Want to upgrade computer, what can be done?

[baz5]

My computer is 4 years old.
It's a Sony VAIO. Very happy with it.
P4 2.4GHZ
760 Megs of Ram.

What should/can be upgraded?
How do you know how much it can be upgraded? I know when you buy a computer they tell you, but how are you supposed to know how much you can upgrade it?

I just want it to be a little quicker. I don't play games/movies, etc.

[sickcars]

My computer is 4 years old.
It's a Sony VAIO. Very happy with it.
P4 2.4GHZ
760 Megs of Ram.

What should/can be upgraded?
How do you know how much it can be upgraded? I know when you buy a computer they tell you, but how are you supposed to know how much you can upgrade it?

What do you do with your computer? & do you find it slow and thats why you want to upgrade? Do you play games? what operating system are you using?

Depending on what you do, I would consider upgrading to 1.5gb or ram & maybe a bigger faster HDD & if you play games a new video card.

[KorruptioN]

Any other specifications? 768MB is a decent amount of RAM.

[baz5]

lol I edited as you replied.
I don't play games, or watch movies.
I just want things to be a little quicker. Opening apps, having multiple apps open, multiple browsers, etc.
The processor or anything doesn't have to be upgraded? Just more ram?

[carmaster]

You can pretty much upgrade anything you want when it comes to computers. Hard drive, video card, motherboard, cpu, and memory.

[jvangilst]

Well you need to give us more details about the motherboard, hard drives, etc. You could theoretically upgrade almost everything, but it is an older system so the effects won't be noticed much.

You could just add more ram, put ram in dual channel, get a faster hard drive (if yours is only 5400rpm), upgrade processor. But it really depends on your motherboard.

[carmaster]

lol I edited as you replied.
I don't play games, or watch movies.
I just want things to be a little quicker. Opening apps, having multiple apps open, multiple browsers, etc.
The processor or anything doesn't have to be upgraded? Just more ram?

The question is how much do you want to spend?

[baz5]

You can pretty much upgrade anything you want when it comes to computers. Hard drive, video card, motherboard, cpu, and memory.

I know, but which are the more important ones. Video doesn't really matter to me. So what about mother board and processor? And how hard are they to upgrade/install myself?

Looking at spending a few hundred. Basically less than a new computer.
How do I find out my motherboard and HD information?

[willy]

If your "few hundreds" is somewhere around C$400-500, you can get a new computer. You can then sell your existing one to partially offset the cost.

[Ryukishen]

If you're spending a few hundred and know a bit about computers and don't mind quite a bit of work. I'd personally wander over to a website like Tiger Direct and look at their CPU+Mobo combos and see if I can pick up something decent. Keep in mind when looking it has to be able to support all your older stuff.

[baz5]

Okay, I will take a look.

[Vinman]

I just want things to be a little quicker. Opening apps, having multiple apps open, multiple browsers, etc.

At this point, getting a dual-core processor would yield the best bang for the buck, but since you went Intel (who changes platforms like we do socks), it's not compatible with the Pentium D or Core 2.

So your best bet is to start over, either by getting a CPU+MB combo, or a whole new system.

[matkun]

Cheapest and easiest upgrade would be doubling your ram. That will help with having many programs open at once.

Other then that.. it's easier to overhaul the whole system than try to upgrade bits of it.

[baz5]

Thank for the help.
I have a ton of programs installed on this computer. If I get a new computer, how hard is it to transfer these programs to a new computer, I do not have the original disks anymore.

[onecoolloser]

Thank for the help.
I have a ton of programs installed on this computer. If I get a new computer, how hard is it to transfer these programs to a new computer, I do not have the original disks anymore.

Very hard.

EDIT: 500 POSTS.. Sr. Member.:twisted:

[baz5]

okay, here is my model:
http://esupport.sony.com/perl/model-documents.pl?mdl=PCVRS310
You can 'view specifications' to see what it has. It can only be upgraded to 1GIG memory. Is my best bet a new computer?
I really need my files and programs on my computer.

Would it work if I took these harddrives out and made them slave drives on a new system? So I can use my old programs off the slave drive?
Any disadvantage to this?

[Vinman]

Is my best bet a new computer?

Would it work if I took these harddrives out and made them slave drives on a new system?

So I can use my old programs off the slave drive?

1) Yes, definitely
2) I'd recommend it, as you can easily snag your old files, settings, email, etc. off of it.
3) Unfortunately, no, you'll need to reinstall.

[Amourek]

If you just want things to be snappier see if your motherboard supports the later model P4's with hyperthreading. It's sort of a virtual dual core feature that does help with multitasking. And if it's been awhile do a format/reinstall.

[baz5]

Okay, thanks for all the help.
I think I'll just hang on to this until it annoys me, then get a new computer.