Is this old desktop PC powerful enough?

GreyQueen

poppellerant wrote: »

Your machine will be more than capable of broadband - much older machines can, too.

The basic requirement for broadband used to be a either a USB or network connection. But as broadband speeds increased, and the USB bus became over saturated, people wanted to be able to easily share the broadband connection with multiple devices. Hene when you get broadband installed these days, you will likely end up with a wireless router.

For the sake of both reliability and security, I would advise that you use a wired network connection. This will connect to the router using the network port shown by spannerzone. If it is simply easier for you to use a wireless connection, then make sure you use the strongest encryption offered by the router - these days it ought it be WPA2, but if the router can't support that then use WPA.

When you start using the broadband connection, you will wonder how you manage to wait for some sites to load. After about a month of using your broadband, I challenge you to go back to dialup. :eek:;)

By gum, am I learning some stuff up here today. Head's going wibble-wibble as the technophobia tries to kick in. I'm resisting it as hard as I can. I like the sound of a wired network connection but how do I get it to the machine as I don't appear to have a network port?

The phone line is right beside the PC, with a extension so I can run the landline phone off it in another part of the flat. Phone cable goes into a surge-protector powerstrip then into the modem in the PC tower.

Struggling on, struggling on.......did I mention I can remember pre-decimal currency.............?:rotfl:

m5rcc

robmar0se wrote: »

Thats just an opinion - just like the AV debate - its a matter of personal choice - I would never criticise anyone for what they're used to. If the OP is used to and is comfortable with IE then why not - one hears all sorts of arguments for other browsers, but very little quantified fact. However i would gainsay what i said in regard to Chrome, as I do not like Googles' policy in regard to privacy - you may say the same about MS, but on the other hand I prefer to spread it around as little as possible.

Its great to have a choice, in the end its what you're happy with.

Of course it's choice, I'm just stating IE is crapware

giraffe69

One thing at a time!
To connect broadband to your computer you will need a network card. If you haven't got the socket you will need a card to install into your computer. It is a DYI job but you could get a computer shop to do it if you would rather not. As stated above they cost little(well under a tenner)
Once on broadband you should have a decent AV and update it. Despite all the hot air above most of the free ones are fine. I've used MSE and Avast. I guess re-registering once a year with Avast is a slight pain but I can stand it annually.

Changing your browser can be put on the later list. If you are going to stick with IE then v8 is better and more secure than IE7. Once on broadband then checking all your windows updates(and this is one of them) are done is worthwhile. If you want to try another browser at some point then you could download Firefox or Chrome or Opera and give it a try to see if you liked it. You can run as many browsers as you want.
One last thing I would also download Malwarebytes(it's free) and use it periodically alongside the antivirus of your choice.

Happy highspeed surfing.

macman

A PCI network card will cost about a fiver and is easily fitted to your PC. If you can use a screwdriver to take the side panel off, you can insert a PCI card.
You can then easily connect to your new router using the supplied ethernet cable.

closed

Is this a branded machine or a shop/home build, network cards have been standard for a long time.

macman

You are looking for one of these on the rear panel.
http://yoursourceisopen.com/2540-computer-network-icon-free-psd-2

spannerzone

Yeah if this thread can just stick to how to get the OP online rather than waffling on about which browser or antivirus is better will surely make the job easier and less likely to make the OP wish they hadn't asked.

Main priority is to get a network card fitted in readiness, this is certainly something that even a non technical person should be capable of assuming they can turn off the mains power going to the PC (but leave the lead connected to make the PC still be earthed), undoing a side cover, removing a blanking plate, inserting the newly purchased 10/100 network card (let's ignore gigabyte for simplicity shall we!?) booting up so WIndows detects and installs the new hardware and getting the PC to no longer 'dial a connection' but use a network connection.

Dave_C_2

I run a machine of similar age with a 1.2 GHz AMD Duron processor and it's fine with XP and Broadband.

When you sign up for broadband you normally get the following:

• A CD containing driver files for the usb connection and generally useless other stuff.
• A router and Power supply.
• Several ADSL filters - you need one in each phone socket.
• A lead to go to the router from the ADSL filter in the phone line
• Two leads to go from the router to your PC. One is USB and the other Ethernet (AKA network)

You can use either USB or ethernet to connect to the router from your PC
USB plugs in here
And Ethernet plugs in here


Ethernet is preferable as it requires no drivers and just works in windows XP.

USB requires some set-up from the installation CD - drivers are required. Purists will say that USB is generally slower than Ethernet, but compared to dial-up it will still be fast.


Finally if you post your PC make and model we may be able to help a little more. If you don't know this then you can find the motherboard make and model from XP:
Start > Run > DXdiag
and the list will show amongst othe things:

System manufacturer: (mine says ECS)
System Model: (mine says K7SOM+)


Hope this helps, Dave

spannerzone

The above does assume the ISP supplies an ADSL modem router that has USB and ethernet ports which I suspect is no longer the case, most supplied will only have an ethernet port....not to say it's impossible but rather unlikely these days.

SteveJH200

spannerzone wrote: »

Main priority is to get a network card fitted in readiness, this is certainly something that even a non technical person should be capable of assuming they can turn off the mains power going to the PC (but leave the lead connected to make the PC still be earthed), undoing a side cover, removing a blanking plate, inserting the newly purchased 10/100 network card (let's ignore gigabyte for simplicity shall we!?) booting up so WIndows detects and installs the new hardware and getting the PC to no longer 'dial a connection' but use a network connection.

Also a good idea to check and see how much dust there is inside before slotting anything in - I'm guessing that Mr Dyson or Mr Hoover will be needed!