Dyre Straits

A friend sent a computer for me to look at to see what kind of repairs, tweaks, and upgrades could be done to it to make it perform better. Via email, I couldn't determine beforehand just what she had and she couldn't seem to find the information I asked for to give me something to go on.

So, here is the computer now and there's not going to be a whole lot that can be done with it as is.

EDIT: Here's a link to a site that shows a VALUE version of the same computer. At least this one came with a floppy drive.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1759,741056,00.asp

It has onboard Intel Graphics only....no AGP slot for an upgrade.

The most RAM that can be added to it is up to 1 GB DDR 266. That would be a big improvement, though, as it came with only 256 MB.

EDIT: After getting into the BIOS, I discovered that the board is designed for PC133! NOT DDR 266.

Intel Celeron 2.1 Ghz...which isn't too bad for her situation.

AND, the proprietary PSU has gone bad to boot. I'll have to hope for better luck finding a PSU that I can rig up to use in it than with anything else.

Some possibilities:

A new small ATX motherboard that DOES have an AGP slot...at least. (No PCI-e is even considered. It's just too costly for her.)

Then, assuming a good PSU can be found, I can put a low end AGP card that has at least 128 MB of DDR on it.

She mostly just wants the computer for the Internet and e-mail and a few, very few games like RUNE, DS9-The Fallen, etc. She can't afford the new games coming out anyway.

So, I'll be hitting the stores tomorrow in search of some things that might do her some good. I'd like to get this system back in her hands within a week.

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The_Neon_Cowboy

Ask what they “need” saved, look for any user data besides that and save
it anyways. (Book marks, my documents stuff like that) Use the restore disk,
update windows. Put everything saved in a folder on their desktop so they
can sift threw it.

Keep in mind the gateway disk will not work after you replace the mother
board!!!Also you’ll have to pull a fast one to get the OS running correctly
with out reinstalling This is XP home isn’t it? You will need to make a back
up of the restored and resetup hard drive as a restorable image and give it to them. (Or keep it) just in case...CPU is fine for what she does…

Motherboard could get away with:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813153026

Upgrade it to 512MB. More would be a waste of money
www.newegg.com

Put in a cheap 400W PSU, thing is you could be screwed if the board has proprietary connector you may need to order a special adapter if it does. www.newegg.com best to buy a cheap new case with a 400W in it . You'd have to serach for the adapter! you can find some generic ones for dell etc
might be able to find one for gateway but just go with a new board

If their using dial up, replace the modem with a V.92
a cheap place would be www.txmicro.com $9

Might replace the stock cooler at lest the fan “Spire ''Heat-Pipe'' 3.6GHz P4 Socket 478 Heatsink & Fan “www.txmicro.com $9


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CPu & mother board & ram

Your far better off selling her CPU and mother board ram and buying
something this
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16813135196
and a Celeron 775 (64bit) with cooler
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819112193

512MB DDR PC3200

If you skimp now you or she will be sorry later better to think ahead

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Dyre Straits

Thanks, Neon,

Here's the direction I'm tending to lean:

I found a 'bare bones' case with an Intel 845 mobo and a 300 W PSU. I'm going to be very firm in recommending to her that she NOT try to keep this particular case from Gateway. She'll only have more trouble if there's ever another problem with the PSU. And that's almost a given that she will!

With this barebones system, I can re-use her CPU, CDRW, Floppy, HD, etc. I'll just have to get some RAM.

Now, the kicker is going to be that she WON'T be able to keep using the restore disks that came with her original system. (I'm not at all sure about some of the programs that came with it. Maybe/maybe not.)

So, it looks like I'll need to get at least an upgrade XP Home (you're right about that) CD, at least 512 MB DDR 3200 RAM, and a decent video card. I know that what she plays will work like a charm on even a 9200 ATi card. Anything more would just be icing on the cake for her.

Check your PMs for further questions.

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