Computer Upgrade Questions

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kschrad

New Member
Hi everyone... this is my first post so hopefully I dont sound like a moron. I am a college student and have had my desktop Dell Dimension 2200 since high school (so about 6 or 7 years now). Since then I've bought a Mac laptop and use that when im out of my room... but now my PC has slowed down to the point where I've just reformatted my machine and saved the bare essentials for music and documents that I've wanted. I really like my desktop (mainly for working in MS Office) but now I have come across a problem.

I just bought the new Office 2007... and like most software it seems like they are DVD-ROMs. My computer doesn't have a DVD-ROM (just the old CD-RW drive). I have been looking online and am seeing that upgrading my current drive wouldn't be too costly anymore. The only problem is that I have NO CLUE about the inner workings of a computer and how I would install a new DVD drive to my tower. Is this something that is pretty easy... and if so can someone direct me to a tutorial or give me some advice?

Also... after I had thought about upgrading my CD drive I realized that RAM is also not that costly to upgrade. I only have 256 MB of RAM right now and was wondering if it is also pretty easy to upgrade that.

Please give me any advice that you can since I have NO CLUE about how to upgrade a computer.
 
First of all, welcome to the forum! :)

Both things are really easy to upgrade. First, download this file http://www.cpuid.com/download/cpuz_144.zip run it and tell us what it says under the "Mainboard" and "SPD" sections. That's the info we need to know exactly what parts to buy.

Now the upgrading. For both things, really all you have to do is remove the old pieces (or in case of memory just add more) and install the new ones withouth having to do anything in Windows itself.

The RAM is the easiest. You just have to press on the locks on both sides of the stick and the stick should pop out. Then you just position the new stick, put some pressure and it should "click" in. There you go.

As for the DVD-burner, depending on what connection your motherboard has (IDE most of the time on old omputers) you just unscrew the drive disconnect the cables, and pull it out of the case. Then just slide the new one and reconnect cables.

I think I went to far into it, hope that helped! :) :P
 
Honestly with the dvd rom its as easy as unplugging one thing and plugging something else back in. The ram is not tricky just make sure you touch a piece of bare metal before inserting the ram as this will "ground" your body to prevent electric charge going to the computer.
 
Rambus DRAM is very expensive. I think the cheapest you will find it is around $200. You would be best off buying a new system rather than upgrading your RAM.
 
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Thanks for the help... anyways I ran the program and here is what I have:
Mainboard
Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
Model: Dimension 8200
Chipset: Intel i850 Rev. A3
Southbridge: Intel 82801BA (ICH2)
LPCIO: SMSC EMC2007P
Bios
Brand: Dell Computer Corporation
Version: A03
Date: 12/07/2001
Graphic Interface
Version: AGP Version 2.0
Transfer Rate: 4x Max Supported: 4x
Side Band: Not supported

SPD
Slot #1
RDRAM
Module Size: 128 MBytes
Max Bandwidth: PC800-45 (400 mhz)
Manufacturer: Samsung
Part Number: MR16R 0828BN1-CK8
Serial Number: 36BB0E10 Week/Year: 52/01

Slot #2
RDRAM
Module Size: 128 MBytes
Max Bandwidth: PC800-45 (400 mhz)
Manufacturer: Samsung
Part Number: MR16R 0828BN1-CK8
Serial Number: 36EA0D10 Week/Year: 52/01

Slot #3
Empty

Slot #4
Empty


If there is any other information that you need me to list please let me know. Thanks again for your help!
 
kschrad said:
Thanks for the help... anyways I ran the program and here is what I have:
Mainboard
Manufacturer: Dell Computer Corporation
Model: Dimension 8200
Chipset: Intel i850 Rev. A3
Southbridge: Intel 82801BA (ICH2)
LPCIO: SMSC EMC2007P
Bios
Brand: Dell Computer Corporation
Version: A03
Date: 12/07/2001
Graphic Interface
Version: AGP Version 2.0
Transfer Rate: 4x Max Supported: 4x
Side Band: Not supported

SPD
Slot #1
RDRAM
Module Size: 128 MBytes
Max Bandwidth: PC800-45 (400 mhz)
Manufacturer: Samsung
Part Number: MR16R 0828BN1-CK8
Serial Number: 36BB0E10 Week/Year: 52/01

Slot #2
RDRAM
Module Size: 128 MBytes
Max Bandwidth: PC800-45 (400 mhz)
Manufacturer: Samsung
Part Number: MR16R 0828BN1-CK8
Serial Number: 36EA0D10 Week/Year: 52/01

Slot #3
Empty

Slot #4
Empty


If there is any other information that you need me to list please let me know. Thanks again for your help!
Click to expand...


Look closly under slot 4 and tell us if you see a vacuum tube under there.:D:D

Im Kidding of course.

I would not spend any kind of money on that machine at this point to upgrade the ram.If you know of a local computer recycle center,,they may let you rummage through some old machines and snag some ram out of there for pennies on the dollar.But generally they strip them of that sort of stuff and sell them on ebay.


http://cgi.ebay.com/Dell-Dimension-...ryZ11152QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
Like I mentioned I am a college student and so I'd like to prolong my machine's functionality for as long as I can with throwing down a few bucks on an upgrade on my RAM. Thanks for addressing that all but how about the DVD drive? Are there any compatibility issues that I have to worry about with that... or are the connections universal to any system?
 
kschrad said:
Hi everyone... this is my first post so hopefully I dont sound like a moron. I am a college student and have had my desktop Dell Dimension 2200 since high school (so about 6 or 7 years now). Since then I've bought a Mac laptop and use that when im out of my room... but now my PC has slowed down to the point where I've just reformatted my machine and saved the bare essentials for music and documents that I've wanted. I really like my desktop (mainly for working in MS Office) but now I have come across a problem.

I just bought the new Office 2007... and like most software it seems like they are DVD-ROMs. My computer doesn't have a DVD-ROM (just the old CD-RW drive). I have been looking online and am seeing that upgrading my current drive wouldn't be too costly anymore. The only problem is that I have NO CLUE about the inner workings of a computer and how I would install a new DVD drive to my tower. Is this something that is pretty easy... and if so can someone direct me to a tutorial or give me some advice?

Also... after I had thought about upgrading my CD drive I realized that RAM is also not that costly to upgrade. I only have 256 MB of RAM right now and was wondering if it is also pretty easy to upgrade that.

Please give me any advice that you can since I have NO CLUE about how to upgrade a computer.
Click to expand...

Buy a retail IDE DVD burner, they come with user manual to tell you how to install.
 
I am looking at DVD drives online and some are not "IDE". I was looking to find one with the LightScribe technology but some that I found don't say IDE. Does IDE relate to my system and how I connect the DVD player?... or will a "non-IDE" DVD drive work well still?
 
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