Assistance with Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Famil

[CrazyDave59]

I am prepping to upgrade to Windows 7, this desktop is the hub for my home wireless system and also has my external back up drive attached.

I need to replace the old chipset from all I've read, with the small cpu case I know I also need the new video card to be a "half card" but which card would work best ??

I am somewhat software savvy but this hardware stuff leaves me scratching my head for quite awhile before pulling the trigger on a new purchase.

Any and all advice with supporting link(s) or some good readable text would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance !!


Operating System System Model Windows Vista Home Premium Service Pack 1 (build 6001)

Install Language: English (United States)

System Locale: English (United States)
Dell Inc. OptiPlex GX280
System Service Tag: J1FJ171 (support for this PC)
Chassis Serial Number: J1FJ171
Enclosure Type: Space-saving
Processor a Main Circuit Board b

2.80 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4

16 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache

Board: Dell Inc. 0H8164
Serial Number: ..CN6986151N10D2.
Bus Clock: 800 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Inc. A08 03/03/2006 – update this on the support.dell.com website.
Drives Memory Modules c,d
870.16 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
681.28 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

PBDS DVD+-RW DS-8W1P ATA Device [Optical drive]
3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]

Hitachi HDS721075KLA330 [Hard drive] (750.16 GB) -- drive 0, s/n GTK202P1G120NJ, rev GK8OAB0A,SMART Status: Healthy
Maxtor OneTouch USB Device [Hard drive] (122.94 GB) -- drive 1, s/n Y33TA7PE –
3062 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM1' has 2048 MB (serial number 4307AC7A)
Slot 'DIMM2' has 2048 MB
Local Drive Volumes

c: (NTFS on drive 0) 750.15 GB 580.57 GB free
d: (FAT32 on drive 1) 120.00 GB 100.71 GB free

Network Drives
None discovered



Canon MP530 FAX on USB002
Canon MP530 Series Printer on USB001
Microsoft XPS Document Writer on XPSPort:

Controllers Display
Standard floppy disk controller
ATA Channel 0 [Controller] (2x)
Intel(R) 82801FB Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 2651
Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 266F

Intel(R) 82915G/GV/910GL Express Chipset Family
(Microsoft Corporation - XDDM) [Display adapter] (2x)

Acer X183H [Monitor] (18.6"vis, s/n LEG080014223, May 2009)
Bus Adapters Multimedia
Microsoft iSCSI Initiator
Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 2658
Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 2659
Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 265A
Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB Universal Host Controller - 265B
Intel(R) 82801FB/FBM USB2 Enhanced Host Controller - 265C
SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio
Virus Protection [Back to Top]
new Group Policies
Symantec AntiVirus Corporate Edition Version 11.0.3001.2198
Scan Engine Version 101.2.0.142
Virus Definitions Version 9/28/2010 Rev 36
Last Disk Scan on Monday, September 06, 2010 9:55:03 PM
Realtime File Scanning On
None discovered
Communications Other Devices

Broadcom NetXtreme 57xx Gigabit Controller
primary Auto IP Address: 192.168.1.5 / 24
Gateway: 192.168.1.1
Dhcp Server: 192.168.1.1
Physical Address: 00:11:43:BD:C4:36
Microsoft ISATAP Adapter
Teredo Tunneling Pseudo-Interface

Networking Dns Servers: 192.168.1.1
71.252.0.12
American Power Conversion USB UPS
HID-compliant consumer control device (4x)
HID-compliant device (5x)
USB Human Interface Device (5x)
HID Keyboard Device (2x)
HID-compliant mouse (2x)
Generic USB Hub (3x)
Unknown Device
USB Composite Device (2x)
USB Mass Storage Device
USB Root Hub (5x)
Generic volume shadow copy

 

[COLGeek]

So, other than wanting a new GPU (see below for a suggested low profile GPU), what more do you want to do with this system? The reason I ask it that Dells, especially the small form factor ones, are VERY hard to do much with in terms of upgrades. Please clarify.

A solid low profile GPU that should be okay in your system is the Radeon HD4550:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102897

You will have trouble using a more capable GPU because your PSU isn't strong enough. This cards performs well and is passively cooled (quiet). I installed one of these in a neighbor's machine and she loves it.

Good luck

 

[CrazyDave59]

Thanks much for the pointer with that GPU, looks great and will allow me to play my one online game (Combat Arms) without the current extreme lag.

The computer itself works well for all my other needs to include all my college class software that includes the entire Microsoft Office to include Project & Visio.

I am also curious if changing out the GPU will make the Windows 7 upgrade possible with minimal issues ??

I know I can pick up some new knowledge from smart folks like this if I am patient and not force any of the hardware upgrades or get crazy with the Windows 7 upgrade without checking here first.

Thanks again!!

 

[COLGeek]

The HD4550 is well supported with Win 7, no issues there. The Dell, in general, should work fine as well. However, you do need to know that you can't upgrade directly from XP to 7.

That being the case, going to 7 (64-bit) would allow you to access all of your memory and is a much better OS in general than XP or Vista.

Go to microsoft.com and download/install/run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor ( http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windows-7/get/upgrade-advisor.aspx ) to check out your system. Make sure your printer, in particular, is supported.

Have fun!

 

[CrazyDave59]

I appreciate your knowledge with this process. I am still doing some research on all the possibilities, my wife has some connections in retail.

Another option she shares with me is this particular model below, can you tell me if it would also be a viable option as the price will be right as I am being told.


ASUS ENGT430/DI/1GD3(LP)

GeForce GT 430 (Fermi)

1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16

HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card



Thanks again and I await your response while I am still researching but from everything I am reading, absorbing and checking this looks like my best deal across the spectrum.

Dave

 

[COLGeek]

I appreciate your knowledge with this process. I am still doing some research on all the possibilities, my wife has some connections in retail.

Another option she shares with me is this particular model below, can you tell me if it would also be a viable option as the price will be right as I am being told.


ASUS ENGT430/DI/1GD3(LP)

GeForce GT 430 (Fermi)

1GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16

HDCP Ready Low Profile Ready Video Card



Thanks again and I await your response while I am still researching but from everything I am reading, absorbing and checking this looks like my best deal across the spectrum.

Dave

It actually looks like a very nice card. Looked at it on newegg.com and it has very good ratings. This card would outperform the one suggested earlier. Looks like a very good choice to me for your config. Good job!

 

[CrazyDave59]

Thanks I am going to pull the trigger on this one and will get back to you on with my adventures moving forward on this !!! LOL