Vista - I need upgrading help........

shawnbolt · 03-21-2009

hello there,

i am semi good with computers and feel my computer doesnt perform well enough and also i would like to raise my base score. i have recently been looking at video and sound cards as well as RAM. i dont know how to tell what to look for in products to buy.

currently running:
-Acer Aspire T180
-Vista Home Premium 32bit
-1bg RAM
-AMD Athlon 64 2X Dual Core Processor 3600+ 1.90Ghz

Mainly i use the computer for music, movies and messenger but i also like to run the odd game...i would just like my computer to run really good graphics in games (frets on fire) and have a fast and smooth operating computer.... please can someone give some insight on what kind of video card to buy and what kind of RAM and how much and so on.

muchly appreciated....

**thepizzaman** · 03-21-2009

hmmmmm you would be better off just to upgrade everything with a complete new build
but yes ram and and video card would help your preference.... but then your cpu would be the bottleneck

shawnbolt · 03-21-2009

im not sure what you mean by my CPU would be the bottle neck and is my computer not really a good model to beef up...i wasnt really lookin to go that far into it i just want it sped up a bit and stuff i wouldnt go out n buy a new one i paid 1200 for this one....

**skunksmash** · 03-22-2009

Hi shawnbolt..... welcome to the forum.

according to these specs, your motherboard does not have a PCIE x16 slot available for an additional GFX card...??

(correct me if im wrong)

Quote:

Expansion / Connectivity Expansion Bays Total (Free) 2

( 1 ) x internal - 3.5" x 1/3H Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2

( 2 ) x PCI 1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express 1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express x1 1

( 0 ) x processor Memory Interfaces

6 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A ( 2 in front )

1 x parallel - IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) - 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25)

1 x serial - RS-232 - 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9)

1 x mouse - generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style)

1 x keyboard - generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style)

2 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) ( 1 in front ) 6 x audio

2 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm ( 1 in front )

2 x audio - line-out - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ( 1 in front )

you'd be better off upgrading the whole lot mate..... you could add more RAM but im not too sure what your board will take ''speed wise'', this will improve your WEI though & improve its overall responsiveness ......

but your stuck graphically im afraid......

this is probably not what you were hoping to hear, sorry...

SK

**thepizzaman** · 03-22-2009

you can get a really good computer for under $800 with a os

03-21-2009	#1 (permalink)
shawnbolt vista home premium 32bit 2 posts	I need upgrading help........ hello there, i am semi good with computers and feel my computer doesnt perform well enough and also i would like to raise my base score. i have recently been looking at video and sound cards as well as RAM. i dont know how to tell what to look for in products to buy. currently running: -Acer Aspire T180 -Vista Home Premium 32bit -1bg RAM -AMD Athlon 64 2X Dual Core Processor 3600+ 1.90Ghz Mainly i use the computer for music, movies and messenger but i also like to run the odd game...i would just like my computer to run really good graphics in games (frets on fire) and have a fast and smooth operating computer.... please can someone give some insight on what kind of video card to buy and what kind of RAM and how much and so on. muchly appreciated....
My System Specs

03-21-2009	#2 (permalink)
thepizzaman Vista Home Premium 32bit and Ubuntu 9.10 32bit 1,288 posts	Re: I need upgrading help........ hmmmmm you would be better off just to upgrade everything with a complete new build but yes ram and and video card would help your preference.... but then your cpu would be the bottleneck
My System Specs

03-21-2009	#3 (permalink)
shawnbolt vista home premium 32bit 2 posts	Re: I need upgrading help........ im not sure what you mean by my CPU would be the bottle neck and is my computer not really a good model to beef up...i wasnt really lookin to go that far into it i just want it sped up a bit and stuff i wouldnt go out n buy a new one i paid 1200 for this one....
My System Specs

03-22-2009	#4 (permalink)
skunksmash ultimate 64 SP1 2,181 posts	Re: I need upgrading help........ Hi shawnbolt..... welcome to the forum. according to these specs, your motherboard does not have a PCIE x16 slot available for an additional GFX card...?? (correct me if im wrong) Quote: Expansion / Connectivity Expansion Bays Total (Free) 2 ( 1 ) x internal - 3.5" x 1/3H Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 ( 2 ) x PCI 1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express 1 ( 1 ) x PCI Express x1 1 ( 0 ) x processor Memory Interfaces 6 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A ( 2 in front ) 1 x parallel - IEEE 1284 (EPP/ECP) - 25 pin D-Sub (DB-25) 1 x serial - RS-232 - 9 pin D-Sub (DB-9) 1 x mouse - generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style) 1 x keyboard - generic - 6 pin mini-DIN (PS/2 style) 2 x IEEE 1394 (FireWire) ( 1 in front ) 6 x audio 2 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm ( 1 in front ) 2 x audio - line-out - mini-phone stereo 3.5 mm ( 1 in front ) you'd be better off upgrading the whole lot mate..... you could add more RAM but im not too sure what your board will take ''speed wise'', this will improve your WEI though & improve its overall responsiveness ...... but your stuck graphically im afraid...... this is probably not what you were hoping to hear, sorry... SK
My System Specs

03-22-2009	#5 (permalink)
thepizzaman Vista Home Premium 32bit and Ubuntu 9.10 32bit 1,288 posts	Re: I need upgrading help........ you can get a really good computer for under $800 with a os
My System Specs

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