Looking to upgrade my computer, need input/help

jtcstrat

jtcstrat

Club Member
Ok, posting this up for you computer gurus to give advice/help on what i should do. Looking for direction. I cant do this myself, i have no idea what im doing. so lets keep this simple (noob terms)

My current desktop is being slow ever since i added 10k of songs, and nothing is backed up. Its got like 10% of space left.

My goal: make it faster, open up space, back my shit up, fix sound, i dl music/videos/pics and surf the net, thats it. nothing crazy.

I am by no means a computer guy so i need imput, my ideas? add more internal memory (new internal hd?) Get an external HD, new copy of xp? more ram?

This is my current computer specs, i have a new graphics card than whats listed, and new power supply.

Willing to get parts and pay for some one to install/transfer all my info etc, basically fix/upgrade revamp my desktop. What am i looking at? pricing?




Application CD
Application CD Version 5.5 Disc 1 [Part #7512529]
Applications CD Version 6.0 Disc 2 of 2 [Part #7512835]
Cables
17-inch IDE Cable for Ultra/66 Ultra/100 R0 [Part #8004683] Support Docs
CBL FDD R0 [Part #8004685] Support Docs
CD-ROM Cable R0 [Part #8004682] Support Docs
Cases and Case Hardware
Aegis Desktop Tower Case R0 [Part #3501242] Support Docs
IEEE 1394 Assembly [Part #8006045] Support Docs
Floppy Drives
NEC 1.44-MB Floppy Disk Drive Revision 0 [Part #5502184] Support Docs
Gateway Drivers CD
Desktop Drivers CD 19.5 [Part #7512777]
Hard Drives
Western Digital 80-GB 7200-RPM Hard Disk Drive [Part #5502352] Support Docs
Keyboards
Multi-function PS/2 Keyboard R0 [Part #7003989] Support Docs
Memory
MEM RIMM 256-MB PC800 32MX2 R0 [Part #5000647] Support Docs
RIMM Continuity Module (C-RIMM) [Part #5000376] Support Docs
Mice
Logitech USB Optical Mouse Revision 5 [Part #7003991] Support Docs
Microsoft Software
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition [Part #7509594] Support Docs
Microsoft Works Suite 2002 DVD Revision 1 [Part #7512261] Support Docs
Modems
Gateway V.92 PCI Soft Modem R1 (Palmer) [Part #6002118] Support Docs
Monitors
FPD 1730 17-inch Analog LCD Monitor [Part #7004036] Support Docs
Motherboards
Intel (Lexington 2) Pentium 4 - 2.4-GHz / 533-MHz [Part #2516015] Support Docs
Optical Drives
Lite-On 40x 12x 48x CDR-W 02ID R0 [Part #5502256] Support Docs
Optical Drives or DVD Decoder Cards
HLDS 16X DVD-ROM Drive [Part #5502181] Support Docs
Power Supplies
250-Watt Power Supply Revision 3 [Part #6500652] Support Docs
Software
HelpSpot 6.2 [Part #9517700] Support Docs
InterVideo DVD Player Software Version 3.2.41.54 [Part #7512477] Support Docs
MusicMatch Jukebox 6.1 [Part #9515804] Support Docs
Norton 2002 Rev. 2 [Part #9519572] Support Docs
Norton Internet Security 2002 [Part #7512406] Support Docs
PC-Doctor 3.0 for Windows XP [Part #9514480] Support Docs
The Sims [Part #7511805] Support Docs
Sound Cards
Sound Blaster Audigy Audio with IEEE 1394 Sound Card [Part #6002172] Support Docs
Speakers
Boston Acoustics BA745 2.1 Analog Speaker System O2ID Revision 0 [Part #7004008] Support Docs
Video Cards
NVIDIA NV25 GeForce4 Ti 4600G 128-MB AGP Graphics Card R3 [Part #6002246] Support Docs
Other
AOL 7.0 Pass Along CD [Part #7512179]
Belkin Surgemaster Protector [Part #6500646]
Gateway Do More Home R0 [Part #9519091]
Quicken 2002 New User Edition [Part #7512886]

Thanks.
 
Throw it away and get a new one. You'll have to replace basically everything if you were to 'upgrade' it. Actually, don't throw the old one away, give it away to an enemy (not a friend, trust me, they'll never leave you alone about it) or let the kids play on it.

No amount of songs will make your computer run 'slower'

The easy way to speed it up is to install a fresh copy of Windows XP. The other way is to go into Add/Remove Programs, and take out EVERYTHING you don't use. Also download CCLeaner and Malwarebytes to remove any junk you might have on there.

You could find some PC3200 DDR memory (512MB is probably the biggest chip you can stick in there) on eBay for $10 and that would help quite a bit.

Also, get an external hard drive that plugs in the USB port so you can back up all your stuff. That way you'll have an extra copy of it, plus you can use it to copy your files to the new computer when you buy it.
 
robvas said:
You could find some PC3200 DDR memory (512MB is probably the biggest chip you can stick in there) on eBay for $10 and that would help quite a bit.

Also, get an external hard drive that plugs in the USB port so you can back up all your stuff. That way you'll have an extra copy of it, plus you can use it to copy your files to the new computer when you buy it.
Click to expand...

I just took a 512MB DIMM out of my machine. If yours takes 184pin DDR SDRAM, you can have it.

I agree with backing everything up and wiping the drive to start over. If you only use it to surf the web and listen to/DL/store music, you have a decent enough computer. An external drive to store your files would help a lot. Just find someone to wipe it and reinstall XP and you'll be fine.
 
Add another internal hard drive, move all your "stuff" over to that hard drive.
Buy a 2nd internall hard drive (same model number as the internal HD you're going to purchase)
Buy an external HD case
Install 2nd internal HD into case - use for back-up
Add some memory
Wipe out OS on primary HD, re-install OS

You should be able to find all parts online. I use www.newegg.com

My desktop was running very slow at home. I purchased (2) new 500gb WD HD for $70 each, a case for under $20 and then whatever shipping cost. I moved everything important over to my new HD, killed my OS, and reinstalled. Made a huge difference.
 
I dont want to buy a new one, and im getting people saying 2 different things...buy a new one and dont..
 
1TB external hard drives are dropping in price weekly....I got one on black friday.



Check out microcenter.com
 
jtcstrat said:
Who can help me get the correct products, and help point me in the right direction?
Click to expand...


You dont need anything extensive to do what it sounds like. I say save your money, get an external hard drive, back up all your data, reload XP, and then see how u like it.

Worst come to worst you have an external hard drive and you know for sure you NEED a new computer. The external hard drive will forever be usable on this comp. or a future new one.

I dont know what the advantage is to using an internal hard drive in an external case....maybe durability? Who knows. I got a 1tb drive and backed up everything....and still have just under 900GB of free space :smokin:
 
Or spend $150 on craigslist on an old shoe box gaming computer like me. Does everything i need it to plus some.
 
you dont need a new computer. a 2.4ghz is plenty fast enough. 512mb ram however is horrible. you need 2gig of ram. what is the model number of that gateway? (i assume its a gateway)
 
also an external HDD is not a bad idea. the built in 80gig drive is plenty for normal stuff you just happen to have a lot of music which is better suited for a external drive anyway. the reason to get an internal hdd with an external case is for flexibility (can put it directly in a computer if need be), and also possibly price. internal hdd plus a external bay is probably a lot cheaper than a equally sized usb hard drive, though i could be wrong i havent checked prices.
 
I have some ram that might fit yours 3 gig, and it 184 pin.

I just bought it, but decided on getting a new computer.

Let me know if you are interested. I will get you it cheap.

Still have the invoices too.
 
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