What spec to upgrade to.

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt,uk.comp.homebuilt (More info?)

I currently have a Duron 700/ECS mobo/384MB RAM, 40GB HDD

Motherboard is old (i.e bits now held together with glue). With a clean
install of Windows XP the system is great, but over time slows down (untill
a new install of windows is made)

I am looking for a CHEAP upgrade to replace the mobo and improve speed. I
only use the system for Internet/Excel/Word

A quick look at Ebuyer suggests.

a) keep case/HDD (I have a 40GB and a second spare 60GB unused
boxed)/Graphics Card Radeon 7500
b) replace Mobo with basic Socket A board (something such as PC Chips 811LU)
c) Processor to somthing such as Athlon XP
d) 512MB DDR RAM
e) New Processor cooler -

Is the AMD the most cost effective way to go? What processor speed would be
recommended?
Any recommendations for a cheap mobo?
Anthing else to think of?



Thanks

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt,uk.comp.homebuilt (More info?)

In article <4PuIc.54054$Cr5.26176@fe2.news.blueyonder.co.uk>, John
Cross says...
> I currently have a Duron 700/ECS mobo/384MB RAM, 40GB HDD
>
> Motherboard is old (i.e bits now held together with glue). With a clean
> install of Windows XP the system is great, but over time slows down (untill
> a new install of windows is made)
>
> I am looking for a CHEAP upgrade to replace the mobo and improve speed. I
> only use the system for Internet/Excel/Word
>
> A quick look at Ebuyer suggests.
>
> a) keep case/HDD (I have a 40GB and a second spare 60GB unused
> boxed)/Graphics Card Radeon 7500
> b) replace Mobo with basic Socket A board (something such as PC Chips 811LU)
> c) Processor to somthing such as Athlon XP
> d) 512MB DDR RAM
> e) New Processor cooler -
>
> Is the AMD the most cost effective way to go? What processor speed would be
> recommended?
> Any recommendations for a cheap mobo?
> Anthing else to think of?
>
Keep exactly what you have now. The problem isn't the hardware but the
amount of clutter in Windows that you end up with. Stick some more RAM
in but really I wouldn't bother above that.



--
Conor

Dumb as a box of rocks...

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt,uk.comp.homebuilt (More info?)

> Keep exactly what you have now. The problem isn't the hardware but the
> amount of clutter in Windows that you end up with. Stick some more RAM
> in but really I wouldn't bother above that.

I have tried to declutter - but still the system slows, and only a clean
install helps.

The mobo needs replacing anyway and memory is held in by one clip/CPU fan
shot full of dust etc.

May just replace the Mobo, keep the duron 700 and add 512MB of RAM. I can
then always swap the processor easily later.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt,uk.comp.homebuilt (More info?)

On Mon, 12 Jul 2004 12:50:21 GMT, "John Cross"
<john.cross12321@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:

>> Keep exactly what you have now. The problem isn't the hardware but the
>> amount of clutter in Windows that you end up with. Stick some more RAM
>> in but really I wouldn't bother above that.
>
>I have tried to declutter - but still the system slows, and only a clean
>install helps.
>
>The mobo needs replacing anyway and memory is held in by one clip/CPU fan
>shot full of dust etc.
>
>May just replace the Mobo, keep the duron 700 and add 512MB of RAM. I can
>then always swap the processor easily later.
>

Turn off indexing and themes.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt,uk.comp.homebuilt (More info?)

"John Cross" <john.cross12321@blueyonder.co.uk> wrote in message
news:hOvIc.54457$Cr5.29131@fe2.news.blueyonder.co.uk...
> > Keep exactly what you have now. The problem isn't the hardware but the
> > amount of clutter in Windows that you end up with. Stick some more RAM
> > in but really I wouldn't bother above that.
>
> I have tried to declutter - but still the system slows, and only a clean
> install helps.

Conor is right. Windows slowing down is a function of what you do with the
system - mostly what software you install and/or have running. It's a
mystery to me why it happens, and a bigger mystery why it doesn't seem to
happen (or at least, not to the same degree) on my home and work systems.

> The mobo needs replacing anyway and memory is held in by one clip/CPU fan
> shot full of dust etc.
>
> May just replace the Mobo, keep the duron 700 and add 512MB of RAM. I can
> then always swap the processor easily later.

That sounds reasonable. I'd go for a "decent" brand motherboard (eg Asus,
Abit) rather than PC Chips.

Alex

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt,uk.comp.homebuilt (More info?)

On Mon, 12 Jul 2004 12:50:21 +0000, John Cross wrote:

>> Keep exactly what you have now. The problem isn't the hardware but the
>> amount of clutter in Windows that you end up with. Stick some more RAM
>> in but really I wouldn't bother above that.
>
> I have tried to declutter - but still the system slows, and only a clean
> install helps.
>
> The mobo needs replacing anyway and memory is held in by one clip/CPU fan
> shot full of dust etc.
>
The clip doesn't matter. Take the fan off the cooler and clean it with a
brush/vacum or then take the HS off and wash it good.

> May just replace the Mobo, keep the duron 700 and add 512MB of RAM. I
> can then always swap the processor easily later.

If the speed loss is caused by swapping, then add ram, if not, then just
upgrade the cpu to a 2400+ XP. There's no need to replace the MB. You may
want to replace the cooler, and you may need a larger PSU depending on
what you have now.

--
Abit KT7-Raid (KT133) Tbred B core CPU @2400MHz (24x100FSB)
http://mysite.verizon.net/res0exft/cpu.htm

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt,uk.comp.homebuilt (More info?)

"John Cross" <john.cross12321@blueyonder.co.uk> said:

> I am looking for a CHEAP upgrade to replace the mobo and improve
> speed. I only use the system for Internet/Excel/Word

You can get an Asus board and XP2000 processor combo from
http://www.tcwo.com/ for around $130; Biostar combo for $112.

If you want dirt cheap, check pricewatch.com for XP2000 combos around $80.
--
Mac Cool