1G HD & 32M RAM - Upgrade or Boat Anchor?

[dputman]

My Mom (86) got her first computer in Mar 2001. Got her a used cheap one ($300) at RC-PC to see if she would learn & use it.

Well she has really went to town on it. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

Problem is we were trying to keep cost down so we bought cheap. It has a Pentium 134MHz cB & mcB1 processor, Bios = CPAQ06/08/98, 1.19G HD, 32M RAM, floppy drive & CD-R drive and a 28.6 modem.

It had Windows 95, & I did a bad thing & installed Windows 98 2nd edition & about killed it off - Ram @ 100% http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif Hey what can u expect from a Mac User?

Anyway, the ? is upgrade or buy?

Local store has "bare-bones" cpu for $275 > 700Mhz, 128M or 256M of ram & floppy disk drive. Add $30 for CD-R, $100 for 20G HD. Use mom's existing monitor (nice ViewSonic), mouse & keyboard. Cost $405

Or replace the HD with a 20G $100 plus labor & upgrade memory to 128 if possible, if olde style memory $$$$$$$$$$$$$, if newer style $40 +/-.
Of course she would still have a 133MHz processor unless we replaced mother board.
Any thoughts would be appreciated

david

[BigBlue66]

Hi and Welcome,

My vote is for buying something newer. If it were me, and I had $275 to spend on a barebones system, I would go to www.accessmicro.com (http://www.accessmicro.com) and have them assemble a system for me and burn it in. For that price, you could get a fast Athlon or Pentium 4 on a 400Mhz FSB motherboard with all the latest chipsets, etc.

What's wrong with the existing CD-R? Might use it if it's in good shape. Add a new, faster, larger harddrive and use the existing monitor. The barebones system should come with keyboard and mouse. I think. Maybe. Not sure.

Happy shopping.

Big Blue 66


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Reach high, for stars lie hidden in your soul. Dream deep, for every dream precedes the goal.
- Pamela Vault Starr

[ranchdog]

Mom...C'mere let me whisper somthing to ya.

Ready? (Don't let #1 Son upgrade old PC)


http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

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......Indecision may or may not be my problem......
...... Kickin' A Rock....

[rustycason]

I would definitely get a new system. It is an excellent time to buy a new system with the prices the way they are.

[dputman]

OK, I get the picture http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

Get new, don't up grade. I did check the www.accessmicro.com (http://www.accessmicro.com) . However, it didn't look like the "Barebones" units included a HD. But I'm not real familar with PCs. I'll be going back & rechecking.

We were in BestBuy last nite picking up my wife's new laptop & I checked on HDs there. I can't remember the prices but seems like it was $60 for 20G & $90 for a 40G. These were Western Digital I think. Good brand?

david

[mjc]

Pretty good brand and not bd price...where they 5400RPM of 7200rpm?

Nor do they (barebones) include an operating system...but you have 98se so that shouldn't be a problem....

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[dputman]

Oh Sure a nother question. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

I don't know. I'm so new (dumb about them to) to PCs I don't even know what to ask http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

I would assume the higher speed is better as long as it isn't so fast the data gets spun off the disk. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif How much difference does the speed make.

Any other questions or answers I should know? Please help & I won't feel bad.

TIA
david

[mjc]

Basically, Mom should be happy with a machine that has 700MHz to 1.2Ghz processor, minimum of 128MB of RAM (memory) to a max of 256, in her case on-board video and sound would be ok, (no need for separate cards for these functions), a good modem (preferably one that can be used by more than one operating system aka hardware modem), a 20-40GB 7200RPM hard drive, and a 42 to 50X cd-rom drive...basically the local bare bones system.

There is a noticeable difference between a 5400 and a 7200 as far as things like boot time and file access and what not...

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[dputman]

Thank, by golly she may not get this for Christmas. But if I order soon she will have a nice New Years present.

How difficult is it to install a HD if I was to get one from a local store?

[Vic 970]

Love the Topic header:

Reply:

Depends on size of boat, Sail - Power? Displacement - Planing?
What kind of 'Bottom' Mud - Shale?
What kind of Warp Chain - Rope (Nylon-Hemp-Manilla)
What kind of Crew Brave - Nervous.


Sorry, couldn't resist


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for every question there's an answer. Then a load more questions.
Definition of Upgrade "A means of introducing new bugs to a program to replace the ones that you have eventually found fixes for"

Regards..,
Vic.

[hiredgoonz]

I would stay away from accessmicro. I've had nothing but bad luck from them... (the only reason I had more than one experience was trying to give them the benefit of the doubt)

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When all else fails, read the instructions.