[rhiscoullar]

Greetings All

I have a computer that is about six years old. I do not use the computer for any serious
Tasks; most of the time it’s used for internet browsing, and running some specialist applications
Related to outdoor pursuits, such as mapping and recording GPS trails.
Over time, I have noticed that the computer isn’t keeping up with modern uses for the Internet, such
as Youtube and Google Earth. I have upgraded my internet connection to broadband from a quality
provider, however the computer is still noticeably slow when performing a number of tasks.
For the most part, i hope to do much of what i already use the computer for now – just a lot more
quickly. My digital video camcorder has a Firewire output port, and I want the new computer to
be able to take video from the camcorder and create DVDs from it. Some time in the near future I
plan to buy a new, larger, flat-panel monitor. My current system has these components

Case AOpen HX-45, Midi-Tower ATX Case
Power Supply AOpen ATX Power Supply, 350 Watts, ATX12V Connector
Motherboard Gigabyte GA-7VAX
CPU AMD Athlon XP +1800
Memory 256 MB DDR RAM
Graphics Card 128 MB Graphics Gigabyte nVidia Geforce 5200 FX
Hard Disk 340 GB HDD Parallel ATA
Optical Drive LiteOn DVD+-RW Burner 16x

Special Requirements.

I must take special attention to ensure the following facilities are available on the new system:
A serial port: for connecting the GPS unit
FireWire (IEEE 1394): for connecting the camcorder
Ethernet: for connecting the broadband modem
DVI Port: for connecting a flat-panel monitor in the future
For software compatibility reasons, the upgraded system will continue to run Windows XP. (I
already have a retail boxed copy of Windows XP Home from my current PC.)

I am ONLY able to use upgrades from this following selection;

MOTHERBOARDS
Intel Socket DDR DIMM Modules
Gigabyte G41MT-S2P
Gigabyte H67MA-D2HB3
ASUS P8H61-M-LE-V3
AMD Socket
ASUS M4A88T-M
Gigabyte MA78LMT-S2
AsRock 880GM-LE
PROCESSORS
Intel CPUs
Intel E3400
Intel E6500
Intel i3-2100
Intel i7-2600
AMD CPUs
AMD AM3 Sempron LE140
AMD AM3 Sempron LE555 $
AMD AM3 X4 970
OPTICAL DRIVE
IDE DVD-Recorder
SATA DVD-Recorder
SATA Blu-Ray Reader
SATA Blu-Ray Writer

POWER SUPPLIES
Generic 500W ATX12V (24pin
Coolermaster 460W ATX12V (24pin
Coolermaster 600W ATX12V (24pin)
Topower 600W ATX12V (24pin)

GRAPHICS CARD
Nvidia / ATI Graphics (AGP)
Gigabyte 256M 6200
Powercolor 1Gb 3650
Nvidia Graphics (PCI-E)
ASUS 512M GT210
GigaByte GTS450 1GB
Gigabyte !GB GT220
ATI Graphics (PCI-E)
Gigabyte 512mb 5450
Gigabyte 1GB 5450
ASUS 5670 1GB
MEMORY
1024MB DDR-400
DDR2 DIMM Modules
1024MB DDR2-800
2048MB DDR2-800
4G DDR2 1066 $66

DDR3 DIMM Modules
2048MB DDR3-1333
4096MB DDR3-1333
DDR2 SODIMM Modules
1024MB DDR2 SODIMM
2048MB DDR2 SODIMM
PARTS
PCI) RS232 Serial Port Card $16
(PCI) Firewire/1394 Card
(PCIe-1x) Serial ATA Card
HARD DISK
Western Digital 3.5"
SATA 500GB
SATA 1 TB
SATA 2TB
Seagate 3.5"
SATA 500GB
SATA 1 TB
SATA 2 TB

[Advertisements]

Hi rhiscoullar

and I want the new computer to be able to take video from the camcorder and create DVDs from it.

I am ONLY able to use upgrades from this following selection;

Please clarify whether you are requesting assistance with the purchase of a complete new system
or upgrading the present one, a budget to work with will be required in both instances.

[phillpower2]

Hi rhiscoullar

and I want the new computer to be able to take video from the camcorder and create DVDs from it.

I am ONLY able to use upgrades from this following selection;

Please clarify whether you are requesting assistance with the purchase of a complete new system
or upgrading the present one, a budget to work with will be required in both instances.

[rhiscoullar]

Hi Phillpower2
I am only going to do an upgrade.
My budget will be up to $135.00 per category( the ones i have gotten listed)
If my current system doesn't need upgrades of everything that would be good,,lol.
Just trying to get this computer to run faster and smoother will be heaven.
Thanks in advance for your time

[phillpower2]

Fellow Aussies Troy and iammykyl are better placed to advise you on this but here are some suggestions;
MB: http://www.scorptec....-ga-h67ma-d2hb3
CPU: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16819115071 more than $135 dollars I'm afraid can you not get the 2500k spec?
Optical drive: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827136181
PSU: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16817171036
GPU: http://www.newegg.co...N82E16814125342
Ram: http://www.newegg.co...1-311-_-Product
HDD/s http://www.newegg.co...N82E16822136795 I would fit 2 smaller HDDs as opposed to 1 large one as backing up your data is easy + if the drive ever died you will not loose all your data.
The Parts category I will leave to you as the options are endless

EDIT: I have only used the Newegg site so that you can check out the suggestions

Edited by phillpower2, 23 April 2011 - 07:32 AM.

[iammykyl]

Gday Miscullar.

Altering your hardware to any extent would not be an upgrade but a new build. The only real upgrade path I see is for the memory. Altering any thing else would lead to altering something else, would lead!!

Bookmark the following page to your favourites so you can get back to it later for driver and BIOS updates. If you do not have your Mobo manual, download it from the same site and print it.
> http://www.gigabyte....1392&dl=1#dlBuy

Buy 3 x 1 GB modules like these listed on this site,
> http://www.upgradeco...AX-Motherboard/

Use the tools in XP to backup your essential data, including your favourites, to disk.

Disconnect the PC from the mains. Open the case. Take anti static measures by touching the bare metal of the case with a finger.
Clean the inside of the computer of dust. Use a can of compressed `air`, make sure to stop fans from spinning around by gently holding them in place with a Q tip.
Inspect to make sure all the cables are still connected. Close the case and reconnect the PC.


Use your manual for instructions on updating the BIOS from the Mobo website.

Now do a clean install of XP. Download and install any service packs required. On the Mobo website is a link for updating any other driver you might need.

Use the XP tools to restore your Data. Your computer should be running like new again.

Installing the new RAM.

Disconnect the PC from the mains, open the case, take anti static measures.

Follow the instruction in the Mobo Manual for removing and re installing the memory.

Close up the case, and start the PC.

You should now have much better performance.

.

Edited by iammykyl, 25 April 2011 - 07:43 AM.

[CPT110]

This upgrade will need more research

[CPT110^2]

Is your name really rhiscoullar or is it Fiona by any chance?
Maybe you should read the section in your assignment titled "Collaboration and acedemic Integrity"

[Asmodeus]

Sprung lol.