Upgrade A Dell Inspiron 8600

C

clowes

New Member
Hi, I am a 17 year old who earns all his money from php programming.... I really want/need to upgrade my Dell Inspiron 8600 because I can't afford to buy a new laptop.

I dont really understand much about what can and can't be upgraded but I have a budget of about £300($700) to spend maximum.

My current specs are:

Windows XP Home Edition SP1
512Mb of 200-pin SODIMM DDR PC2700


On My Computer it says:
"Computer:
Intel(R) Pentium(R) M
processor 1500Mhz
598Mhz"

Any explanation as to what the 598 Mhz underneath would be great??

As for the graphics card etc... I have reinstalled windows about 3 times already and each time I have reinstalled drivers from the dell drivers disk... I don't know if they are the correct drivers but they seem to work...
If anyone can tell me how to find out what graphics, video cards etc I have that would also be great.

As for upgrades links, ideas, and prices would be great.

Thanks in advance, and on a side note If you need any php/mysql I will be happy to help for some cash.

Tom
 
A lot of the information that you are looking for can be accessed from the BIOS screen. Completely shut down your computer and continuously hit F2 while booting up. This should bring up the BIOS and you can see the speed of your RAM, the graphics card, etc... BTW, your processor is more than likely not upgradable, however, you can add more RAM. Additionally, since your computer is a laptop, most of that stuff is not going to be upgradable. Maybe the optical drive or the hard drive, but not much outside of that...
 
Thanks

Thanks I went onto Bios and my specs are as follows:

Pentium M 1.50Ghz/600Mhz
Current CPU Speed: 600Mhz
Level 2 Cache: 1024Kb
System Memory: 512 Mb @ 333 Mhz
Vidio Controller: 128Mb
Panel Type: 15.4" Wide UXGA
Audio Controller: Sigmatel 9750
Modem Controller: BCM V. 92 56K
Primary Hard Drive: 60 GB
Modular Bay: CD-RW/DVD Combo
System D-Bay: Not Installed

Does this help on any ideas related to a possible upgrade?
 
Again, since it's a laptop, basically you can upgrade the RAM, the hard drive and the CD/DVD drive, but that's it. Processor=no, video=no, sound=no, that's the reason why I still like a desktop :)
 
Ok thanks.... I want to get a desktop its just I don't really feel it worthwhile when I have a laptop that still works fine etc.
 
yes that laptop is very good. when the processor is not heavily used such as word processing or surfing the internet, the cpu is downclocked to save electricity hence the 598 mhz.
 
Nice lappy. Ehhh maybe you could get a 60GB 7200RPM HD, or some external HD's or Drives. Another 512MB stick of ram would do some good I think. Either than that you could clock up the cpu while you have an outlet to keep it charged, nothing big like 650MHz to 750Mhz. I dont know anything about OC'in though so maybe some else should answer it.
 
Either than that you could clock up the cpu
Click to expand...
It's a dell, so that's not going to happen, and it is a 1.5GHz P-M. It will clock up on it's own when needed and it is plently fast.
 
Cromewell said:
It's a dell, so that's not going to happen, and it is a 1.5GHz P-M. It will clock up on it's own when needed and it is plently fast.
Click to expand...
oooh, ok, my bad. Ill keep that in mind.
 
Cromewell said:
It's a dell, so that's not going to happen, and it is a 1.5GHz P-M. It will clock up on it's own when needed and it is plently fast.
Click to expand...
oooh, ok, my bad. Ill keep that in mind. All CPUS clock up on their own right?
 
Thanks for all the help guys.. Im probably going to go for some more ram.

As for the processor is that upgradeable in any way?
Thanks
 
dciscouts said:
Again, since it's a laptop, basically you can upgrade the RAM, the hard drive and the CD/DVD drive, but that's it. Processor=no, video=no, sound=no, that's the reason why I still like a desktop :)
Click to expand...
Nope, you cant.
 
What are your guys views on this idea... I sell my 2*256mb sticks of ram for maybe £10-15 each (PM if your interested). Then I buy 2*1GB sticks of ram off ebay for £150.

Do you think thats a good worthwhile deal? Also if i did that what would I be able to se performance wise? i.e how many programs could I open and use without having to wait at all etc?

Thanks a lot.
 
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