General Questions

[roachsrealm]

Hey, Im kinda new here. Just a few general questions. I want to upgrade my computer and am looking for some advice. The thing I am using now is pretty old, but it has some newer parts.

What I'm looking for is something that is powerful enough to operate something like Vista Ultimate, and be able to compare to High Definition video quality. We've got the surround sound and big screen flat, now we need the rest. It seems to be doing okay so far, but this thing is getting old.

I've replaced just about everything in the computer at least once since I bought it years ago. Even the little disc battery on the motherboard. I know its time for an upgrade; it takes several minutes just to go from the boot screen to windows.

I'm apprehensive about the switch to Vista, but I figure sooner or later I'll have no choice in the matter, so I might as well get the good stuff.

My current hardware information is below. Any tips are greatly appreciated!


OS Information:
Property Value
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional|C:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
Service Pack 2.0
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS


Processor:
Property Value
Current Clock Speed 2390
Description x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9
Manufacturer GenuineIntel
Name Intel(R) Celeron(R) CPU 2.40GHz


Memory (RAM):
Property Value
Bank Label Bank0/1
Capacity 1073741824

Bank Label Bank2/3
Capacity 1073741824

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~2048 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 2047MB

Disk Drives:
Property Value
Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model WDC WD1600AAJB-00PVA0
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 160039272960 (~149 GB)
Number of Partitions 1

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model WD 1600JB External USB Device
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 160039272960 (~149 GB)
Number of Partitions 1


Installed Printers:
Property Value
Name Send To OneNote 2007
Port Name Send To Microsoft OneNote Port:
Default True
Driver Name Send To Microsoft OneNote Driver

Name Adobe PDF
Port Name My Documents\*.pdf
Default False
Driver Name Adobe PDF Converter


Motherboard:
Property Value
Manufacturer MICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD
Model
Name Base Board
Part Number
Product MS-6719
Serial Number
Version


BIOS:
Property Value
Manufacturer Phoenix Technologies, LTD
Name )Phoenix - Award WorkstationBIOS v6.00PG
Release Date 20030708000000.000000+000
Version AWARD - 42302e31


Monitor:
Property Value
Description Default Monitor
Name Default Monitor
Screen Height
Screen Width

Description Plug and Play Monitor
Name Plug and Play Monitor
Screen Height 1080
Screen Width 1920


Keyboard:
Property Value
Description USB Human Interface Device


Pointing Device:
Property Value
Manufacturer (Standard system devices)
Name USB Human Interface Device

Manufacturer Logitech
Name Logitech HID-compliant Cordless Mouse


Sound Card:
Property Value
Manufacturer C-Media
Description CMI8738/C3DX PCI Audio Device
Device ID PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_0111&SUBSYS_011113F6&REV_10\3&61AAA01&0&38


Video Card:
Property Value
Adapter Compatibility ATI Technologies Inc.
Adapter RAM 536870912
Description Radeon X1650 Series
Installed Display Drivers ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.6783
Driver Date 3/29/2008 6:21:53 AM
Video Mode Description

Adapter Compatibility ATI Technologies Inc.
Adapter RAM 536870912
Description Radeon X1650 Series Secondary
Installed Display Drivers ati2dvag.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.6783
Driver Date 3/29/2008 6:21:53 AM
Video Mode Description 1920 x 1080 x 4294967296 colors


DirectX Installation:
Property Value


Modem:
Property Value
Model Conexant HCF V90 56K Data Fax PCI Modem
Name Conexant HCF V90 56K Data Fax PCI Modem


Network Adapters:
Property Value
Description SiS 900-Based PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description 1394 Net Adapter
Description RAS Async Adapter
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description WAN Miniport (L2TP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPTP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPPOE)
Description Direct Parallel
Description WAN Miniport (IP)
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description Microsoft TV/Video Connection

External Ports:
Property Value
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator
External Reference Designator USB

Expansion Slots:
Property Value
Slot Designation PCI0
Slot Designation PCI1
Slot Designation PCI2
Slot Designation AGP


Thanks again!

 

[Pck21]

I'm a little confused as to what you're looking to do exactly. Do you want to upgrade your current desktop or build a brand new one?

 

[scooter]

Yeah I'm confused too...

I think you want recommendations on a new computer but I'm not sure why you posted all the specs on your current rig.

 

[roachsrealm]

I guess it depends. I dont want to get an entirely new computer if I dont have to, but if what I have is "a pos" then maybe I 'll have to. I don't know a whole lot about this sort of thing.

Basically, I want hd movies to look good, and games to look good, and everything to sound good. Does what I have cut it?

 

[cohen]

Sounds like you will need the following:

• New Motherbaord
• New CPU
• Nice Graphics Card
• Good Sound Card

You might also need a new power supply...

Might as well get a whole new computer, because i don't think your current parts will take the newer hardware.....

But then again, we need some more information

Download CPU Z and get the information about your Motherboard, Ram and current CPU, then we can go from there

 

[coleman]

personal i would get a new comp, only because as you add new parts, you them have to upgrade other parts in order to support the part you replaced. if you don't it could cause your system to bottleneck. If you are going to by a new comp then i have couple of questions.

1. what is your budgets
2. what os are you planning to run
3. what are the parts you have so far (monitor, mouse ect . . . . not internal componants)
4. are you planning to overclock

i know some of the questions have been touched upon above but i just wanted to clarify