Please help a PC numpty sort his Ram oot.

[pedro111]

Right techies.

 

This is the problem.

 

I have a reletively old pc now (bout 5 years old) I have 1gig of Ram and my computer is fairly sluggish at running football manager and or when I have multiple programs running. Will increasing the Ram make a difference? Anyways, Im not sure which or what or where or how much to buy!

 

I used that crucial scan thingy and this is what it came up with:

 

Maximum Memory Capacity:  2048MB

Available Memory Slots:  2

Total Memory Slots:  2

Dual Channel Support:   No

CPU Manufacturer:  AuthenticAMD

CPU Family:  AMD Athlon 64 Processor 3400+ Model 4, Stepping 10

CPU Speed:  2205 MHz

 

It also says " Each memory slot can hold DDR PC3200 PC2700 with a maximum of 1 gig per slot."

 

I would appreciate it if you techies would tell me whats what.

 

Cheers! 

[Dokko]

Honestly...i'd not waste the £50 it will cost you to get the memory you need for that and put it towards a new PC or laptop for Xmas.

 

You just happen to have one of the most expensive memory requirements in the last 5 years. (i sold some 3200, 2gb of it for £40 second hand)

[pedro111]

Honestly...i'd not waste the £50 it will cost you to get the memory you need for that and put it towards a new PC or laptop for Xmas.

 

You just happen to have one of the most expensive memory requirements in the last 5 years. (i sold some 3200, 2gb of it for £40 second hand)

 

Really!?!? Oh shit, I cant really afford a new pc 

[wacko]

Available Memory Slots:  2

Total Memory Slots:  2

Heh? Surely one of them has a stick in it?

 

1GB isn't very much these days. More RAM might help a lot. You want to keep an eye on RAM and CPU usage with Task Manager. If the RAM is chock-full and the hard drive is constantly working while you're just playing a game, more RAM would make a huge difference.

[pedro111]

Available Memory Slots:  2

Total Memory Slots:  2

Heh? Surely one of them has a stick in it?

 

1GB isn't very much these days. More RAM might help a lot. You want to keep an eye on RAM and CPU usage with Task Manager. If the RAM is chock-full and the hard drive is constantly working while you're just playing a game, more RAM would make a huge difference.

 

It definately says that. 

[pedro111]

1GB of this DDR PC3200 RAM is going for about £20 on Ebay. How much of a difference will 1GB make do you think?

[Dokko]

1GB of this DDR PC3200 RAM is going for about £20 on Ebay. How much of a difference will 1GB make do you think?

 

Depends if you've got 2x512mb or 1gb in already, that reading doesn't say.

 

If will make a massive difference (imo) if you've already got 1gb in one Dimm (one slot)

 

 

[Guest Lazlo]

It will make a difference, whether you notice it is another thing.

 

All fm games are processor intensive because of their architecture, you have bottlenecks in a lot of areas. you need a new pc if you want it to run well.

[pedro111]

1GB of this DDR PC3200 RAM is going for about £20 on Ebay. How much of a difference will 1GB make do you think?

 

Depends if you've got 2x512mb or 1gb in already, that reading doesn't say.

 

If will make a massive difference (imo) if you've already got 1gb in one Dimm (one slot)

 

 

 

Ive just had a peak in the side of my PC and I have one available yellow slot. thats the RAM slot right? So that must mean I have 1gb already in.

[Guest Lazlo]

go to control panel/system

 

That'll tell you how much ram you have

[pedro111]

go to control panel/system

 

That'll tell you how much ram you have

 

Yeah, I already know I have 1Gig.  I was just replying to his question as to whether it was 1 gig in 1 slot or not.

[Dokko]

Hopefully you've got 3200 in it, if not you might encounter a few problems matching it with 2700, but generally what it will do is underclock the 3200 to 2700 without a problem.

 

One dimm means its 1gb, which means its worth £20 to see if you can boost the performance.

 

Your CPU is pretty shocking, i'd look for cheap 2ndd hand dual cores, what socket is it 939 or 940? (been a long time since ive owned one)

 

Think you could get a AMD 64 X2 2.7 GHz CPU for around £50, check your motherboard and find out what the max is, it might be worth splashing a little cash if you've got no money to buy a new computer.

 

 

[pedro111]

Thanks for the advice. Actually, I have been doing some scouting on ebay and it seems like I can make a 200% improvement on the PC I have for as little as £150. This interests me tbh.

 

What do you reckon the best Desktop PC i can get for maximum £200. Just the pc itself?

 

Also what are your opinions on refurbished pc's?

 

Cheers.

[Dokko]

Thanks for the advice. Actually, I have been doing some scouting on ebay and it seems like I can make a 200% improvement on the PC I have for as little as £150. This interests me tbh.

 

What do you reckon the best Desktop PC i can get for maximum £200. Just the pc itself?

 

Also what are your opinions on refurbished pc's?

 

Cheers.

 

I'd spend £200 on a motherboard bundle. New CPU, mobo, memory.

 

Keep the rest from your old system.

 

Best bang for buck.

 

This will do you for some time:

 

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?MBB-834G

 

Intel Quad Core Q8300

4Gb DDR2 800Mhz

Intel G31 Motherboard

 

£210

 

All pre-installed and tested.

 

You would need to re-install windows.

[Dave]

http://www.hotukdeals.com/visit?m=269&q=538983

Base Vostro 220 MT Standard Base Mini Tower Chassis

Microsoft Operating System English Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (32 BIT)

Memory 1024MB 800MHz Single Channel DDR2 SDRAM [1x1024)

Keyboard UK/Irish (QWERTY) Dell Standard Quietkey USB Keyboard Black

Monitor Display Not Included

Video Card Integrated Intel® Graphic Media Accelerator X4500

Hard Drive 160GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst cache

Floppy Drives and Additional Storage Devices No Floppy Drive

Mouse Dell 2 Button USB Optical Mouse

Modem No Modem

Optical Devices 16X DVD ROM For Win7

Sound Cards Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio HD

Speakers No Speakers

Power Cords 2 Meter Power Cord - UK

Documentation/Disks English - Documentation Vostro Desktop

Bundle D122204

Standard Warranty 1 Year Collect and Return

Enhanced Service Packs 1Yr Collect & Return Warranty - No Upgrade Selected

Order Information Vostro Desktop 220MT Order - UK

Processor Intel? Pentium? Dual-Core Processor E6300 (2.80GHz, 1066 FSB, 2MB cache)

Dell System Media Kit Resource DVD - (Diagnostics & Drivers)

Microsoft Application Software Microsoft® Works 9.0 - English

Protect your new PC Norton Internet Security 2009 - 15 Month Protection - English

 

e-value code is DMUK12-D122204 = £159 + £25 delivery + 15%VAT = £211.60

[pedro111]

Thanks for the advice. Actually, I have been doing some scouting on ebay and it seems like I can make a 200% improvement on the PC I have for as little as £150. This interests me tbh.

 

What do you reckon the best Desktop PC i can get for maximum £200. Just the pc itself?

 

Also what are your opinions on refurbished pc's?

 

Cheers.

 

I'd spend £200 on a motherboard bundle. New CPU, mobo, memory.

 

Keep the rest from your old system.

 

Best bang for buck.

 

This will do you for some time:

 

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/specpage.html?MBB-834G

 

Intel Quad Core Q8300

4Gb DDR2 800Mhz

Intel G31 Motherboard

 

£210

 

All pre-installed and tested.

 

You would need to re-install windows.

 

Cheers mate it sounds good but I would have zero clue how to replace a motherboard tbh, Remember that I am a PC numpty!

[Dokko]

It really is like expensive lego.

 

The hard part is done for you, mobo, and cpu in there, unplug your IDE's (big flat thick cables (DVD's, HDD's, FD's)) and SATA's (same things attached as IDE only smaller cables) unplug the PSU cord from the mobo, take out an cards, sound, GFX, network, unscrew the motherboard, be about 10 screws....then do it all again in reverse and you have your new kit in.

 

Install new O/S and there you go.

 

Take a picture, or several, of where everything went, and then put it all back where it sort of once was. Mobo layout might be slightly different but not by much and really there is nothing that is going to plug in and blow up, it all either fits or doesn't fit, the real damage is done mounting a cooler on the CPU or pasting the CPU which is all done for you in the kit.

 

Takes me these days an hour to build a computer from scratch, even if you put aside a day you will have it done no problem. Take your time, have some print outs ready, rubber gloves (latex - stops static) and patience and you'll be rewarded, you'll never have to buy a shite job from PC world again.

 

 

[Guest Lazlo]

I would agree with TT if you're looking for a long term solution rather than a quick fix.

 

What he suggested is the best way to spend your money, although it might not be user friendly. Buying a new base unit would be hassle free and just a case of plugging in your cables if you're not savvy enough to replace your mobo but it would cost you a lot more.

 

1 ide channel can run 2 devices, so it's probably not an issue unless you've got 2 burners. Jb has a point with the psu though, it might not have the 4 pin adaptor even, which your new mobo will need. As well as the new mobo will need more power

 

My advice for what it's worth is buy a new base unit but you're going to need one that has a capable gfx card rather than onboard if you want to play a few games.

 

Imo upgrading from 1 gig to 2gig  has few benefits in xp, if it was vista it might be different.

 

If you don't want to get your hands dirty have a look for something at least dual core with an 8 series nvidia card.

 

i appreciate you want to spend as little as possible but you're at the 'new system' stage

[wacko]

http://www.hotukdeals.com/visit?m=269&q=538983

Base Vostro 220 MT Standard Base Mini Tower Chassis

Microsoft Operating System English Genuine Windows® 7 Home Premium (32 BIT)

Memory 1024MB 800MHz Single Channel DDR2 SDRAM [1x1024)

Keyboard UK/Irish (QWERTY) Dell Standard Quietkey USB Keyboard Black

Monitor Display Not Included

Video Card Integrated Intel® Graphic Media Accelerator X4500

Hard Drive 160GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA Hard Drive with 8MB DataBurst cache

Floppy Drives and Additional Storage Devices No Floppy Drive

Mouse Dell 2 Button USB Optical Mouse

Modem No Modem

Optical Devices 16X DVD ROM For Win7

Sound Cards Integrated 5.1 Channel Audio HD

Speakers No Speakers

Power Cords 2 Meter Power Cord - UK

Documentation/Disks English - Documentation Vostro Desktop

Bundle D122204

Standard Warranty 1 Year Collect and Return

Enhanced Service Packs 1Yr Collect & Return Warranty - No Upgrade Selected

Order Information Vostro Desktop 220MT Order - UK

Processor Intel? Pentium? Dual-Core Processor E6300 (2.80GHz, 1066 FSB, 2MB cache)

Dell System Media Kit Resource DVD - (Diagnostics & Drivers)

Microsoft Application Software Microsoft® Works 9.0 - English

Protect your new PC Norton Internet Security 2009 - 15 Month Protection - English

 

e-value code is DMUK12-D122204 = £159 + £25 delivery + 15%VAT = £211.60

Good god, that's cheap for a new PC.

 

Pretty weedy specs for 2009 going on 2010, though. It's already out-of-date.

 

Cheapest way to get a PC long-term, if you don't have any upgrade-mad mates you can scrounge old bits and pieces off, is to get it from a local computer shop. If you don't really know that much about computers, just tell them what you want and they'll spec if for you, and build it, too, if you don't want to.

 

It's better than buying a ready-built box from Dell etc. because you can be sure it only uses standard components, so you can upgrade it piecemeal year after year. OEMs often use non-standard parts and even glue parts and cables together to stop them coming loose during shipping, which also makes it difficult to impossible to upgrade.

 

Someone will be able to recommend a good shop to go to.