Upgrading Computer (yey!)Need help & suggestions plz/pic

Post by **marshallh** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:05 pm

Start > Run > "dxdiag"

You will no longer want for information about your computer.

Motoman · Post by **Motoman** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:15 pm

marshallh wrote:Start > Run > "dxdiag"

You will no longer want for information about your computer.

ok thanks marshallh!

Here's all the information it states
System Model- Dimension 8250
BIOS- Default system BIOS
Processor- Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.53GHz
Memory- 254MB RAM
Page File- 384MB used 401MB available
DirectX version: DirectX 9.0

DISPLAY:

Name- NVIDIA GeForce4 MX 420
Chip type- GeForce4 MX 420
DAC type- Integrated RAMDAC
Approx. total memory- 64MB

DirectDraw Acceleration-Enabled
Direct3D Acceleration- Enabled
AGP Texture Acceleration- Enabled

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:18 pm

You indeed have a AGP Gfx card. So make sure you buy one that is AGP

As for RAM, buy two sticks of any DDR2 512 MB RAM. That should do nicely for your system

totokan · Post by **totokan** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:23 pm

err... harshboy, DDR2 is not what I would call a good idea.

Indigno · Post by **Indigno** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:25 pm

Motoman wrote:
Indigno wrote:You have four memory slots and still only 256 megs of ram???

My suggestions:
Get an ATI/ Nvidia Video card AGP
Get an AMD processor...
Get more ram.
Yes but could you suggest a specific kind? Like model and what not?

No. Because I don't know what RAM slot your mobo uses, what chipset your mobo is, and I can't tell you what your preference is on video cards. I also can't know your specific budget and a lot of other things. Besided, is will do you some good to do some research and figure out exactly what you want.

totokan · Post by **totokan** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:27 pm

Ok, also, THE ONLY WAY TO DO EVERYTHING YOU JUST LISTED IS TO REPLACE EVERYTHING. The mobo uses intel processors, how the hell do you expect someone to put an amd one in there? That's a square-peg into round hole kinda thing.

Motoman · Post by **Motoman** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:44 pm

totokan wrote:Ok, also, THE ONLY WAY TO DO EVERYTHING YOU JUST LISTED IS TO REPLACE EVERYTHING. The mobo uses intel processors, how the hell do you expect someone to put an amd one in there? That's a square-peg into round hole kinda thing.

I dont know cause I have no idea what the hell the difference is with AMD and Intel. (although i do understand why a square peg wont fit in a round hole

) But please could someone just suggest something that would fit my PC well? Because honestly I'm really not that great with computers. Considering Graphics cards, I dont know whats considered good and whats not. I've check out some ATI cards but everything i read seems to go over my head. I dont know why I can or cant replace something. The only thing I did that was average was set up my internet. (Router, Modem, Ethernet card etc) If anything I can get someone to install the hardware but I'd rather get other computer savvy peopless ideas as to what to do.

Indigno · Post by **Indigno** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:47 pm

totokan wrote:Ok, also, THE ONLY WAY TO DO EVERYTHING YOU JUST LISTED IS TO REPLACE EVERYTHING. The mobo uses intel processors, how the hell do you expect someone to put an amd one in there? That's a square-peg into round hole kinda thing.

Whatever. Then go ahead and replace everything... But he's asking us to list out the prices and locations of everything for him for under 300-350 dollars, which still isn't feasable since we don't know his prefs or anything.

If... You could tell us your prefs I could help you more.

AMD vs Intel?
ATI vs Nvidia?
Power Requirements?
What will this PC primarily be used for?
Any other prefs you want us to know about?

Motoman · Post by **Motoman** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 8:51 pm

Indigno wrote:
totokan wrote:Ok, also, THE ONLY WAY TO DO EVERYTHING YOU JUST LISTED IS TO REPLACE EVERYTHING. The mobo uses intel processors, how the hell do you expect someone to put an amd one in there? That's a square-peg into round hole kinda thing.
Whatever. Then go ahead and replace everything... But he's asking us to list out the prices and locations of everything for him for under 300-350 dollars, which still isn't feasable since we don't know his prefs or anything.

If... You could tell us your prefs I could help you more.

AMD vs Intel?
ATI vs Nvidia?
Power Requirements?
What will this PC primarily be used for?
Any other prefs you want us to know about?

Like I stated earlier I dont neccesarily(sp?) know the difference. But here we go: Its mostly supposed to be an all around PC. Like used for school, entertainment, internet, and games. It doesnt neccesarily(sp again) have to be a graphical powerhouse capable of Xbox 360 graphics but something better like a mid to high end xbox game. Right now everything looks like 1st gen gamecube games, possibly even worse.

Post by **bicostp** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:17 pm

Indigno wrote:You have four memory slots and still only 256 megs of ram???

Sounds like his Dell is bone stock.

Don't even bother trying to replace the motherboard. Dell doesn't follow ATX standards, so motherboards that didn't come out of a similar Dell won't fit without a lot of modification to the case.

The first two things you should do are add RAM and a new graphics card. Go to this website and enter your model number and it will tell you what you need:

www.kahlon.com

Wait... Kahlon says your machine needs PC1066 RDRAM RIMMs?! WTF? I've never come across those before. According to them they're expensive... Wow. The machine gave you the wrong model number or something. What does the front of the case say? (I'm assuming you have a Dimension 8250?) Well, I don't think RIMMs are cheap...

You should at least get a new video card, especially if you play a lot of high end PC games. 64 megs should be more than enough for web browsing and workstation stuff. If you use Photoshop, Flash, or other high end media software, you should get a better graphics card.

My advice is to save up and buy a decent, non-proprietary PC to work with.

Motoman · Post by **Motoman** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:31 pm

bicostp wrote:
Indigno wrote:You have four memory slots and still only 256 megs of ram???
Sounds like his Dell is bone stock.

Don't even bother trying to replace the motherboard. Dell doesn't follow ATX standards, so motherboards that didn't come out of a similar Dell won't fit without a lot of modification to the case.

The first two things you should do are add RAM and a new graphics card. Go to this website and enter your model number and it will tell you what you need:

www.kahlon.com

Wait... Kahlon says your machine needs PC1066 RDRAM RIMMs?! WTF? I've never come across those before. According to them they're expensive... Wow. The machine gave you the wrong model number or something. What does the front of the case say? (I'm assuming you have a Dimension 8250?) Well, I don't think RIMMs are cheap...

You should at least get a new video card, especially if you play a lot of high end PC games. 64 megs should be more than enough for web browsing and workstation stuff. If you use Photoshop, Flash, or other high end media software, you should get a better graphics card.

My advice is to save up and buy a decent, non-proprietary PC to work with.

Yes sir I have a Dell Dimension 8250 Desktop. And jeez the prices for the RAM are ridiculous! Are they like a special one of a kind thing or something? BTW Bic I do want a graphics card I just have no clue as to what kind to get and what kind would work with my PC. ATI or NVIDIA? Whats the difference? Which ones better? Which is cheaper? etc

Harshboy · Post by **Harshboy** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:51 pm

Ok, just get a Nvidia GeForce 6800 (im not sure if theres a AGP model) Try to get at least a really good 128 MB or a 256 MB Gfx Card.

EDIT: Holy cow! 512 MB of ram for you is like 500 bucks! God, i can get 4 GB or more of ram for that price

Motoman · Post by **Motoman** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:11 pm

Harshboy wrote:Ok, just get a Nvidia GeForce 6800 (im not sure if theres a AGP model) Try to get at least a really good 128 MB or a 256 MB Gfx Card.

EDIT: Holy cow! 512 MB of ram for you is like 500 bucks! God, i can get 4 GB or more of ram for that price

The problem is I dont know what is considered "good" for a graphics card. Yea 512MB for 500, almost $1 per MB, it sucks doesnt it?

Post by **Triton** » Fri Sep 01, 2006 10:36 pm

get the gfx card i have, ati radeon x1600 pro by HIS its cheap (256mb version is less than 120$) and pretty much the best gfx card for AGP http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6814161005
is the one i got, just before the price went up a bit

Post by **Skyone** » Sat Sep 02, 2006 2:56 am

Indigno wrote:You have four memory slots and still only 256 megs of ram???

My suggestions:
Get an ATI/ Nvidia Video card AGP
Get an AMD processor...
Get more ram.

You can't simply get an AMD processor for a Pentium board.