Upgrade for Novice

intel

rutters wrote:

thanks guys
If I managed to get some parts cheap then would they be easy to install?

Build your own PC and installing parts

Need bits ? Try >>>> http://www.freecycle.org/

T4i

You could go second-hand but I'd make sure all the parts do actualy work (try make sure you can see them all working) before buying.

If your going for a new CPU you may have to get a new mobo too, so look at buying a bundle deal.

Motherboard + CPU
RAM

Also, make sure the motherboard is the same factor as your case or it wont fit in correctly.

You may need a new PSU but you wont know what type until you either get a Pentium or AMD machine.

New HDD's really come quite cheap now, and buying second hand HDD's is a joke.....dont goto a fair style place and buy a HDD unless you can see it working and 100% clean disk scan. These people who turn up at fairs with 200+ hard drives know they are all stuffed.....they test them all the night before to find the dud ones to sell.

Good luck with buying......

Dack

Ram is pretty easy to install - remember you need SDRam for that motherboard.

Processor a bit more fun (usually with the cooling fan).

Hard drive can be easy if
a. your IDE cable isn't single ended
b. your bios supports the new drive size
c. You remember to set the jumpers on the drive correctly before installing

As to Linux:
a. Smaller operating system footprint - i.e. takes up less memory
b. Lower system requirement - runs pretty quick even on older machines
c. Free - so you don't pay Microsoft the £80 plus for the operating system
d. Lot more secure than Windows for Internet browsing (or can be).

Bad points:
a. You'll have to learn how to use different applications
b. Not many games

Free to download from all sorts of places over the internet. One I recommend trying is downloading the bootable CD Knoppix from https://www.knopper.net. This is a 'live' version of Linux that you run completely from the CD - just put it in the drive and boot from it. All the data on your hard drive is left intact (unless you want to create a permanent swap partition).

I have to say though that it will not perform as well as it could on your system due to the fact it will be using your RAM as it's pseudo drive (lowering the amount it can use for applications).

I'd suggest getting a RAM upgrade before trying it.

wonderfullife_2

Hi
Have you thought of motherboard bundles, they come installed, just fit into case, and plug in your drives etc.

Excellent website and supplier

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/bundles.html

Hope this helps