LOL sorry my bad. That's just a classic case of me not being able to read. To save people the trouble of downloading, here's the text file:
*Help! Do I need to upgrade my pc??*
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I don't know much about computers.. but I have used computers before.
I like to use my computer downloading lots of programs, music (iTunes) and photos, watching DVD videos, making CD's, Data disc's, photo disc's, etc...
here's what I would like to do on my computer ... watch TV record TV, make copies of my movies, transfer BIG files from one pc to the next, install BIG programs, files, etc..
Here's my system:
Compaq Presario 6350US
Power Supply: 100-240 VAC 50-60 Hz
System Bus: 400 MHz
Intel Pentium 4 processor 2.4GHz
512MB DDR SDRAM Memory
80GB Ultra DMA Hard Drive
40x10x40x max. speed CD-RW Drive
DVD-ROM Drive 16x max. speed with Intervideo Win DVD 6 Platinum
Floppy Drive 1.44MB 3.5-inch
Integrated Intel Extreme Graphics 64MB shared video memory
C-Media Chaintech INC. AV512 8738 6ch LX Sound Card
VIA OHCI IEEE 1394 3 external ports 1 internal ports FireWire Card
USB 2.0 Ports: 6 (4 back, 2 front)
Two 5.25 Bays, Two 3.5 Bays
Free Internal Bays: 1
Parallel Ports: 1
VGA Video Out Ports: 1
high-speed V.90 data/fax modem
Presario keyboard
HP PS/2 Mouse
10/100 Ethernet
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition,
Microsoft Office 2002 Pro
Monitor Dell E771p 17' in CRT
No TV Tuner Card, Video Card, Graphics Card
Ok the basic important summary of your specs are:
- P4A-2.4 (NorthwoodA is the codename if you're curious and it runs off the much older 400Mhz FSB)
- Unknown motherboard (for now) with onboard graphics
- 80GB and 512MB DDR (probably PC2100 but not sure yet)
To answer your question, I wouldnt especially think you would need an upgrade unless you weere a gamer or in this case, you want to have TV capabilities. The
simplest solution would be to get something like an ATI All-in-Wonder videocard although it might not be the cheapest route. The
cheapest route would involve getting a dedicated TV card, soemthing like a product from Hauppagge or ATI. My
reccomended route would be to get the
ATI All In Wonder 9600 - 128MB a solid allaround card with TV capabilities. Now if you want more serious video type operations you should look into a more professional-type card but that's a different discussion.
That aside, given that you will want to do video recordings and such, you'll be interested in doing a system updgrade. Before I can really suggest what kind of specific upgrades you'll want I'll need some more information:
1. What kind of budget are we talking here?
2. Download the program CPUz from
http://www.cpuid.com and fill me in on the following:
- From the Mainboard tab, please post all the info in the Motherboard Box
- From the Memory tab, the box labeled Size and the one labeled Frequency