So liek computer upgrades or summat.

[Kaoru]

I'm confuzzled on the entire process. When to upgrade, what to upgrade, how to upgrade @_@ I wanna be able to run games like Stalker (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S.T.A.L.K.E.R.:_Shadow_of_Chernobyl) at more playable settings, and other games in the future. Not sure if it's my AMD X2 4600 processor or my small 1 GB or RAM that holds me back. I don't think it's my video card, some GeForce 8800 GTS set up D:

My question is what would be more effective to upgrade, my RAM or the processor?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819103773

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134039

^^^ What I'm looking at.

DDDDD:

Sorry for the silly question, I hait hardware and don't wanna waste my moneys.

[Aratos]

Could you tell us your exact specs there?

[Kaoru]

Er, okies.

Windows XP

2-AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 4600+, 2411MHz

1022MB of RAM.

HDD Free Space: (C: 6095MB/146.01GB)

Mag Innovision LT2219WDB Widescreen 22" LCD

Motherboard being a ASUS M2N4-SLI summat D:

And this is the card I threw in: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814130040

D:

Did I forget anything? >_>

[Aratos]

Getting a ram upgrade wouldn't hurt, but it's not really neccesary. I dunno, could be your proccesor. Tbh the setup you have looks pretty good to me. Quite similar to what I have.

You have the latest drivers, directx etc isntalled fine?

[Vicious]

HDD Free Space: (C: 6095MB/146.01GB)

Small penisu?

Nah just jokings.
But I'm guessing you want to get this upgrade to play games on your laptops yes?

[Aratos]

6095Mb is quite a few gigs to be fair.

And I'm assuming she's talking about her desktop, coincidering alptops can't be upgraded...

[Vicious]

6095Mb is quite a few gigs to be fair.

And I'm assuming she's talking about her desktop, coincidering alptops can't be upgraded...
O_o

Some laptops can, but as for the dekstop being 6095mb, that is a bit small considering most computers now are like 500gb's.

Well at least the ones I'm used to seeing.

[Kaoru]

HD size is overrated. I'm content with the size it is now.

[JimDeVico]

I don't upgrade unless I can generate about a 50% gain in frame rate.

When I upgrade my video card I also usually buy the midrange card becuase 6 months ago it was either cutting edge or darn near close to it.

I'll only upgrade my MB when there is no other upgrade I can make to my system. Currently I'm running Vista on a 2.8Ghz processor OC'ed to 3 Ghz with 4 GB of RAM and an NVideo 7950 AGP card. I've pushed this system to its limit so my next upgrade will have to involve a new MB and processor.

[ouch]

ummm...6 GB is a bit low on the disk space . Though your cpu and MB are still pretty up to date, I recommend add another 1 gig of ram and an extra hard drive. Put all the data files in one drive while have the OS and all the programs in the a faster HD (You can partition that drive, but make sure only the OS and all programs in one partition and data files like mp3 and avi are not share the same partition.) That way your computer should run more smoother. :)

[Aratos]

Put all the data files in one drive while have the OS and all the programs in the a faster HD (You can partition that drive, but make sure only the OS and all programs in one partition and data files like mp3 and avi are not share the same partition.) That way your computer should run more smoother. :)

Good gravy! I'm both shocked and in awe!

And wondering what OS you're thinking of cos doing that with Windows sounds unnecesarily insane.

Heh. I keep my /home directory in a seperate HD. It actually takes longer overall to get things done tho. All the searching about. Y'ask me, using a span's the way to go if you have to isnit on multiple OS's...

[TheBohemian]

Good gravy! I'm both shocked and in awe!

And wondering what OS you're thinking of cos doing that with Windows sounds unnecesarily insane.


I thought that was standard practise... :biglaugh:
My wife did that with mine, and we use Wundows XP.
Comes in handy when you excessively use art programs, as I don't think I've had an issue with my comp since she partitioned the drives.

[Aratos]

It depends how large your HD is, amongst other things.

I mean, personally I just have one HD with everything in it and trust in defrag, but that's cause I do so much installing and adding in of new files I'd be having to constantly resize partitions. Particularly when you get to all the new OS files that're needed every time you install a new compiler or what have you. (¬_¬)

Nyah, like I say I wouldn't personally do it with windows unless I had a very large HD that'd take forever to defrag otherwise. Linux it's mandatory.

Speaking of which I have an urge to install linux. Methinks I need to dig out some HDs!

[Kaoru]

No one gives a fig what ur gonna do Toast.

I don't upgrade unless I can generate about a 50% gain in frame rate.

When I upgrade my video card I also usually buy the midrange card becuase 6 months ago it was either cutting edge or darn near close to it.

I'll only upgrade my MB when there is no other upgrade I can make to my system. Currently I'm running Vista on a 2.8Ghz processor OC'ed to 3 Ghz with 4 GB of RAM and an NVideo 7950 AGP card. I've pushed this system to its limit so my next upgrade will have to involve a new MB and processor. D: Until this post the idea of having to upgrade a MB never crossed my mind.

ummm...6 GB is a bit low on the disk space . Though your cpu and MB are still pretty up to date, I recommend add another 1 gig of ram and an extra hard drive. Put all the data files in one drive while have the OS and all the programs in the a faster HD (You can partition that drive, but make sure only the OS and all programs in one partition and data files like mp3 and avi are not share the same partition.) That way your computer should run more smoother. :) That sounds like a lot of work :O But it sounds like a good plan.

[Tajtan]

When I have computer problems I just go on AAA and shout "Tooooooast!" real loud. Usually works. :)

[Kaoru]

I don't think it's worth the hassle to ask there.

[Tajtan]

well now I can ask here. :)

[Aratos]

No one gives a fig what ur gonna do Toast.



To be fair, I _am_ a certified desktop technician.

[ouch]

Good gravy! I'm both shocked and in awe!

And wondering what OS you're thinking of cos doing that with Windows sounds unnecesarily insane.

Heh. I keep my /home directory in a seperate HD. It actually takes longer overall to get things done tho. All the searching about. Y'ask me, using a span's the way to go if you have to isnit on multiple OS's...

Thanks,:D

I'm using winxp and it took me long enough to upgrade from the win2k to winxp (I upgrade it last year summer because the new video card didn't work with win2k :( ).

And I'm the same reason as TheBohemian for the seperate HD. When working on big drawing file in Photoshop and Manga Studio, its pretty normal to get the Page file over 1.8 GB. So keep the data and OS in seperate HD will help for speeding up the seeking and writing time, and probably help to keep the computer from freezing when doing some intensive action like "transforming" and "filter" in both programs.

[Aratos]

So it won't take longer due to the OS having to scan over two distinct partitions? That's the main reasoning behind my span drive comment.

[ouch]

The only time the OS need to access the data HD is when opening and saving the files. Other time, it will temporary writing on the Virtual Memory area, which is on C: drive. :)

Though the computer I use at work have both data and OS install in one drive, same partition while second partition is for backup. And it runs slower and slower and frequent get bottle neck and freeze when I'm working on big files. :mad: My guess is too much things store in the same partition may slower the performance, but I'm not sure because we did defrag that drive pretty often.

The one in my home with separate HD didn't get the same problem though.

[Aratos]

I'll have to look into that methinks. I know fragmentation can slow things down, but generally I'd be tempted to go for a RAM upgrade before relying on virtual memory.

Definately something to research, tho. Thanks for that.

[Kaoru]

To be fair, I _am_ a certified desktop technician. So you sat through the class and got a hat. *claps* big accomplishment.

So what kinda certification do ya got?

[Aratos]

Microsoft certification, dude.

[Kaoru]

That's like the punchline to the cruel joke that is the Geek Squad service at Best Buy.

[Aratos]

*woosh*

What? It looks good on my CV, and it's actually worth something. Not like if I had BCS written after my name or summat equally stupid.

[Kaoru]

*woosh*

.-.

It's not terribly hard to look up what I'm talking about. Just like as I had to with ur acronyms CV and BCS...

[Aratos]

You....had to look up cv? Seriously?
the british computer society I understand, but CV?

Blah. I see what this geek squad thing is, but I doon't understand the cruel joke comment or the relevance.

[Kaoru]

Well hopefully someone will get the joke.