The Best A Man Can Get. Upgrading current PC

G

garjobo

New Member
Newbie...yawn i know..but this forum does seem popular and helpful.

In a nutshell - I want to upgrade my computer..I have around £300 to pump into this current machine..sadly not enough to buy / build a new one outright.

Im one of those people who 'researches' on te' internet re latest printers etc etc and then ends up buying something which straight away is outdated..i know i know thats technology for you I suppose...but i seem to get it wrong more than right.

I want to know what i can do which will help me when i come to EDIT my HD videos using for example videostudio X5.. AND making videocovers.

I need a new printer as well. Advice welcome.
I want to get a new Harddrive ...internal / external to keep all this HD footage together etc?
More RAM?
Worth getting a better processor? easy to install? Need a fan??
Obviously a bluray burner out of the question..BUT would like to future proof the videos i make best way possible?
Best blanks discs to use?
Specs are:
PACKARD BELL
IXTREME 3720
RATING IT GETS IS: 5.9 OVERALL ( 6.1 i think for various things but processor to disc brings it down to 5.9 )
INTEL CORE QUAD 2 CPU 8300 @250Ghz
RAM INSTALLED 4.00GB
64 BIT OPERATING SYSTEM, WINDOWS 7
GRAPHICS: NVIDIA GeFORCE GT240

Thanks for your time, realise a few questions there but heck even just to advise on WHATS THE COUPLE OF THINGS WORTH DOING TO ENSURE YOUR CURRENT PC IS RUNNING FASTER/BETTER/MORE POWERFUL. Would be a great help.

Thanks again.
 
azeem40 said:
What's your PSU?
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Yes, what is your power supply? This is hugely important as pcs off-the-shelf tend to have non-branded, cheap psu's that are just about powerful enough to power you pc as it is. Upgrade it and your psu could blow, potentially damaging every component in your system.

So the first question is: tell us what is your PSU. If you don't know, take a photo of the specification label and post it here.
 
Thank you Mr Doom for repling...

..well I just purchased ( and then took back ) a more powerful geforce graphics card..cant recall the type now..but it was 5stars for HD video etc..which is what i want..BUT...needs 400w of power.

My pc is between 220 - 240w..having opened up the back etc etc

Now, i have asked questions..and for £50, apparently it is simple and SAFE enough to have a go myself and change to a ...400w power supply...and then buy back that graphics card.

Any thoughts please let me know.

CAN I JUST ADD..my fan ( the larger one on the side..not the one which is built into the power supply )...but my fan has been stopping/starting..making a load of noise for ages...taking the back off my pc just now i see the fan hitting it's casing and stopping. SO....i need a new fan right? What fan can i buy?

Online can anyone please direct me to;

(a) 4 ram dd2
(b) new fan
(c) 400w power supply
(d) good graphics card for HD video.
oh..and a blu-ray burner too....Lite-ones for £80 x12 speed is best Ive seen.

Any place i can simply 'click' and purchase all the above from..and revamp my PC!!!
 
Ok, first of all get yourself a good PSU. No need to spend that much money on it though. Here you can find one that I used at least in 3 different PC and never had a single problem: Corsair CX 430W. It will be very stable, dead quiet and best of all it's only £35.32.

Secondly, check your side panel, maybe it's bent. If not, change the fan.

Thirdly, here's the list of parts I'd suggest:

Corsair Memory XMS2 4GB DDR2 PC2-6400 - £47.28
MSI NVIDIA GT 640 Overclocked Graphics Card - 2GB - £85.97
LG CH10LS28.AUAR Blu Ray Rom / Reader Retail - £49.78

With that GPU you will be able not only to play any full HD but also do fair amount of gaming too. Altogether cost: £218.35 + delivery

As for the fan, I have no clue what size of the fan is, you would have to check, like measure it's diameter. And skip the blu-ray burner, they are useless as recordable blu-ray discs are very expensive.

In the links I chose one shop, I know is very good, and that way you will save on delivery costs too.
 
Last edited:
Mr Doom

No more questions honest ( although i have plenty )..just to say thank you for taking the trouble to reply and give me that information. Going by those prices - it appears I will be giving it a go and updating my computer shortly. Thanks once again.

Ok..its on my mind..you seem to know your stuff..and heck the trouble with te' internet is..if your looking for something online you will find 100 positive and a 1000 negative reviews...so difficult. With pursestrings tight...wanting to buy the 'best' i can is almost a one off event (for a couple of years at least ) so often disappointing when you buy something and a month later its down in price and version 2.2 comes out...

..what im getting to it...aside from computer specs...im looking for a printer as well...my canon is 5 yrs old..and basically for the price of...£80 there seems many alternatives...any advice Mr Doom?...print quality more important than all-in-one photocopier stuff!!...Kodak..appears good at print quality and low cost ink?

Thanks ONCE AGAIN for your input. Most welcome.
 
garjobo said:
Mr Doom

No more questions honest ( although i have plenty )..just to say thank you for taking the trouble to reply and give me that information. Going by those prices - it appears I will be giving it a go and updating my computer shortly. Thanks once again.

Ok..its on my mind..you seem to know your stuff..and heck the trouble with te' internet is..if your looking for something online you will find 100 positive and a 1000 negative reviews...so difficult. With pursestrings tight...wanting to buy the 'best' i can is almost a one off event (for a couple of years at least ) so often disappointing when you buy something and a month later its down in price and version 2.2 comes out...

..what im getting to it...aside from computer specs...im looking for a printer as well...my canon is 5 yrs old..and basically for the price of...£80 there seems many alternatives...any advice Mr Doom?...print quality more important than all-in-one photocopier stuff!!...Kodak..appears good at print quality and low cost ink?

Thanks ONCE AGAIN for your input. Most welcome.
Click to expand...

That's ok, here to help :)

Here's the brand new model of the printer you might be interested in: Canon Pixma IP4950.

I had Canon for few years and as far as quality and ink usage goes, it's as good as it gets (mainly down to the minuscule 1 picoliter droplets Canon printers are capable of). And you are right, if you look for a good quality printouts, especially for photography, than it's always better to avoid all-in-ones.
 
Canon and brother are about the only printers I'd ever get. Good quality.

You said you wanted to upgrade your CPU, but really, the one you have is plenty. No need to worry about that.
 
Once more thanks for the replies. i looked with interest that canon model...

Almost purchased it on Amazon there..looking at specs..i see dpi wise its the 'same' quality as my current model ( printheads jammed/not used for ages ) Canon IP4300 - MAX. dpi 9600 x 2400

So..bit disappointed - obviously double sided etc and a few extras over the 5 years since i bought my last model..but ..will the quality be better?

Like i say, almost about to buy...im not looking for a photocopier..but to justify the £70 price tag...which is cheap i admit...but Epson etc so many other printers..for same price..and ...£90 or so...Kodak? also appear to have that 9600 x2400 quality..

SO..anyone tell me, is that canon worth getting?
 
Hi there, realise no replies..was hoping someone can explain to me if the above printer is any good/different to the Canon IP4300....or not? worth my updating?

Realise this isnt the printer section/thread..but the original thread moved on a little mentioning printers..hence me asking.
 
garjobo said:
Hi there, realise no replies..was hoping someone can explain to me if the above printer is any good/different to the Canon IP4300....or not? worth my updating?

Realise this isnt the printer section/thread..but the original thread moved on a little mentioning printers..hence me asking.
Click to expand...

Yes, you will see the difference. Technology moved on quite a bit since 4300. If your printer doesn't deliver, change it and it will be worth it.
 
Mr Doom once again thanks for replying...but i am confused as heck to be fair.

Epson v Canon i think it boils down to. Trouble is, Epson ..for the £100 price bracket...it's pdi doesnt appear as good? and yet people rave over print quality etc...

The canon...i read eats ink..

SURELY TO GOODNESS someone out there can advise...a printer which prints excellently, doesnt eat up ink.

Bonus would be fairly quiet. If it had SD card reader/photocopier etc etc options all the better but first and formost its a printer i want.

PLEASE ADVICE because all this looking around is doing my nut in!! Again budget around the £90 - £100 mark...i shy away from £40 odd quid..but looking at specs those tpyes of printers seem ok..but again eat ink.

Too many reviews on Amazon, computertoday style websites to make an informed choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
garjobo said:
Mr Doom once again thanks for replying...but i am confused as heck to be fair.

Epson v Canon i think it boils down to. Trouble is, Epson ..for the £100 price bracket...it's pdi doesnt appear as good? and yet people rave over print quality etc...

The canon...i read eats ink..

SURELY TO GOODNESS someone out there can advise...a printer which prints excellently, doesnt eat up ink.

Bonus would be fairly quiet. If it had SD card reader/photocopier etc etc options all the better but first and formost its a printer i want.

PLEASE ADVICE because all this looking around is doing my nut in!! Again budget around the £90 - £100 mark...i shy away from £40 odd quid..but looking at specs those tpyes of printers seem ok..but again eat ink.

Too many reviews on Amazon, computertoday style websites to make an informed choice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Click to expand...

I personally have the Canon IP4850 and it has served me very well. I don't know what are those rumours you're reading about Canons eating the ink. I've run this printer with thousands of pages and photos in my company as well as printed out my wedding invitations and envelopes (around 100 of each), and I can tell you with all certainty that the ink lasts for a very long time. And after last 2,5 years of using this printer very heavily, it's still running strong with no faults, no broken or clogged nozzles or dirty print outs. If this doesn't convince you that those printers are good, then I don't know what will.
 
MrDoom I thank you for your input and value it. I realise im like a dog with a bone here..all im after is a printer!!..I am confused...but narrowed it down to a Canon then. Tempted by the make you mentioned previously...BUT, what about this model..Canon PIXMA MG5350..price..although important...isnt too much an issue..£100 mark...ideally cheaper i suppose and then buy more inks.

So...finally!..your overall thoughts? I cant even work out whats the latest model..i dunno..you head to one site, ie, Argos...half-price..then in small print...note this model has been previously at 'the lower price' anyway...hence..what bargin are you getting here!!!

So..dpi..for 5350...same as the one you mentioned? Thoughts as always welcome..but again...i wont go on and on..and will just buy the thing!!
 
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