upgrading the sluggish package deal

[marcus_m]

Groan, wait wait and more wait!

Perhaps back in '97 when we got this thing it was fast but times have changed and i've finally got mum into the idea of 'upgrading' the pc. UPGRADING!:mad: I wanted to go wild and make the beast but it'll take another 6 years to get her to let me do that so here I am.

We've got a HP 6327 - package deal from Noel 'Lemmings' and I want to know the best way to get some grunt outta it.

Heres the stats:
Processor - 333MHz Celeron
RAM - 48MB SDRAM
Hard Drive - 6GB
Video - internal 2MB AARGH!
+ some crappy mobo :rolleyes: and a decent cd writer :)

Basically i'm looking for more space and something that'll play BF and get some nice quality sounds outta it to link to the entertainment system. yeah that just about does it. I think i'll need a new mobo anyways and if it'd be cheaper just to make anew some links to posts about that'd be really great :D .

Oh yeah and when i opened it up to put in the CD-Writer it looked like the damn thing was welded together... there is soo much metal plates hanging about the case. Some plates are riveted together!

There is probably a few people in my predicament and i know the best (and probably cheapest) thing to do would be start from scratch but i thought i'd check here.


dont think i've asked for too much do you? :(

[fatsanchez]

basically, you need to replace everything (including the case) but the cdwriter, and possibly the modem.

you might want to check out this (http://forums.overclockers.co.nz/showthread.php?s=&threadid=7121) thread, although you dont have to spend $1200 to get bf running, if money is tight you should be able to get away with $6-700 or so.

[sparkles]

yeah, sanchez is right there.. the problem with those hp's is that they use a smaller sized motherboard than the standard one... and the case fits pretty tight aye!

so it will more than likely be a 'replace everything' job :(

and when it comes to systems.... well, you can spend a lot, or a little. you really need to set yourself a budget (to be blown :D ) first, and then you can go from there.

[marcus_m]

fatsanchez - basically, you need to replace everything (including the case) but the cdwriter, and possibly the modem.

Hmm - yeah i thought this'd happen $6-700 does sound like the most likely option but what would be the best things to get for overall improvement?

[Spoon]

Methinks the following should bring it up to scratch:
Cheapo case+PSU, $100 odd
Cheap nForce2 mobo, $200 odd
Athlon XP somethin, $150 odd
80gb HDD, $200 odd
Maybe a GFFX 5200, $250 odd
New RAM, 512mb, $200 odd

Keeping CD, monitor, keyboard, mouse, modem. You may also want to buy a new floppy drive if you need one, the HP ones don't work to well in standard cases.

That totals $1100, but having said that you could crib things down a bit..
Case, $100
Cheaper mob, $140
Athlon XP 1700 (tbredB ;)), $120
40gb HDD, $120
GF4 MX440, $120
256mb RAM, $100
Total: $700.

You should be able to sell the old thing on tardme I should think, maybe a couple of hundy.. Don't really know.

It's basically a matter of finding how much money you can get out of your folks and then going from there. But yeah, it can be done for $500 (after you sell the old comp) quite easily.

[Grrr!!]

New CPU, Mobo, RAM, GFX, HDD, Case.

I'd recommend:

ASUStek A7N266-vm (nForce I, awesome sound, GF2MX oboard + AGP slot) $150
AMD Athlon 1800 $130.
512MB Generic DDR $100
Seagate Barracuda IV 80GB $180
Cheap case with 300W ATX PSU ~ $60.

All up $620. That'll give you quite a bit of functionality. You may want to through in a cheap graphics card later, but sharing 32MB for GF2MX is a good start.
It should be able to run BF, albeit not on high quality settings.

A Radeon 9000 will cost a little under $150. That'll give you excellent graphics for a limited price.

I am also taking that you are not going to overclock this baby. If you have to persuade your mother to upgrade it, she probably wouldn't be too keen on overclocking it.

Remember that this could be bought cheaper second hand.

[Grrr!!]

Spoon, ... if he is not planning on overclocking ... and by the sounds of this mother he won't be able to, I'd recommend against him paying $200 for memory. Get some cheap yet reliable stuff (eg Samsung) and live with that. Anything is an improvement over the status quo.

[fatsanchez]

Grrr's choices look good imho, those mobos are excellent for the price.

the gf2mx will run bf like arse though, i think you'd be stuck at 640x480 with the detail on low, but Ti4200's are coming down in price all the time...

[swiftynz]

if you want to be able to play battlefield i'd avoid the integrated graphics of the nforce 1....

this would be my reccomendation:

Mobo: Soltek SL-75MRN-L nForce2 (integrated GF4MX) ~$250
CPU: Athlon XP 1800+ retail (includes fan) ~$150
RAM: 512mb Generic PC2700 ~$150
HDD: Barracuda V 80gb ~$200
Cheap arse case/psu ~$60-80

which comes to approximately $800. prices above are conservative and you could get those parts for cheaper (eg 512 PC2700 goes for as low as $100). Make sure you get a RETAIL cpu though otherwise you'll have to buy a heatsink.

the system above would get roughly 4000 3dmarks (3dmark 2001) whereas you'd be looking at 1500 odd with the nforce1. it would play BF1942 no probs and you could probably run it at 800x600 with moderate detail settings.

[sparkles]

me thinks that swifty is onto it, there really wouldn't be much point in getting an nforce1 now... quite clearly this is not a computer to be upgraded/fiddled with every couple of weeks or so!

value for money the nforce2 with integrated gf4mx will be your best bet... when it comes to the hard drive, keep a watch out cos i've seen a number of deals just recently involving cheap barracuda 4's (now *old*). so have a look out cos if someone wants to clear one cheep, well, gee damn what a shame :)

[Ragnor]

Forget upgrading that POS...

The only things worth resusing would be the CDRW, monitor (maybe, depends what it is) and the hard drive (maybe as a spare / backup / storage drive)

What's your budget, how much can you spend?

[whetu]

agree with ragnor here.. just tell your mum that the upgrade needs a new case (or in mum language "It needs a new cpu/box/hard drive/whatever name she assigns to the case" )

explain to her that the current case is constrictive and would prevent an upgrade...

you can get a decent case (http://www.ascent.co.nz/mn-product-spec.asp?pid=104760) for 98 odd bucks... not the greatest case out there, but its from a good reputable manufacturer and will be miles better than that HP case... looks like a fairly decent case to start from...

re-use the keyboard, mouse, monitor and speakers.. you might be able to re-use some other stuff from your HP too...

then the rest depends on your budget... you can sell off some of your hp parts here or on trademe to raise a bit of money too...

[swiftynz]

having thought about it, it may be better to sell everything and just get a whole new computer. some people are willing to pay more for complete good nick brand name computers (especially on trademe) and if you rip it apart and remove things such as the hdd, CDRW, screen or keyboard you basically lose that customer base...

this would be my recommendation:

sell old HP to computer illiterate friend or on trademe or your local BSE - ~$600

Monitor: Viewsonic E70F - $318
Keyboard: Cheapo one - $20
Speakers: Genius or other cheap brand - $20
CDRW: BTC 48x16x48 - $120
Mobo: Soltek SL-75MRN-L nForce2 (integrated GF4MX) ~$250
CPU: Athlon XP 1800+ retail (includes fan) ~$150
RAM: 512mb Generic PC2700 ~$150
HDD: Barracuda V 80gb ~$200
Case: Aopen that whetu suggested (aopen are a good brand and ship with decent power supplies - although i'd make sure you get the 300W model)- ~$98.30

total cost of that very respectable new machine would be less than $1326.30. take away the $600 you made when selling the old "complete internet ready good condition Hewlett Packard Celeron system" and the total cost to you is under $726.30, and you have a complete new machine. may need to add a 56k modem though.

i'd suggest showing this thread to your mum if you have trouble convincing her... also you will probably have to build it yourself you realise, but most places would be willing to assemble it for you for a little bit extra i guess (standard rate is about $40). some will even do it for free. make sure you get all the parts from one retailer though, dont' just shop via pricespy (www.pricespy.co.nz), it's more hassle than it's worth. retailers that i can personally reccommend are starltye (www.starlyte.co.nz), stylespc (www.stylespc.com) (alhtough they're currently developing a new website at the moment), and ascent (www.ascent.co.nz). i've dealt with all three and have had very good service from all of them.

anyway best of luck. :)

/edit: forgot mouse: cheapo optical ones go for a little over $30.

[whetu]

might be best to get a budget limit before we go overboard guys :rolleyes: