Wife cheap Upgrade, need some thoughts.

[Soultribunal]

Hey everyone,

Two years back I purchased an Inspiron 530 (Dell) for my hunny. Well, its getting obsolete pretty quickly, but of course I can't afford to shell out and build her a system right now (too scared to drop that much money when I don't know if I'll have a job tommorow or not).

It's stats plus some Upgrades over time:

Intel Dual-Core 1.8gHz E2160 Allendale 65nm
Dell Branded 250w PSU
WD 250GB HD x 2
2GB Samsung PC5400 Ram
XFX 7200GS 256(512meg) nVidia Graphics card (bought this 2 weeks ago when her onboard started going haywire...)

Now, I have a Dell 375W PSU that I can put in to give it power for a bit better chip, but I have to be careful of how powerful because:
1) Dell Foxxcon Boards have 'special' 4 pin connectors for HSF's that if not connected the damn computer won't boot.
2) This case, suffocates everything inside of it, no real airflow...

I want to get her:
2 more Gigs of Ram
ANd a Bit better on the CPU

I have two real options that won't cost me a fortune.
My Old E4700 Core 2 Duo
Or
Brand new E5200 @ 2.5 DualCore

The biggest question is, will the 375W cut it, and does anyone know if this type of Dell Box can hack a Wolfdale 45nm Core?

I just need to keep her running a little better than right now.

Thanks in advance,

ST

[3.0charlie]

Computer usage? XP or Vista? Because to be quite honest, the hardware should be plenty - maybe some more ram if Vista is used. Have you tried re-installing and compare speeds then?

[sswilson]

Wife cheap Upgrade, need some thoughts.

Sorry, but upgrading your wife is never cheap.... At the very least the original model always takes half. :)

[donimo]

Originally Posted by 3.0charlie

Computer usage? XP or Vista? Because to be quite honest, the hardware should be plenty - maybe some more ram if Vista is used. Have you tried re-installing and compare speeds then?

I agree totally, I run a 2180 with 2gb ram with vista on a 1920x1200 monitor with absolutely no difference from my gaming rig for non gaming stuff...

[Eagle Eye]

If she's doing nothing more than browsing the internet and word proccessing I don't see the need to upgrade. The only area that would help make the system a little speedier would be a faster HDD and as charlie suggested the system just might need a good format to clear out all the crap. If you could get Vista on the cheap you might consider it because later on going to Windows 7 it won't be as easy, in my case I'll likely just keep my XP install and just do a dual boot because i just know the girl will not like Windows 7 just from my experience already.

EE

[Eagle Eye]

SSWilson didn't bother posting it but I guess we're all the same page huh .

Re: Love the title...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eagle Eye
Thats a title that sure can be misinterpeted Wife cheap upgrade, "looking for a cheap wife upgrade" depends how you word it. I guess we've all given it some thought at some point and time whether it would be a possiblity.



EE

There is never anything wrong with browsing the Dealerships to look at the newer models...



ST

[Soultribunal]

Running right now as it stands Windows Vista Home Premium 64 , re-formatted 3(or 4) weeks ago when I installed the new WD 250 (un-opened for more than a year lol I procrastinate when its not for me).

She Games much like me , WoW , Warcraft 3 , C&C 3 , C&C Generals. The Video card helped with some of that, but its still more sluggish than I'd like it.
Gotta keep this thing on life support...
That E2160 is a bad mojo chip, it was nice at the time but its well past that now. Hence the post really..

Sswilson, funny, last one didn't take anything .

Regards.
ST

[donimo]

Well, if you game that's a WHOLE different story, new vid card, that one is not anywhere near close enough for gaming...

I run an x1950pro on my 2180 rig and it is JUST good enough to play the games you listed...

[Eagle Eye]

NOTICE - PC builders, when asking for input on YOUR projects Please Tell

:rtfm:

[Soultribunal]

Video card, will probably have to wait till I pull my 2600XT out of my Rig.
And Yes EE I realize I forgot to mention that part of it.

But then again you posted a PM which removes the private right from that equation so... I think we're even for now



ST