computer wiz upgrade question.

[Takid455]

I have obtained some new programs and need to upgrade the processor and ram on my PC. I currently have P4 2GHz processor w/ 1GM PC100/133 RAM. the mother board is at least 5 yrs old. I have found some EEC RAM but do not know if it will work on mt PC. If I am going to upgrade, I figure I might as well go as fast as I can. where is a good place to get some RAM and a faster processor? Is used equipments OK?
I need at least a 3 GHz processor and I think I max out at 3GM ram.

the programs are Solidworks and AutoCadd LDD (Civil Engineering program)

[Jim Nilsen]

www.mwave.com

[shep]

In my opinion you are do for a complete overhaul. Finding memory for a system that old is not only difficult but also expensive. The processors have changed as well and no longer use the ZIF type socket. So the older processors are hard to find and expensive. If you decide to replace the motherboard to get newer RAM and processor then chances are the hard drive will not work with the new board, again due to design and technology changes. So a simple processor and memory upgrade has now turned into replacing everything except the case the power supply and DVD/CD drive. The old power supply may or may not be up to the task of the new board requirements. So that may have to be replaced. If you have not upgraded to a DVD burner or at least DVD reader recently you will need at least a DVD reader in the near future as more programs are coming on DVD these days. All that being said I would check out dell's VOSTRO small business class machines. Add the 3 year on site next business day repair. I also would get it with the least amount of memory possible and then go to www.crucial.com and put in your new PC and get your memory upgrade from there it will be cheaper than doing it through dell for instance 4GB from dell $135 4GB from crucial $48

[Takid455]

wow. this may turn out to be a bigger project then my car. maybe its time to look into a new unit. I hope there would be a way that I could use my existing hard drives and not loose the info or programs.

[TonyL]

There is, It's usually the cable, Sometimes you can run your old hdd and the new one together. That, or you can just have your old hard drive flashed onto the new one, or have a seperate partition set up for it. (that's what I did.)

I went with www.newegg.com for my memory and video card needs.

I've got a Gatway GT220 with a blazing fast video card and 8 gigs of ram now.

[BA.]

I have to agree here, you gotta get away from that PC100/133 memory man. That is a bottle-neck from hell right there.

Like they said, you'll need a new motherboard to do a worthwhile upgrade to a better CPU/Memory set from where you're at.

I agree on the new power supply to properly handle the new CPU and memory but if you're absolutely strapped for cash, you can see if your current P/S has at least 300 watts. It should say on a label on the P/S. At 5 years old though, it's on borrowed time now.