PC upgrade advice

[imi]

Post 4 sums it up nicely for me.

[Digsy]

I gave up on LFS and Gentoo AGES ago when I was running on a p60 and it took a day to build X and it was usually wrong And the 64GB is my server config, not my desktop, I run JUST fine on 3GB (64 bit)

 

I've Fedora 14 sat next to me ready to install on this Laptop, haven't used it since Fedora Core 2 I think (and the RedHat desktop versions before that).

 

I used to bullseye womp rats in my T16 back home. They're not much bigger than 2 metres.

[CJ]

On a slightly serious note, can you get all the bits required in Kos town?

 

 

I can get most anything I need - but at a premium price. Invariably, if I need something more "out of the ordinary" I have to get it from Athens or buy from the UK and have it shipped over.

[creative]

Do they still drink that in the Congo?

 

I can confirm from my Bro in law who is currently out there, that no they dont.

 

 

 

I was dissapointed too...

[CJ]

I don't want to step on any toes here but just overclock the processor to 3GHz+ CJ, if you even need to.....

 

Hope that all makes sense and doesn't make you wish that you hadn't asked!!?

 

Most of what you wrote made sense but making sense and me knowing how to do things are a totally different thing. The overclocking sounds good but my lack of knowledge is such that I would not know where to start. The extra ram should be easy to get (not out here but probably vis ebuyer or dabs etc and brought back after my visit in 3 weeks) and so that option is also a possibility as is the F1 hard drive. Im not sure I need a reformat as I only put on Windows 7 within the last 9 months or so.

 

Bugger me - I'm bloody confusing myself now

[Abz]

Im not sure I need a reformat as I only put on Windows 7 within the last 9 months or so.

CJ, I know people who rebuild their machines every 3 months! (Windows based, mind you).

[Morpheus]

Win 7? Someone said Vista. Oh well, whatever, I'd just go with the ram first to make sure and if you don't see the improvement that you though you would, you can try the other options one by one. No point upgrading more than one component at a time or you won't know which was responsible for any improvement; same as a car engine unless you know what will definitely work.

[Scott]

Previously I was every 1 month (before windows 7), I'm now every 6 months on my day to day laptop.

 

CJ,

 

If you go for the F1 then just install a fresh copy of Windows onto it. That way you don't need to worry about backing up your stuff, you will have it all on your original drive. It will be a little messy but once you are certain you have everything you need you could then wipe it and use it as a backup drive. I wouldn't do it that way personally, but it might help so that you don't forget things that are important... less to worry about.

 

Just as a sidenote, using the Nero drive speed checker I hit 110mb/s on my F1 spinpoint. None of my other drives (Non Samsung) get close and normally lag in around 60mb/s. The F3 is a slower spinning drive to save energy and even it manages 90mb/s. It would make a massive difference to your boot times and program loading times.

[Morpheus]

As would the OCZ Vertex II Sandforce SSD that I mentioned ages ago. It reads and writes at 250-275!

[Scott]

As would the OCZ Vertex II Sandforce SSD that I mentioned ages ago. It reads and writes at 250-275!

 

They are silly money though. I don't think CJ is looking to splash that out on a HDD, especially when the hardware isn't in place to make full use of it.

 

100MB/s is just stupidly fast and all for around £60, not to mention the 1TB capacity.

[Morpheus]

They are silly money though. I don't think CJ is looking to splash that out on a HDD, especially when the hardware isn't in place to make full use of it.

 

100MB/s is just stupidly fast and all for around £60, not to mention the 1TB capacity.

 

A fair point, to be sure!

 

I just paid £165 for a 120GB Vertex from the States but I'll be using it for a new install of Win 7, if I can be convinced that it's better than Vista. Yet to be.

[Pixelfill]

A fair point, to be sure!

 

I just paid £165 for a 120GB Vertex from the States but I'll be using it for a new install of Win 7, if I can be convinced that it's better than Vista. Yet to be.

 

It is much MUCH better than Vista. very similar interface, but a much better user experience, and much less intrusive than Vista. Not had any driver issues on it yet, either 32 or 64bit

 

Mike

[Morpheus]

I have a laptop and two pooters and have seen the Win 7, 3 user family pack on Amazon for £120 delivered. Can I get the standard one and still use it on three machines? Also, can I upgrade from a full version dvd like in XP or Vista if I don't want to start from scratch with any of them?

[CJ]

Should I decide to upgrade components (RAM, HD, graphics card etc) which is the best online store to look at? Dabs? Ebuyer?

[Morpheus]

Ebay in my opinion, as you'll be guaranteed to find what you need, plus it may well be cheaper and not necessarily second hand. You can pick up some real bargains, especially p.c. components. Most decent stores have an ebay shop now anyway. I always look there first. I have 502 positive feedback @ 100% as a buyer. Only had about three items not turn up in over 5 years. As long as they have 99. something % feedback, you're ok. Amazon.co.uk are also excellent but be careful.

 

They have the same item at wildly different prices depending on which item batch you first clicked on. I guess they have different shipments at different prices but as with all purchases online, if you want the best price atleast, once you've found the item you want, re-enter it from the main search box and see if it comes up cheaper.

 

Ebay can be annoying in that you spend ages looking and when you pay for it, they immediately show you all the other exact same items at sometimes cheaper prices that you 'might also be interested in'.

 

I used to use Dabs but their security system during payment frustrated me so much that I cancelled my account. Scan.co.uk are great. Novatech are too.

 

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/ if they have it in stock, are also superb and reliable for next day but not sure about CityLink going to Greece!

[stevie_b]

I'd say ebuyer personally.

[Scott]

Ebuyer for me normally.

[CJ]

Is this compatible with my existing RAM?

[supra_aero]

ebuyer too.

[Scott]

That RAM is crap CJ. Slower than a week in the jail

 

Ditch what you have and get 4GB of faster stuff.

 

I'll have a look for you.

[Scott]

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/142382 - £57.18

 

Twice as fast as the generic RAM you have at the moment and twice the capacity. This will make your PC FLY!!!

 

I really should have looked at the speed of the RAM you currently have. That will be a HUGE bottleneck for you.

[Thorin]

Is this compatible with my existing RAM?

 

That would seem to be the same as your existing RAM module Col, and it's always best to match memory modules. Sure there are faster memory modules but you wouldn't see any huge difference IMO as you'll not be pushing the speed.

 

I've used dabs/novatech/ebuyer before and don't really have any complaints. I also use CCL computers as they're only just up the road from me.

 

Personally I'd look for another 2GB memory module the same as you have, and look at getting a cheap decent graphics card from someone who is upgrading. Surely one of our members can help there?

[Morpheus]

I'll second that Scott; good price.

 

Our IT bloke at work uses ebuyer but I never really looked on there much. Must have not had something in stock or something and was put off.

 

I did already suggest that I have some decent DDR2-800 (PC6400) going spare if you want it CJ (or anyone else for that matter), 4 x 1GB Supertalent CL5 and rock solid up to 1066MHz. When I 'upgraded' to Corsair XMS3 DDR3 1333 (my P35 board takes both DDR2 & 3) there was no appreciable difference. 3D Mark '06 went up just over 100 points from a 13000 odd score at the time. Great stuff and yours for whatever you'll offer?

[Morpheus]

That would seem to be the same as your existing RAM module Col, and it's always best to match memory modules. Sure there are faster memory modules but you wouldn't see any huge difference IMO as you'll not be pushing the speed.

 

I've used dabs/novatech/ebuyer before and don't really have any complaints. I also use CCL computers as they're only just up the road from me.

 

Personally I'd look for another 2GB memory module the same as you have, and look at getting a cheap decent graphics card from someone who is upgrading. Surely one of our members can help there?

 

What graphics card have you now CJ?

 

Got an old ATI X800XT which is fast enough for Half-Life 2 fully cranked up (as a reference, for those who know) and an Nvidia 8800GTS 640MB which also requires only one 6 pin PCIE power connector. Adapter if needed too.

 

If money isn't so tight, look at the DX11 cards from ATI, e.g. 5850 or 5870 mid range. 5770 is also good value. You don't need anything for browsing and non gaming.

[Scott]

That would seem to be the same as your existing RAM module Col, and it's always best to match memory modules. Sure there are faster memory modules but you wouldn't see any huge difference IMO as you'll not be pushing the speed.

 

I've used dabs/novatech/ebuyer before and don't really have any complaints. I also use CCL computers as they're only just up the road from me.

 

Personally I'd look for another 2GB memory module the same as you have, and look at getting a cheap decent graphics card from someone who is upgrading. Surely one of our members can help there?

 

Surely you are on the windup?

 

You think that upping the amount of ram from 2GB to 4GB will see a bigger performance gain than upping the rate from 400mhz to 800mhz will? The processor can't even stretch it's legs at 400mhz.

 

If this is your job I think you should be looking for another one.