Computer question

Grim/Don

Grim/Don

Joined
Feb 1, 2003
Messages
1,221
Need some computer help from the tech gurus here. I'm running a Dell Dimension E510 with 1GB memory. I've came into a little bit of $$ and am thinking about upgrading. To max out the memory (4GB) would be ~$67... But I was thinking it would be better in the long run to ring up Dell and get another computer.

Mainly I play a game like WoW, and I'm lagging a bit. I can run two chars at the same time, but 3 slows down my system a bunch. We got my son a computer for Christmas last year (Dell Studio something) and he can run 5-6 chars and watch Youtube and play music...

I'm thinking $300-$400 in a new Dell would last me a lot longer, and be a better overall value than the mem upgrade.

Thoughts?
 
Post the rest of the specs on the computer. Its hard to tell without the rest of them. If you're having a hard time figuring it out, try belarc advisor. Google search will bring it up, its a free light program that just analyzes your computer for you.
 
Good Heavens - Belarc pulled EVERYTHING up on my computer! lol that program is thorough. Here's some of the data:

Operating System
Windows XP Media Center Edition Service Pack 3 (build 2600)

Processor a

2.80 gigahertz Intel Pentium D
16 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (2 total)
Not hyper-threaded

Main Circuit Board
Board: Dell Inc. 0HJ054
Serial Number: ..CN6986163N0A4E.
Bus Clock: 800 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Inc. A05 03/31/2006

Memory Modules
1024 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'DIMM_1' has 512 MB (serial number F4295BF2)
Slot 'DIMM_3' is Empty
Slot 'DIMM_2' has 512 MB (serial number F4295BFA)
Slot 'DIMM_4' is Empty

Drives
244.95 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity
195.97 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space

Controllers
Intel(R) 82801G (ICH7 Family) Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 27DF
Intel(R) 82801GB/GR/GH (ICH7 Family) Serial ATA Storage Controller - 27C0
Primary IDE Channel [Controller] (2x)
Secondary IDE Channel [Controller]

Display
RADEON X600 256MB HyperMemory [Display adapter]
RADEON X600 256MB HyperMemory Secondary [Display adapter]
DELL S2009W [Monitor] (19.9"vis, s/n X318J97I49AS, July 2009)

*whew* that was only a fraction of the info returned. Let me know if ya need anything else.
 
Definately a new computer. Your'e running a dual core, quad core would speed you up alot. On-board video is dated too. Windows 7 would be faster. Just time for a new puter:) I built a SB 2500k in Jan just for WOW :)
 
If I remember right, XP can't utilize more than 1Gb of memory, so increasing the RAM would be a waste of money. I'd say pop for a new one.
 
ssblood said:
Definately a new computer. Your'e running a dual core, quad core would speed you up alot. On-board video is dated too. Windows 7 would be faster. Just time for a new puter:) I built a SB 2500k in Jan just for WOW :)
Click to expand...

+1

Get the best quad core processor you can afford. It has a large effect on gaming performance, as it's somewhat like having 4 processors running simultaneously.
 
XP can do 3 gigs if done right. Im running a Duo T9550 (2.66 Ghz) just fine, still a good laptop. Personally, I miss XP, but Win7 isn't too bad.
Were talking WoW here, and not Crysis. You're not going to need the best computer out there, no need for blacklight.
If you could get information on the video card, that would probably be good.
 
With the cata release wow stepped up a bit. I'm running 2500k @ 4.6ghz, GTX 460 OC, 4 gigs of RAM and can make it drop below 60 fps in some places and situations :) a good quad core with dedicated video would do the OP well.
 
go for an Asus Republic of Gamers computer.

Super fast and it's perfect for all of my gaming (Star Craft 2, Crysis 1+2, fallout 3 and new vegas)

It runs all my games on ultra graphics settings.
 
1 gig is no longer enough memory for a machine running XP. XP 32 bit can handle up to 3 gigs of memory. XP 64 bit can handle 4. A memory upgrade from 1 to 2 or 3 would definitely be beneficial to your speed. You will notice the difference just going from 1 gig to 2.

A new machine might be nice, and would be necessary if you wanted to run a lot of intense gaming software, but if all you do is surf and do spreadsheets or documents and such, a memory upgrade is all you need.
 
Windows XP Home and Pro 32bit can only access a max of around 3.25GB of ram (Depending on the motherboard and add-ons) so if you want to upgrade get a 2gb upgrade (2-1gb sticks) for it. This will greatly increase your systems performance and might even make WoW run a ton better. If your computer has a PCI Express 16x slot you can even upgrade your graphics card. Check out Tomshardware's Best Graphics Cards for the Money: April 2011 for help picking out a card in your budget.

Now if you want to get a new computer, I'd check out what your local big box retailer has or call Dell. Sometimes your local big box shop like Best Buy will have a media/gaming machine (dedicated graphics card) for a resonable price. Or they will have a nice computer that you can add a dedicated graphics card to.

My computer can play any modern game out there and has the following specs:
CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 430 2.7GB Tripple Core
Ram: 3GB PC667 DDR02 Ram
Hard drives: 160GB SATA Boot drive, 300GB IDE Data Drive
Video Card: Nvidea Geforce 8800 GTS 320GB Ram
Monitor" NEC @ 1024x768
OS: XP Pro 32bit

If I upgrade my Video card I'll be able to upgrade my monitor. But for now I can run most games on HQ settings or better.

If you want a machine that will last you 3 years or so, I'd definantly buy a new quad core system with 6+ Gigs of ram. Make sure that it either comes with a PCI Express 16x slot or a dedicated card already in it. :)
 
If you're willing to take a break from WoW for a few weeks I suggest building your own system. You can save a little money, but more importantly you will know your hardware inside and out, and get exactly what you want.
 
I used to build my own systems but have found it is becoming pointless to do so given the low markup on most systems you can buy from online retailers. The only time I build a system now is if I am going to run the Linux operating system on it. If you are running Windows once you price everything out you will find the parts and operating system cost as much or more than a pre-built system.

Lately I have just been buying refurbished computers and throwing a $100-$150 video card into them. Many refurbished systems are just reboxed systems, retailers send systems back to the manufacturer when the box gets shop-worn and the manufacturer has to slap a refurb sticker on the reboxed system. Look for a refurb system that is using DDR3 ram (add more ram if its not at least 4GB) and check out the tomshardware link in wildmanh's post to find a video card.
 
If you are getting a prefab system with onboard video, your wow game is going to suffer period unless you have an after market integrated chip (ati/nvidia).

As for the ram, 32-bit OS can utilize a total of 4 GB (including video) so if you have a 1 GB video card and 4 GB of ram you get 1 GB for your video card, and you only get to use 3 GB of your ram.

Make sure you are getting a 64-bit OS on your new build. If you are going to upgrade I would say at an absolute bare minimum, get 2 GB of ram. DDR2 is becoming legacy at this point, might as well get atleast 4 GB of ram and a decent after market card.

With that, you should be able to triple window WoW.

Also if you get a lower end prefab system it is likely to have some proprietary hardware. Just make sure whatever you are getting you can upgrade yourself (beside system ram), and not through dell (it will be much cheaper!)

PS: How many accounts does your family have?! atleast 9 right? :D
 
It's a done deal :-) Called Dell and ordered an XPS 7100! Per the recommendations, I picked quad-core and a video card. I upped the basic memory from 4 to 6 gig.

Studio XPS 7100 Minitower
Studio Phenom II X4 945 (3.0GHz)
ATI Radeon HD 5450 1024MB
6GB DDR3 SDRAM,1333MHz, 2x2GB+2x1GB
1TB Serial ATA 2 Hard Drive 7200 RPM

:-) thanks for all the help, I knew I could count on G & G to steer me right.

p.s. it's not WOW, but Talisman Online
 
Ok well with that you should be all set. What video card did you end up getting?

Never played Talisman. is it a free to play?

I just started playing League of Legends.. just biding time until Star Wars at this point
 
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