm
Hi Dilan77,
Probably, to buy a new faster CPU, you'll need also buy new Motherboard, new RAM and a new Graphics Card. Check your motherboard's specifications if it can handle new processors keeping the RAM and Grphics Card. Probably it can't.
There's a chance that won't fit in your pc box, depending what you have and what you'll get.
Then, you'll have brand new box, new motherboard, new processor, new RAM and new Graphics... with an old slow HD... You'll need to buy a new. Maybe you'll need also a new power supply...
What remains? The floppy drive..., plus the external stuff (keyboard, mouse and screen). Is it worth?
diasf
Probably, to buy a new faster CPU, you'll need also buy new Motherboard, new RAM and a new Graphics Card. Check your motherboard's specifications if it can handle new processors keeping the RAM and Grphics Card. Probably it can't.
There's a chance that won't fit in your pc box, depending what you have and what you'll get.
Then, you'll have brand new box, new motherboard, new processor, new RAM and new Graphics... with an old slow HD... You'll need to buy a new. Maybe you'll need also a new power supply...
What remains? The floppy drive..., plus the external stuff (keyboard, mouse and screen). Is it worth?
diasf
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> That might net you up to 20% increase in apparent speed.
I beg to differ - it depends on the motherboard, but in theory, PIII's go up to 1.4GHz, and 1.0Ghz may be a reachable goal. WinXP will definitely benefit from 256MB or more of RAM.
I beg to differ - it depends on the motherboard, but in theory, PIII's go up to 1.4GHz, and 1.0Ghz may be a reachable goal. WinXP will definitely benefit from 256MB or more of RAM.
Note the word "apparent". If he upgrades a 500Mz CPu to 1.0Ghz, there is no way the machine will appear twice as fast (except in the simpliest of unrealistic benchmarks). For a real application like M$Office, the apparent speed increase will always be much lower.
CPU upgrades should cost $40-$80, depending on the exact age. eBay is your friend.
Point taken ;-)
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For CPU Upgrade, take a look at Powerleap . . I have upgraded several Dell machines successfully . . although at todays prices for pc's it is becoming less and less of an economic move.
http://www.powerleap.com/
http://www.powerleap.com/
Powerleap is awesome equipment (high quailty, well built, NOT junk) but they are EXPENSIVE.
You can usually replace the mainboard, cpu, and memory for less than what a powerleap costs.
Heck, I just bought a 1.2GHz P3 Tualatin -SYSTEM- for less than a Powerleap cost to get to the same level.
.
You can usually replace the mainboard, cpu, and memory for less than what a powerleap costs.
Heck, I just bought a 1.2GHz P3 Tualatin -SYSTEM- for less than a Powerleap cost to get to the same level.
.
ASKER
Thanks everyone for the detailed help!!!
I think I'll go along with installing more RAM and seeing how that goes.
I think I'll go along with installing more RAM and seeing how that goes.
Good choice... more RAM. When your machines run out of RAM, they 'pages' and 'swap' to the hard disk. That's draatically slow. So for running MS office, go with at least 256MB total memory, and preferably 384MB. Much beyond that is unlikely to pay off on these older machines. Using Tools->Disk Deframentor is also good, netting up to perhaps 5% speed increase. The Microsoft 'Quick Launch' tool can speed the load time of MS Office, at the expense of slower boot time.