Upgrading my Friends Dell!

[OverVolt]

My friend has a Dell Dimensions XPS R 400 series from at the latest 1999 here are the basic specs:

CPU: PII 400mhz
MEM: 64Mb PC100 CL3
VID: TNT 2 4mb
HD: Unkown, haven't ripped into his system yet.

Anyway, he needs this PC to last awhile longer before they get a new one. This family was going to have someone come over and take their PC for a week (for $75) to get rid of spyware. My friend told me this and i shat myself. Anyway, needless to say, im comming over to do it for free, and he'll probably just give me a few bucks and we'll hang out.

Anyway, the PC needing to last a few years thing, first off the HD is at least 5years old, and HD thats 5years old is on its last leg. My Plans are: Buy a new HD, probably a cheap maxtor 60Gb or whatever i can find on sale thats 7.2krpm. Buy 3x128MB PC100 Memory (because his mobo doesn't support anything above 16x64 = 128mb per slot, he has three slots. And install win XP, this should get him by for awhile.

What do you guys/gals think?

 

[biostud]

unpossible, better to save money for a new computer.

 

[lavagirl669]

You should be able to get those parts for less than $500

You sure those RAM sticks will work on the board he's got in that Dell?

I recently tried to do the same with my parents' Dell....no luck
It only took RDRAM.

PC100?

Otherwise....I'd say it should give it a little boost, but I don't know about lasting a few
years. With PC's you just never know.

 

[imported_Kehcalop]

First off RDRAM was used in Dell's early P4 days. My friend has one of the first Dell's with a P4 and it uses the RDRAM that must be installed in pairs. Anyway your friends computer is just about on its last legs, i'd say if hes serious at all to just buy a new one. For around 500 bucks you can build a pretty good system. If your really stuck on upgrading, id say some ram like you said and a new harddrive wont cost much and would probably make a decent differance.

 

[Splork]

I wouldn't put XP on that box, it'll run like crap even with the upgraded RAM. If he is wanting to make it last a little longer try Windows 2000.

 

[Fuchs]

Technically spending the money to buy 3x128MB of ram for this system you could most likely get a combo with new mobo/cpu/ram almost the same cost I would think... then you can use the other parts for stuff.

 

[Macro2]

Dumspter or goodwill.

 

[mathwizard314]

Try and give away the old PC for a tax write-off, save the money, and build a nice budget Athlon 2500+ CPU. Under 130 or so for a good mobo and the processor at NewEgg. Get a stick of 512MB value RAM for under 80 bucks, and a cheap hard drive ($60 or so for an 80 gig at newegg). I just tried to upgrade one of my customer's PC who uses a P2 350 MHZ. He runs Windows 2000 and it had 128MB of RAM. I upgraded him to 512MB of RAM. It really did not help the system at all. Plus, try and upgrade it with PC133 memory. You'll find it to be a lot cheaper then the PC100. But as you said, make sure it's compatible first.

 

[Lonyo]

I have a Dell XPS 600, the HDD still works fine.
Win 2k is OK on it, wouldn't ever dream of putting Win XP on it.
I have 384MB RAM, it's not too bad.
And it has a TNT2 Ultra, I think the card in your system has more than 4MB video memory

If they only surf the web, a copy of Win 2k, some firewall/virus software, Firefox and some more RAM is all that is needed to keep it going.
Of course, a cheap Duron/mobo/256MB RAM/HDD combo would probably not be too much, and would be much better, but then you would probably need a new case/PSU as well.

 

[AluminumStudios]

I wouldn't spend the money on it. I'd wait and spend just a little more on a new cheap system like this: http://www1.us.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/advertised_dimen3?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs

 

[OverVolt]

As for the memory, I matched up the info by first looking what chipset the mobo had courtesy of dell, then going to intel and finding it had a 384Mb Max and only supported low-density memory (8chips). Then i checked out crucials memory configurator and the stick i was going to buy at newegg and the one it reccommended and promised would work was the exact same thing.

Win2000 sounds like a good idea. I mean, this thing is running Win98, never defragged, shut down wrong, on a 5yr old surge protector. (i know they go bad in ~3yrs with lots of current spikes) I really can't see them getting a low end cheap Dell. It just doesn't fit their needs, it's for Word, net, light gaming, maybe even heavy gaming if he had the hardware. A Celeron and Intel Extreme wouldn't be the best thing for the family, especially since it had to last a few years.

Anyway, the vote here seems like: Get a new PC. What do you think for what i said he does above? He will probably be ripping lots of CD's while gaming, stuff like that.

BTW the upgrades would be like less than $170.

 

[LTC8K6]

Ripping CD's while gaming with a P2-400?

 

[jacktesterson]

why don't you buy him a new K7S5A Pro and XP2000 and 40 GB Hardrive for like $200

would murder that setup and be capable of running XP with 256MB of ram or more

 

[CVSiN]

1 stick of Dynamite 30 bucks...
1 match = .2 cents..

the Explosion as your friends Dell goes to the Moon... Priceless..

 

[jacktesterson]

Originally posted by: OverVolt
As for the memory, I matched up the info by first looking what chipset the mobo had courtesy of dell, then going to intel and finding it had a 384Mb Max and only supported low-density memory (8chips). Then i checked out crucials memory configurator and the stick i was going to buy at newegg and the one it reccommended and promised would work was the exact same thing.

Win2000 sounds like a good idea. I mean, this thing is running Win98, never defragged, shut down wrong, on a 5yr old surge protector. (i know they go bad in ~3yrs with lots of current spikes) I really can't see them getting a low end cheap Dell. It just doesn't fit their needs, it's for Word, net, light gaming, maybe even heavy gaming if he had the hardware. A Celeron and Intel Extreme wouldn't be the best thing for the family, especially since it had to last a few years.

Anyway, the vote here seems like: Get a new PC. What do you think for what i said he does above? He will probably be ripping lots of CD's while gaming, stuff like that.

BTW the upgrades would be like less than $170.

THIS JUST AINT POSSIBLE FOR $170

 

[OverVolt]

It's possible for $170 easily, lots of the hardware is junk i have laying around, all i would buy is w/e cheap HD i can find new, and on sale. Maybe a copy on Win2000, but i mean, i got a copy of win XP home in a jewel case doing nothing here, i converted that box to a nix server.

Basically, i have three options, which would you reccomend:

-Upgrade his current machine (i could probably upgrade it with a 370slocket + ~1.0Celly)
-Build him a cheap machine AXP 2000+ etc etc.
-Have him buy a cheap Dell/Gateway/HP/ etc Probably Celeron, Intel extreme etc

ON A side note: Dell is selling DDR2 on its mid/high range machines? I thought DDR2 sucked right now because of latency and the price/performance ratio just doesn't make sense for right now. anyone care to clue me in?

 

[lavagirl669]

Originally posted by: CVSiN
1 stick of Dynamite 30 bucks...
1 match = .2 cents..

the Explosion as your friends Dell goes to the Moon... Priceless..

lmao

 

[SneakyStuff]

I've got a n R400 laying around, I believe it's my sister's comp. It.. SUCKS, I agree with everyone else, save your moola, get a new compoota

 

[LordPhoenix]

I would get him to buy a cheap AMD comp and sell that junk. It's useless.

Really Cheap AMD System

-AMD Athlon XP 2500+ $80
-Biostar "M7NCG 400" nForce2 IGP including Geforce 4 MX $65
-Western Digital / Maxtor 80 GB HD $60
-Some Brand 512MB PC2700 (Don't get 3200) $65
-Raidmax Beige 350W Case $44 (inc. shipping)
-Lite On 4x DVD-RW $60 (optional)
-Reuse CD-RW or DVD-ROM
------------------------------------------------------
$374 with DVD-RW

Mid Budget AMD

Amd Athlon XP 2500+ $80
Shuttle AN35N-Ultra Nforce2 motherboard $58
Geforce 4 TI / Radeon 8500 $60
Any Brand 512 MB PC2700 $65
Antec Solution Series 300W Beige $65
Western Digital / Maxtor 80 GB HD $60
Lite On 4x DVD-RW $60 (optional)
-----------------------------------------------
$448 with DVD - RW

 

[magomago]

If you did that....and build him a new pc and you yourself make a conscious decidsion to be his tech support

BUY CHEAP

You don't need a 2500+ a 1.6 Apple Bred Duron http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=19-104-159&depa=0 will do just fine.

Dothings like that- yeah a 2500+ is Cheap, but the duron is 30 dollars cheaper. For a Harddrive, I would probably go seagate as even though I've never had my WD or Maxtor crap on me, Seagate is the most reliable and isn't for any reason they are used in a lot of OEMs. For a motherboard, maybe not even Nforce2, perhaps even a much more feature rich/cheaper KT600 where that 5-7% difference doesn't matter (And where the KT600s are much cheaper)...


But in all honesty, another cheap Dell system does sound VERY temtping...especially since you won't have to be their tech support.

 

[bigboxes]

1. Buy yourself an official Dell upgrade hammer.
2. Use upgrade hammer to smash Dell computer into lots of tiny Dell pieces.
3. Build your own from quality parts.

You have now upgraded your friend's Dell personal computer. Your friend will thank you for it.

 

[Gepost]

Overvolt, you have the right idea. I have people at work bring me older computers just want it working so they can get on the Internet and do word processing. I usually throw in some ram, add a used 7200rpm drive (20-30 gb), reformat, and install windows 98 or 2000. Works great. I just did a dell like yours. Forget about changing the motherboard. It is proprietary. The only problem these days, is the older pc100 ram is more expensive than the new ram.

 

[oldfart]

Upgradeware Slot-T - $20
Tually Celeron 1.3 - 1.4 GHz ~ $50
Scourer the FS/T for a 256M stick of PC100/133- $25 (it should support 256M stick. I've done it before)
Also find a used GF3/GF4 type video card for ~ $50
Hot deals on a new HDD are around all the time @ B&M.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Remove the case cover from the right hand side of the unit.
Turn case on side with open side up.
Install 2 large bags of potting soil.
Instal Geraniums, & water in place.
Sit back & enjoy the display.

 

[dwcal]

Originally posted by: Fuchs
Technically spending the money to buy 3x128MB of ram for this system you could most likely get a combo with new mobo/cpu/ram almost the same cost I would think... then you can use the other parts for stuff.

This is the big problem. 3x128MB of PC100 isn't cheap (maybe $30 ea), and it's a dead end upgrade. If you can find the RAM for free or cheap, it'll be worth upgrading since you can always reuse the HD. Another nice upgrade would be a Coppermine PIII or Celeron in a slot adapter. PIII's are still expensive, but you could get a Celeron for $20.