How do I assemble/improve my PC?

[hectortrojan]

How do I assemble/improve my PC?
Currently my PC is very slow. It’s too old and I want to upgrade it.
I am interested in assembling it so that I can replace minimum parts in future and don’t need to buy the whole new PC. How do I go about doing so?

Here is some info about my system:
Microsoft XP
Home Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 3

Inter Celeron CPU 2.4GHz
2.39 GHz, 1.49 GB RAM
Motherboard: REV A02

Adapter:
Intel 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphic Controller
64 MB Memory

[caperjack]

It’s too old and I want to upgrade it.
Motherboard: REV A02
this is not the correct motherdboard model # just its version ,if we knew the correct model # we could offer more detail info .

usually cheaper to just go out and buy a new tower .

or depending on how old it is , you might need a new tower ,/new power supply/motherboard/cpu /ram /sata hard drive/ [most new motherboards don't have IDE connector ]new video card ,ect ect

[hectortrojan]

I will check on motherdboard model #. What other information do I need to provide?

[caperjack]

I will check on motherdboard model #. What other information do I need to provide?

actually we can find it all out with speecy .

Lets find out what you have inside.

Use Speccy to provide details of your computer's configuration.

Download, http://209.62.107.107/speccy/download/standard , install, and run.
After Speccy has finished gathering information, click File > Publish Snapshot.
Click Yes. A web address will be displayed.
Click Copy to Clipboard and paste it in your next post.

[hectortrojan]

Thanks for suggesting speccy.
I got following: (attached word doc for better format)

Operating System - MS Windows XP Home 32-bit SP3
CPU - Intel Celeron, Northwood 0.13um Technology
RAM - 1.50 GB DDR @ 132MHz (2.5-3-3-6)
Motherboard - Dell Computer Corp. 0F5949 (Microprocessor)
Graphics - SMB2430H (1600x900@60Hz), Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller, LogMeIn Mirror Driver
Hard Drives - 244GB Seagate ST3250620A (PATA): 28 °C, 39.1GB Seagate ST340014A (PATA): 24 °C, NULL (NULL)
Optical Drives - HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H10L
Audio - Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device
Operating System - MS Windows XP Home 32-bit SP3

ACPI Uniprocessor PC
Microsoft ACPI-Compliant System
ACPI Power Button
Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.40GHz
System board
ACPI Fixed Feature Button
PCI bus
Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Processor to I/O Controller - 2560
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM SMBus Controller - 24C3
SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio
Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller
Plug and Play Monitor
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C2
USB Root Hub
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C4
USB Root Hub
photosmart 1115
photosmart 1115
photosmart printer card reader (HPH09)
Generic volume
1284.4 Compatible Printer
hp photosmart 1115 series
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB Universal Host Controller - 24C7
USB Root Hub
Intel(R) 82801DB/DBM USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller - 24CD
USB Root Hub
Intel(R) 82801DB PCI Bridge - 244E
Broadcom 440x 10/100 Integrated Controller
Intel(R) 537EP V9x DF PCI Modem
Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device
Intel(R) 82801DB LPC Interface Controller - 24C0
ISAPNP Read Data Port
Direct memory access controller
Numeric data processor
Programmable interrupt controller
System speaker
System CMOS/real time clock
System timer
Standard floppy disk controller
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
PS/2 Compatible Mouse
Communications Port (COM1)
System board
ECP Printer Port (LPT1)
Printer Port Logical Interface
Intel(R) 82801DB Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 24CB
Primary IDE Channel
ST3250620A
Secondary IDE Channel
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H10L
ST340014A

CPU
Intel Celeron
Cores:
1
Threads:
1
Name:
Intel Celeron
Code Name:
Northwood
Package:
Socket 478 mPGA
Technology:
0.13um
Specification:
Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.40GHz
Family:
F
Extended Family:
F
Model:
2
Extended Model:
2
Stepping:
9
Revision:
D1
Instructions:
MMX, SSE, SSE2
Virtualization:
Unsupported
Hyperthreading:
Not supported
Bus Speed:
99.7 MHz
Rated Bus Speed:
398.8 MHz
Stock Core Speed:
2400 MHz
Stock Bus Speed:
100 MHz
Caches
L1 Data Cache Size:
8 KBytes
L1 trace cache:
12 Kµops
L2 Unified Cache Size:
128 KBytes
Core 0
Core Speed:
2392.5 MHz
Multiplier:
x 24.0
Bus Speed:
99.7 MHz
Rated Bus Speed:
398.8 MHz
Thread 1
APIC ID:
0
RAM
Memory slots
Total memory slots:
2
Used memory slots:
2
Free memory slots:
0
Memory
Type:
DDR
Size:
1536 MBytes
DRAM Frequency:
132.9 MHz
CAS# Latency (CL):
2.5 clocks
RAS# to CAS# Delay (tRCD):
3 clocks
RAS# Precharge (tRP):
3 clocks
Cycle Time (tRAS):
6 clocks
Physical Memory
Memory Usage:
47 %
Total Physical:
1.49 GB
Available Physical:
799 MB
Total Virtual:
5.34 GB
Available Virtual:
4.76 GB
SPD
Number Of SPD Modules:
2
Slot #1
Type:
DDR
Size:
512 MBytes
Manufacturer:
Hyundai Electronics
Max Bandwidth:
PC2700 (166 MHz)
Part Number:
HYMD264 646D8J-J
Serial Number:
FFFF6020
Week/year:
08 / 05
SPD Ext.:
EPP
JEDEC #2
Frequency:
166.7 MHz
CAS# Latency:
2.5
RAS# To CAS#:
4
RAS# Precharge:
4
tRAS:
8
Voltage:
2.500 V
JEDEC #1
Frequency:
133.3 MHz
CAS# Latency:
2.0
RAS# To CAS#:
3
RAS# Precharge:
3
tRAS:
6
Voltage:
2.500 V
Slot #2
Type:
DDR
Size:
1024 MBytes
Manufacturer:
Samsung
Max Bandwidth:
PC3200 (200 MHz)
Part Number:
M3 68L2923DUN-CCC
Serial Number:
060220F6
Week/year:
71 / 06
SPD Ext.:
EPP
JEDEC #2
Frequency:
200.0 MHz
CAS# Latency:
3.0
RAS# To CAS#:
3
RAS# Precharge:
3
tRAS:
8
Voltage:
2.500 V
JEDEC #1
Frequency:
166.7 MHz
CAS# Latency:
2.5
RAS# To CAS#:
3
RAS# Precharge:
3
tRAS:
7
Voltage:
2.500 V
Motherboard
Manufacturer:
Dell Computer Corp.
Model:
0F5949 (Microprocessor)
Chipset Vendor:
Intel
Chipset Model:
i845G
Chipset Revision:
A1
Southbridge Vendor:
Intel
Southbridge Model:
82801DB (ICH4)
Southbridge Revision:
01
BIOS
Brand:
Dell Computer Corporation
Version:
A05
Date:
12/02/2003
PCI Data
Slot PCI
Slot Type:
PCI
Slot Usage:
Available
Bus Width:
32 bit
Slot Designation:
PCI1
Slot Number:
0
Graphics
Monitor
Name:
SMB2430H on Intel 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller
Current Resolution:
1600x900 pixels
Work Resolution:
1600x866 pixels
State:
enabled, primary, output devices support
Monitor Width:
1600
Monitor Height:
900
Monitor BPP:
32 bits per pixel
Monitor Frequency:
60 Hz
Device:
\\.\DISPLAY1\Monitor0
Intel(R) 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller
Memory:
64 MB
Memory type:
2
Driver version:
6.14.10.4342
LogMeIn Mirror Driver
Memory type:
2
Driver version:
2.50.596
OpenGL
Version:
1.3.0 - Build 4.14.10.4342
Vendor:
Intel
Renderer:
Intel 845G
GLU Version:
1.2.2.0 Microsoft Corporation
Values
GL_MAX_LIGHTS:
16
GL_MAX_TEXTURE_SIZE:
2048
GL_MAX_TEXTURE_STACK_DEPTH:
10
GL Extensions
GL_ARB_multitexture
GL_ARB_point_parameters
GL_ARB_texture_border_clamp
GL_ARB_texture_compression
GL_ARB_texture_cube_map
GL_ARB_texture_env_add
GL_ARB_texture_env_combine
GL_ARB_texture_env_dot3
GL_ARB_texture_env_crossbar
GL_ARB_transpose_matrix
GL_ARB_vertex_buffer_object
GL_ARB_vertex_program
GL_ARB_window_pos
GL_EXT_abgr
GL_EXT_bgra
GL_EXT_blend_color
GL_EXT_blend_func_separate
GL_EXT_blend_minmax
GL_EXT_blend_subtract
GL_EXT_clip_volume_hint
GL_EXT_compiled_vertex_array
GL_EXT_cull_vertex
GL_EXT_draw_range_elements
GL_EXT_fog_coord
GL_EXT_multi_draw_arrays
GL_EXT_packed_pixels
GL_EXT_rescale_normal
GL_EXT_secondary_color
GL_EXT_separate_specular_color
GL_EXT_stencil_wrap
GL_EXT_texture_compression_s3tc
GL_EXT_texture_env_add
GL_EXT_texture_env_combine
GL_EXT_texture_filter_anisotropic
GL_3DFX_texture_compression_FXT1
GL_IBM_texture_mirrored_repeat
GL_NV_blend_square
GL_NV_texgen_reflection
GL_SGIS_generate_mipmap
GL_WIN_swap_hint
GL_EXT_bgra
Hard Drives
ST3250620A
Manufacturer:
Seagate
Form Factor:
3.5"
Cache Size:
16MB
Interface:
ATA
Heads:
16
Cylinders:
16383
Device type:
Fixed
ATA Standard:
ATA/ATAPI-7
LBA Size:
48-bit LBA
Power On Count:
1019 times
Power On Time:
426.5 days
Features:
S.M.A.R.T.
Transfer Mode:
Ultra DMA/100
Interface:
PATA
Capacity:
244GB
Real size:
250,059,350,016 bytes
RAID Type:
None
S.M.A.R.T
01 Read Error Rate:
116 (090 worst) Data 000615AE0C
03 Spin-Up Time:
095 (095) Data 0000000000
04 Start/Stop Count:
100 (100) Data 00000003F9
05 Reallocated Sectors Count:
100 (100) Data 0000000000
07 Seek Error Rate:
086 (060) Data 00185667DE
09 Power-On Hours (POH):
089 (089) Data 00000027FC
0A Spin Retry Count:
100 (100) Data 0000000000
0C Device Power Cycle Count:
100 (100) Data 00000003FB
BB Reported Uncorrectable Errors:
100 (100) Data 0000000000
BD High Fly Writes (WDC):
100 (100) Data 0000000000
BE Temperature Difference from 100:
072 (054) Data 001C15001C
C2 Temperature:
028 (046) Data 000000001C
C3 Hardware ECC Recovered:
078 (060) Data 0003A5C4AA
C5 Current Pending Sector Count:
100 (100) Data 0000000000
C6 Uncorrectable Sector Count:
100 (100) Data 0000000000
C7 UltraDMA CRC Error Count:
200 (200) Data 0000000000
C8 Write Error Rate / Multi-Zone Error Rate:
100 (253) Data 0000000000
CA Data Address Mark errors:
100 (253) Data 0000000000
Temperature:
28 °C
Temperature Range:
ok (less than 50 °C)
Status:
Good
Partition 0
Partition ID:
Disk #0, Partition #0
Disk Letter:
C:
File System:
NTFS
Volume Serial Number:
A0AEB32C
Size:
233GB
Used Space:
178GB (77%)
Free Space:
55GB (23%)
ST340014A
Manufacturer:
Seagate
Form Factor:
3.5"
Heads:
16
Cylinders:
16383
Device type:
Fixed
ATA Standard:
ATA/ATAPI-6
LBA Size:
48-bit LBA
Power On Count:
1513 times
Power On Time:
527.8 days
Features:
S.M.A.R.T., AAM
Transfer Mode:
Ultra DMA/100
Interface:
PATA
Capacity:
39.1GB
Real size:
40,000,000,000 bytes
RAID Type:
None
S.M.A.R.T
01 Read Error Rate:
064 (060 worst) Data 000BF17493
03 Spin-Up Time:
098 (098) Data 0000000000
04 Start/Stop Count:
099 (099) Data 00000007F6
05 Reallocated Sectors Count:
100 (100) Data 0000000000
07 Seek Error Rate:
088 (060) Data 0029FB7950
09 Power-On Hours (POH):
086 (086) Data 000000317C
0A Spin Retry Count:
100 (100) Data 0000000000
0C Device Power Cycle Count:
099 (099) Data 00000005E9
C2 Temperature:
023 (045) Data 0000000017
C3 Hardware ECC Recovered:
064 (060) Data 000BF17493
C5 Current Pending Sector Count:
100 (100) Data 0000000000
C6 Uncorrectable Sector Count:
100 (100) Data 0000000000
C7 UltraDMA CRC Error Count:
200 (200) Data 0000000000
C8 Write Error Rate / Multi-Zone Error Rate:
100 (253) Data 0000000000
CA Data Address Mark errors:
100 (253) Data 0000000000
Temperature:
24 °C
Temperature Range:
ok (less than 50 °C)
Status:
Good
Partition 0
Partition ID:
Disk #1, Partition #0
Size:
54.8 MB
Partition 1
Partition ID:
Disk #1, Partition #1
Disk Letter:
E:
File System:
NTFS
Volume Serial Number:
FCCAFE78
Size:
33.8GB
Used Space:
13.0GB (39%)
Free Space:
20.8GB (61%)
Partition 2
Partition ID:
Disk #1, Partition #2
Size:
3.34 GB
NULL
Manufacturer:
Unknown manufacturer
Interface:
NULL
Capacity
Real size:
0 bytes
RAID Type:
None
S.M.A.R.T
S.M.A.R.T not supported
Optical Drives
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H10L
Media Type:
CD-ROM
Name:
HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-H10L
Availability:
Running/Full Power
Capabilities:
Random Access, Supports Removable Media
Config Manager Error Code:
Device is working properly
Config Manager User Config:
FALSE
Drive:
D:
Media Loaded:
FALSE
SCSI Bus:
0
SCSI Logical Unit:
0
SCSI Port:
1
SCSI Target Id:
0
Status:
OK
Audio
Sound Cards
Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device
SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio
Playback Device
SoundMAX Digital Audio
Recording Device
SoundMAX Digital Audio
Speaker Configuration
Speaker Configuration
Speaker type:
Stereo
Peripherals
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Device Kind:
Keyboard
Device Name:
Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard
Location:
plugged into keyboard port
Driver
Date:
7-1-2001
Version:
5.1.2600.2180
File:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\i8042prt.sys
File:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\kbdclass.sys
PS/2 Compatible Mouse
Device Kind:
Mouse
Device Name:
PS/2 Compatible Mouse
Location:
plugged into PS/2 mouse port
Driver
Date:
7-1-2001
Version:
5.1.2600.0
File:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\i8042prt.sys
File:
C:\WINDOWS\system32\DRIVERS\mouclass.sys

[caperjack]

no, actually the snapshot is easier to read ,but anyway ,It's A Dell ,its so outdated ,i would suggest buying a whole new tower ,replacing all you old hardware,

[hectortrojan]

ok.

So to buy whole new tower and new hardware, I need followings:
cpu case
power supply/box (80)
motherboard
processor - for basic user, is there any advantage of getting i7 over i5?
ram (2) 4+4 gb ddr3
hard drive
windows 7 os, 64 bit

Am I missing anything?

This is what I am thinking about getting:
powwer supply - $65 http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371016
motherboard for i5 -$70 - http://www.frys.com/product/6540003?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG
if i7, motherboard -$90 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813121554
i5 processor - $190 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115074
if 17, processor - $320 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070
ram - $47 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231428
hard drive - $110 - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148840
windows 7 os, 64 bit - $140

Do I need to upgrade following?
cd/dvd
card reader
graphics card/video card

[JorgeM]

My recommendation to you is to consider just wiping the drive and reinstall the OS. Usually, a fresh, clean install results in a responsive pc once again. For one, your drive will no longer be fragmented Depending on your needs, that may be good enough.

If you wanted to upgrade the PC, I would only suggest increasing the RAM to 3GB max as on a 32 bit WinXp system, more RAM is not going to bring you huge improvements in speed. On addition, I always try to get the fastest hard drive because secondary storage is one of the slowest components in the PC. You can only be as fast as your slowest component.

If you proceed with a new system, again, I suggest to focus on the hard drive and RAM. You'll get the most performance for your investment. For a new system, get a CPU that is x64 capable (all modern CPUs are), load an x64 version of the OS. With x64, your computer can use a lot more RAM. I would install at least 8 GB. And Fast drives of course!!!

I wouldn't spend too much on CPUs. The difference in cost between the fastest and the next fastest could be a few hundred dollars, but the performance is generally unoticable unless you measure it with a tool.

Just some things to think about.

[ajaysinghinyng]

easy men.
ASUS DG41TY
2.8GHZ CPU
3.0 GB RAM 1333 HZ
NVIDIA GFORCE 9600
MICROSOFT 700 KEY+MOUSE SET
SONY GAMING CONSOLE 2.0 & 3.0
.............
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THATS IT. :)