Best Hardware Upgrade

SAAER45

SAAER45

New Member
In your opinion what is the most worthwhile hardware upgrade? I've got some spare change and am trying to find out where to spend it on the computer.
 
in my opinion its normally one the following three:
CPU, Graphics card and RAM.
CPU to increase general system responsiveness
Graphics card for a boost in gaming
RAM to make the system run smoother when multitasking or gaming
 
Depends what your current system is and if you want a better gaming or overall performance increase.

It would be much easier to say what would be the best upgrade if you can post your specs.
 
Dell Dimension 2400
Pentium 4 Proccessor
Nvidia GForce 5300
Integrated Audio
Dell 3 Watt Speaker
70 GB Hard Drive

I'm Looking For Just an overall perofrmance increase.
 
I'd say that a graphics card would be the best upgrade choice for you if you want better gaming, since it's harder to upgrade a cpu for an OEM machine since it can be hard to tell what the max speed it allows. By the way, what speed is your P4?
 
How much memory do you have? What type of programs do you most often run? Do you do a lot of multitasking?
 
Your cpu is still a nice cpu, so theres no need to upgrade that just yet. just repeating what Yeti asked, how much ram do you have? If you have 512MB or less that i would go for 1GB.
 
I've got 512 MB of RAM, what specific advantages will I have by upgrading that? I do a lot of multitasking, and am mostly running Internet, Music Programs, Etc.
 
RAM has to be the easiest component to install in a computer, you simply buy it, open up your pc, stick it in, and close the case.

And yes, you would see a big difference if your doing multi-tasking.
 
Any suggestions for particular products? I think someone said 1GB was good.
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If your not gaming 2x512MB of budget RAM should suffice - Kingston ValueRam, Corsair Value Select, OCZ Value Series, etc. You will, however, most likely have to get rid of the RAM currently in your system (assuming its 2x256MB) because the 2400 only has 2 slots if I remember correctly.
 
As Yeti said you probably have 2 sticks of 256, but if you have one stick of 512, and you are tight on cash, you could just simply buy what you already have and run it in dual channel (which would save you money)
 
installing ram is easy just push into the slot thats it no programs to install or drivers its the cheapest and easiest upgrade to do you have a gig of ram just make sure that you have a spaire slot to add ram into
 
gamerman4 said:
I don't think Intel CPUs support dual-channel...
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it doesn't come down to the cpu but the board its put int. also, pentium 4's are bandwidth hungry monsters so all P4 boards (as far as i know) all support dual channel
 
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