Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 5408 Location: Oregon, USA
Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 4:07 am Post subject: Updating a dell dimension 2400
Well ive got an old dell dimension 2400 comp around my house and i want to bring it up to speed. I was wondering what i should get. My current specs:
intel P4 2.53ghz processer
Mircosoft Windows XP service pack 2
A 1GB stick of RAM and a 512 MB stick of RAM.
250W power supply
Stock sound card.
80 Gig hard drive
GforceFX 5500 video card.
I wanna upgrade the RAM to 2 GB, get a bigger HDD, better processer. sound card and power supply. I would also like to get a drive that can write DVD's, because mine right now can only write cd's. Anyways thanks guys, i can do most of this stuff myself, just dont know how to put in the HDD or the new DVD\CD writing drive. Also if i got a new processer i wouldn't know how to do this.
So i just need to know what i should get. _________________
The dvd burner is easy just open up the computer and pull out the old cd drive and then plug in the new one, just make sure the jumper on the back of the drive is set correctly if something els is plugged in on the same IDE channel but i would recommend at least 300 watt power supply. Hard drives are a little harder but the new drive should come with a floppy disk, you would want to keep your old hdd in and install your new one too (make sure the jumper is set to master or slave) set your bios to boot from floppy and then you would want to copy the partition to the new drive it should kinda walk you through the process. When you install a new processor if your running xp windows will not boot, usually you can fix it by just doing a windows repair, dont forget to put new thermal paste on the processor before you put the heatsink on.. also keep in mind that the motherboard can only handle certain processors and processor speeds and you would want to match the processor FSB with the ram for best performance and stability. You would want to find the specs for the motherboard for processor and ram specs. Hope this helps you
PS. Dells arent really upgradeable they are but not by much.
dartht33bagger Moderator
Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 5408 Location: Oregon, USA
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 1:00 am Post subject:
Thanks man. Guys kinda go easy on me too lol, im only 14 and havn't taken any comp classes. Ive modded many xboxes, softmod and mod chip, and ive added some video cards and sound cards to my comp and others. I havn't ever built a comp though, and even though i want to learn, can't right now. So any help on how to build comps would be nice too because i wanna start building my own. Again, thanks alot digital, that will help alot. _________________
FinalCloud Moderator
Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 2283 Location: Plymouth, UK
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 1:30 am Post subject:
I've been building PC's for years and years, back when I was even younger than you are now! Now I have my own business doing it. Any help you need, just ask. I've done everything from installing CPU's, fitting water cooling, overclocking, HDD's, FDD's, DVD-RW's to software and programming.
Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 5408 Location: Oregon, USA
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 2:12 am Post subject:
Wow thanks Cloud
After i save up about $600-$700 ima build my own comp. Dunno how it will go but i guess i gotta take some chances. _________________
FinalCloud Moderator
Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 2283 Location: Plymouth, UK
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 2:37 am Post subject:
No probs.
I've worked with a lot of Dell's in the past (had a contract at a college which had 300 of them!) and I must say, I've gone right off Dell since that. Their desktop components are constantly failing and the rolling, curved case design is a thing of the past.
The only good thing about Dell is their laptops and servers. God forbid you should ever have to phone their tech guys, you'll be there all day!!
Remember, when upgrading, 3 most important things to sort before all others, CPU, motherboard and RAM. Then build the rest of the system around them.
No problem.. A pretty easy way to learn how to build/put together a computer is find an old one that is just sittin around that nobody will miss incase it gets broken and just take it apart and tinker with it... Just remember when buying a motherboard, cpu, ram, ect to match them with the fsb of the cpu and ram. LOL yea try to stay away from dells, they are nothin but problems..
Joined: Dec 08, 2006 Posts: 2337 Location: Repping the (216) yo
Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject:
Usually when you buy a motherboard you get a nice little diagram telling you exactly where everything plugs in too. _________________
dartht33bagger Moderator
Joined: Apr 17, 2007 Posts: 5408 Location: Oregon, USA
Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 1:39 am Post subject:
Ill most likely try a old comp first. I didn't buy this comp either, my mom bought it about 4 years ago, and it still works good, and have never had a problem with it. I do want to build a good comp for gaming in the future though, because this one isn't the best right now. _________________
Joined: Dec 08, 2006 Posts: 2337 Location: Repping the (216) yo
Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 2:37 am Post subject:
I feel you on that one dude. The laptop I have right now is great for the internet and music and stuff but it sucks for new games. About the only games I can play on it are Warcraft, starcraft, and old C&C games. I'm a sucker for old RTS games though. _________________
FinalCloud Moderator
Joined: Nov 03, 2006 Posts: 2283 Location: Plymouth, UK
Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 1:37 pm Post subject:
I here you Bongripz. Starcraft is the best game ever! I once had 5 computers in my house playing LAN Starcraft and Brood War. Can't beat it for gameplay!
Although I must admit, I've always been a C&C man myself and Red Alert 2 is still one of my favourites. Not just because it has Kari Wuhrer in the cut scenes!
Joined: Dec 08, 2006 Posts: 2337 Location: Repping the (216) yo
Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 7:00 pm Post subject:
Yeah man, I've been playing C&C about as long as I've had windows.... 3.1 _________________
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