Desktop help!!!

PHATSPEED7x

PHATSPEED7x

New Member
My gf, and her sister have matching Compaq computers. Model Presario SR1123WM. Both are about 2002 models I think, and are both out of date to the max. I know a RAM upgrade would help these machines see new life (currently only running 256mb), but I see you can get a new desktop tower for like $250-$300 now. Would it be worth it to just update what they have now, or just get a new tower?
 
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116064&Tpk=e1200
E1200

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128077
P31-S3G

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034
Corsair XMS2 CL4 DDR2-800 2x 1GB Dual Channel Kit

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811192061
Athena ATX Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141028
Biostar 7300GS 256MB PCIE x16 GDDR2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339001&Tpk=hec+orion
Hec Orion 585W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106228
Lite-On Black PATA DVD Burner

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822210003
Excelstor 80GB SATAII 8MB HDD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339012
hec 585W PSU

Total after rebates including shipping: $325.16
 
I agree, would impress them if you built their systems for them ^^
Also, what oscaryu suggested is likely to be a MUCH better system than what you'd buy off the shelf.
 
Yeah get a new tower

oscaryu1 said:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819116064&Tpk=e1200
E1200

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128077
P31-S3G

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820145034
Corsair XMS2 CL4 DDR2-800 2x 1GB Dual Channel Kit

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811192061
Athena ATX Case

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814141028
Biostar 7300GS 256MB PCIE x16 GDDR2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339001&Tpk=hec+orion
Hec Orion 585W

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827106228
Lite-On Black PATA DVD Burner

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822210003
Excelstor 80GB SATAII 8MB HDD

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817339012
hec 585W PSU

Total after rebates including shipping: $325.16
Click to expand...

Get this one.. very good recommendations.
 
Thanks for the ideas for the build but I think that will have to wait. Think I'll just order some new RAM for each computer and run them till they die. I can max out each one with 1GB of 184 pin DDR1 333 SDRAM.
 
Here's a better build:

E1200 (good choice)

GA-945GCM (they don't need a video card or an ATX motherboard to check Myspace. Cheaper board here, more than they'll ever need, and onboard video for free [also more than they'll ever need]).

2x1GB Corsair Value Select (performance RAM with heat spreaders? Why?)

Elite 340 (mATX case)

Antec Basiq 350 (Superior and cheaper. Why would they need 585W anyway? Not that that HEC thing really supplies that much).

Lite-On DVD Burner (this is fine too, even though you could get SATA for the same price).

Excelstor HDD (also fine)

Total of $256.93. Perhaps you can build them something sooner if you make the right choices.
 
fortyways said:
Here's a better build:

E1200 (good choice)

GA-945GCM (they don't need a video card or an ATX motherboard to check Myspace. Cheaper board here, more than they'll ever need, and onboard video for free [also more than they'll ever need]).

2x1GB Corsair Value Select (performance RAM with heat spreaders? Why?)

Elite 340 (mATX case)

Antec Basiq 350 (Superior and cheaper. Why would they need 585W anyway? Not that that HEC thing really supplies that much).

Lite-On DVD Burner (this is fine too, even though you could get SATA for the same price).

Excelstor HDD (also fine)

Total of $256.93. Perhaps you can build them something sooner if you make the right choices.
Click to expand...

This is a good build, and it is cheap and you don't always need to have a good video card!
 
Antec Basiq 350 (Superior and cheaper. Why would they need 585W anyway? Not that that HEC thing really supplies that much).
Click to expand...

Well if I'm running the same PSU, on a CPU that's almost OC'd 100%, then I'd say it DOES supply that much.

350W, and 23A on the 12V. 585W, and 39A on the 12V... compare and contrast.
 
oscaryu1 said:
compare and contrast.
Click to expand...

Well, on one hand we have a more cost effective and more reliable unit from a solid brand name that will supply them efficiently and quietly with far more power than they'll ever need. It is, in fact, designed specifically for applications like the one in question.

On the other hand, we have a cheap bloated piece of ricer trash that's rated to supply 500% of the max power draw of the potential machine in question, and will probably explode and kill the man's girlfriend and her family after it's hiked up their power bills - which you suggested simply because you own one.
 
Yeah I would say just upgrade the ram and also make sure the pc is clean (no virus's). Head over to the Security section and post a hijackthis log from each pc. Cleaning up the pc will make it alot faster. Some slowdowns are not b/c of hardware and sometime b/c the OS is junked up!! Remember that
 
Be careful now with just buying a new tower...
They're so cheap because they cut corners when possible...
Yes you may see the Intel or AMD logo , and, true, there is the corresponding processor inside...

But what about the hard drive? I've learned they either use "refurbished" drives or worse, use no-name, cheap drives.

What about the power supply? Hmmm....I'm thinking 200W or probably even less. << Your computer is going to be 'malnutritioned' and will die because of it!!!

What else?

I can assemble a complete PC with an Athlon 64 processor, a Seagate (best hard drives by far) 250 GB HDD a 450 watt PSU, 1 GB RAM, 17" flatscreen monitor, DVD+/-RW, and more for $560 TOTAL off of NewEgg with name brand components and have done this.
 
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