Why buy a new PC ? Spring clean and update the old one.

Dunkyboy_2

great thread,
i want more Ram, because i use photoshop for digital pictures etc, and having upgraded to a massive:o 770MB through crucial memory several years ago, i believe i can't put any more ram on it, as the PC can't handle it, so i am stuck unless i buy new. I need about 2GB to run Photoshop CS2 fast so what can i do in this case....??
any suggestions

superscaper

Dunkyboy wrote: »

great thread,
i want more Ram, because i use photoshop for digital pictures etc, and having upgraded to a massive:o 770MB through crucial memory several years ago, i believe i can't put any more ram on it, as the PC can't handle it, so i am stuck unless i buy new. I need about 2GB to run Photoshop CS2 fast so what can i do in this case....??
any suggestions

You could upgrade the motherboard (and processor) to a newer one. That way you wouldn't have to stretch to a complete new pc.

Dunkyboy_2

would i be able to do this without
1 special tools
2 intimate knowledge of the internals of my PC

I wouldn't know a motherboard if it hit me on the head??
How do i know what i would need, or what would fit..

mjr600

Dunkyboy wrote: »

great thread,
i want more Ram, because i use photoshop for digital pictures etc, and having upgraded to a massive:o 770MB through crucial memory several years ago, i believe i can't put any more ram on it, as the PC can't handle it, so i am stuck unless i buy new. I need about 2GB to run Photoshop CS2 fast so what can i do in this case....??
any suggestions

You will be able to put more ram in it, just take the old stuff out.

You will probably have two slots for ram, just take the old stuff out, sell it for a few quid on Ebay and put two new 1gb sticks of ram in the slots. Should cost about £40 and you might get £10 for the old stuff, make sure you use the fastest ram the computer can handle, on an older PC it may be something like PC2700 or similar. Use the Crucial ram cheker on their website for advice on that.

[Deleted User]

Installing a new motherboard would be a massive job for a newbie.. frankly i know what I'm doing and I don't relish the idea of doing it.

Dunkyboy - the motherboard is the main 'control centre' of your PC, they look like this:


Your RAM, CPU and everything else is plugged in or connected to it. In order to replace it, you need to disconnect everything, unscrew/unclip it (usually just normal small screws), put a new one in (one that fits), screw it in, put in the RAM, CPU then plug everything else back in.

There's quite a range of them and you've got to make sure your RAM, CPU and other components are compatible. Sometimes its easier just to buy a new PC than replace it

Little_John

A motherboard isnt the thing to worry about hard drives really hurt when they hit you on the head.

oldagetraveller

You can check your existing RAM here http://www.orcalogic.co.uk/asp/orcapcwizard.asp
Download and run the wizard then e-mail the results to ORCA. They will advise which RAM to buy. I've just replaced one of my 512Mb with a 1Gb module and if I can do it, so can anyone. The Orca Ram might be a bit more expensive than some but it works and you also receive instructions and an anti-static wrist band to protect the new RAM when fitting it.

Dunkyboy_2

I have done the Crucial Memory (2 years ago) check, and thats when i upgraded from a piffleing 256MB to a huge 770MB (well it was then). My PC can not take any more ram according to the manufacturer spec ( i checked on-line), and i think changing motherboards is as likley as Man City winning anything in the next decade
I think i have to get a new PC.

superscaper

Dunkyboy wrote: »

I have done the Crucial Memory (2 years ago) check, and thats when i upgraded from a piffleing 256MB to a huge 770MB (well it was then). My PC can not take any more ram according to the manufacturer spec ( i checked on-line), and i think changing motherboards is as likley as Man City winning anything in the next decade
I think i have to get a new PC.

I changed my motherboard in my first pc for similar reasons when I couldn't get a better processor for my old motherboard. I had no training etc whatsoever, had never done it before, and I found it extremely easy and all it required was a cross head screwdriver. When I was in a similar position to you, I was eager to learn how to do it and how everything fit together and what everything did, it never even crossed my mind to get a new pc. Back then I think I only really used the internet to order the parts, I didn't even use chat forums etc. It's really not as difficult as many people (the same ones who never actually try it) make it out to be. If I don't understand something then instead of letting that put me off, I actively go and try and learn as much as I can about it. Surely that's the best way and fits into the moneysaving ethos.

wolfman

Hmmm easier said than done, reinstalling everything. A lot of technically minded people will be ok, but not every average joe will be able to do so, or even have the discs/drivers etc... at hand.

It's one of the faults with Windows however. Over time performance does drop quite quickly. I've always found the best solution is to (if you can) freshly install), get everything setup perfectly, then take a ghost image (using something like Acronis True Image). You've then got something quick and fresh to revert to once your system starts to slow down.