Help, my old computer sucks!

[ciscokid]

I need to know what would be the best and cheapest upgrade for my computer. Don't know that much about upgrades, etc. I have a PackBell with only 2GB HD, 16MB RAM, Pentium 133mhz, 28.8 modem. I was thinking of upgrading the RAM? Because it is cheap? My netzero is really slow, what upgrades would help? Please don't tell me to buy a whole new deal I only have $100-$200 to spend.

 

[PassatVR6]

Find a K6-2 motherboard and CPU combo ~100 bux
a stick of 128MB PC133 Ram ~40 bux ?

Then theres a HOTDEAL right now on a Maxtor 20gb 7200rpm hard drive for 49 bux, check the hotdeals forum

thatsabout 200 dollars there and you'll be alot faster

 

[Vyle]

There are too many areas you need to upgrade. One thing you might consider if money is tight, is to not do the upgrade all at once. You could start picking up items here and there. When you have more money get the rest.

Right now, you could get a Duron and mobo combo. Duron is the price/performance leader now. Then wait and pick up a case, ram etc...later.

If you don't want to do that but want better performance on the cheap... Now I wouldn't normally recommend this...you could pick up an Amptron M758MR and Celeron 633mhz w/ HSF for $151 shipped from Accubyte. You can grab 128MB of PC133 ram for under $50.

The M758MR motherboard is an integrated mobo. Comes w/ built in video, sound, and a 56K modem. You'd have a good upgrade for under $200.

Now Amptron is just another PCChips derivative and I actually recommend going the other route, that I mentioned first. There's no sense in upgrading to a K6-2. Better just to go to Duron. But if you can't wait, then the 633mhz Amptron system I mentioned would give you an INCREDIBLE improvement over your current Packard Bell. I'm sure your Packard Bell system probably has integrated stuff anyway. So the Amptron integrated video would be better than what you have.

 

[cmaMath13]

Yeah, your system is low all over. There is not point in upgrading any of it. I would either start saving OR buy a few things here and there.

 

[GasX]

Packard Bell? <<shudder...>>


Take Vyle's advice.

Start yourself on the slow upgrade path

Mobo&amp; CPU now

Case soon

Vid card after that

etc...

 

[jsbush]

I would save my money till I have enough to buy everything at once, whats the point of buying a cpu/motherboard when you can't use it? You'll just pay more for it now then you would in a few months from now.

 

[osage]

don't think an upgrade is gonna do it, you need a new comp.

 

[jimmypop]

this is probably an AT case. you'll need a new ATX before you can do anything.

 

[Assimilator1]

Jsbush is right ,there's no point in having gear lying around,when in a few weeks it could well come down in price,that mainly applies to the CPU &amp; RAM ,but also to a lesser degree Graphic cards &amp; HDD's.

I guess you could still get the m/brd,ATX case ,CD ROM ,FDD a little in advance though

Other than that you could go for the upgrade mentioned by PassatVR6 for a cheap option ,it will be obsolete much quicker though ,(nearly already is for modern games).

BTW I would avoid PCChips boards like the plague ,their support is cr*p!:|

 

[Wiggo100]

I take it that this is an AT form system and if so try obtainin' an Epox MVP3-C2 motherboard, an AMD K6-3+ 450 CPU, 128MB of 100-133mhz SDRAM and a 20g hard drive( doesn't have to be a fast one).
I have not long done this to my old Pentium 200 server and set the CPU to run at 500mhz (will be tryin' 560mhz by 112mhz FSB soon) with which I have no stability problems and compared to what it was really flies.
A 56k modem would help to but I use a cable connection which makes dailup suck.
To show you the difference the upgrade makes the 200 use to run Seti@home and take 170hrs to complete 1 unit it now takes 22hrs to complete one.
Also usin' Windows 98 or better OS helps too(I run 98SE).
I hope this helps ya.

 

[Assimilator1]

Wiggo 100
My brother used to run SETI on his Pentium 200 (64Mb RAM) ,with v2.04 he used to get around 28hrs ,I guess that would be about 45-60 with v3.03.170 hrs isn't right!:Q lol .
22hrs seems about right for a K6-3+ though.
So, are you a member of a team? if not maybe you'd likd to join Team Anandtech? ,if so check out my sig to join

 

[Wiggo100]

That's what it did but the 133 I had use to take 222hrs and that really sucked big time. I'm not on a team yet as there are so many but I've completed 183 units in my 1st year. My K6-2 500 took 16hrs with ver3.0 but went 30+ with 3.03.
Planing on buildin' a Duron or Athlon sometime later this year after I finish foolin' around with these old AT jobs but I'm gainin' experience first on the cheap stuff first before spendin' big.

 

[wizz0bang]

NO! Get a new system... Packard Bell is the WORST PC maker ever (well, ok maby not the absolute worst). Depending on the model it is very hard or impossible to upgrade as they used many non-standard things (cases, form factors, power supplies, motherboards... yadadaa). Even if this model has standard AT components you are still stuck with crummy options. You will only hurt yourself in the long run trying to upgrade it... it's too old to begin with, and Packard Bell sinks the deal.

Save up some money and get a cheap barebones:
Duron MB with integrated video/sound ~$75, 600mhz Duron ~$40, 128bm PC133 ram ~$30 after rebates, 20GB HD ~$30 after rebates, cheap case/250watt+ power supply ~$50 (or less, but I'd go with $49 Antec to insure a good power supply), use your existing monitor/mouse/keyboard/CD/Floppy ==== kick butt system for $225 or so. Shipping will probably be around $30 unless you live in a city with chain stores like Fry's that you can grab the parts from on the cheap. ALso keep an eye out for barebones AMD duron systems, case/ps, MB, CPU for cheap...

Good luck...

Brad

 

[Assimilator1]

Wiggo100

Why not pop on over to the Distributed Computing forum section &amp; see what TA SETI members are like &amp; chat about SETI? ,you won't get your head bitten off

 

[Mountain]

pay attention to the guy who said it was an AT case. buy, either an fic 503 motherboard,combo with k6-2, or tyan 1590, combo with processor. i have done a nifty bios upgrade on my tyan 1590 and am overclocking a k6III+450 to 550 and 600. these boards allow you to use the case and power supply you already have. I am using the case and power supply that originally had a amd 133 overclock in it. I actually prefer turning off my machine rather than have the trickle power turn it off. if you make this upgrade, then you will be on your way to a nice learning experience. oh and you can use the simms memory on this board until you can afford the dimm type, regardless of how much or little they cost now. get the board and cpu and use everything else youve got and then work your way from there. the dimm. the hdd. the video card. etc.

 

[RJRD2]

I think Mountain &amp; PassatVR6 have a good point. A SS7 board like the tyan 1590 or fic503 could be a good option. I think this could be a good starting point for little upgrading. You could use you current cpu, ram and hard drive. You might also be able to use your current video card, sound card &amp; modem..Thats if they are not integrated into the motherboard. I think if you got the motherboard to work this could leave you a little headroom to upgrade. First thing would be to go for a little more ram..If you bought the tyan I think you could add 2 more simms to it. Or you could just get you a 64mb or 128 mb stick of pc100 sdram.. Then you can upgrade the cpu. Any amd cpu would do. You could probably get a 300 for 15 or 20 bucks and still have room for to upgrade to a 550 in the future. But you will have to find out if a standard at board will fit in the case. I know that most of the bigger oems have the tendency to use some kind of oddball case designed for their boards and making upgrading impossible. Also, if your eventually going to upgrade the cpu to the amd k6-2 or k6-3 you might want to check into the output of your power supply and make sure it will be sufficient. This could be in an issue too. How many watts is the power supply anyway?

 

[AMD4SPEED]

dude, your computer sux. There is no hope to save it. Go buy a new one.

 

[Fingers]

personally I would put my money in the bank until i could get a brand new system, but for upgrade options this is what I would do. you said you interernet connection is slow. I would get a cheapo 56k modem for about $5 if you can find one at maybe best buy after mail in rebate. second you can get a 200 mhz processor for that system, try looking here. also while your there see if you can find 16MB of ram to upgrade with. I helped upgrade an old packard bell pentium 133 and that one required memory to be purchased in pairs, so you might have to buy 2. the memory that that particular one required is called fast page memory, and you can find it on that site as well. lastly you might want to look here as well. it may be of some use to you.