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How to upgrade Processor, MHz and RAM

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by mmcarr910

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I am attempting to install a work-at-home program to receive calls and process orders from customers but the installation process called WAHA Assistant Computer check has informed me the my current as it is currently (Intel Celeron Processor - 486MHZ - 95 96 MB of RAM,) should be AMD, Intel Celeron, Pentium III or 4 800 MHz - 256 MB of RAM. My question is how do I upgrade my computer to support this system? Thank you in advance for your immediate response.

10 replies

by garret`

Your PC sounds fairly outdated. It may be easier just to buy a new PC.

However, if you want to upgrade this system you'll need to upgrade your processor and RAM. You'll need a new motherboard to suit this processor too. I'm guessing your hard drive is quite small also, so it may pay to get a bigger, faster one, they are quite cheap. You'll have a decent enough system to run the software, but it may need Windows XP to work. Think about getting this too. Not to mention a new video card to make everything run nicely on the monitor. Monitor...there's another thing worth considering...

Then you'll need to pay someone to carryout the upgrade if you can't do it yourself.

See why I think a getting new PC would be easier?

by garret`

The names I called these components are the understood names of them, yes.

But I can't suggest a place to buy these items...I don't know where you live. I can't suggest what price they are for you either.

As I said earlier, it may be easier, and cheaper, to buy a new PC. Go to www.dell.com for an example of cost, but there are many places to buy computer equipment.

by mmcarr910

You are correct I purchased this computer in 2000. I just installed Windows XP. Where I purchase the products you suggested and when I go to purchase them, are the names you used the understood formal name for the clerk to understand what it is I need. And how cheap are these items?

by mmcarr910

You are correct I purchased this computer in 2000. I just installed Windows XP. Where I purchase the products you suggested and when I go to purchase them, are the names you used the understood formal name for the clerk to understand what it is I need. And how cheap are these items?

by mmcarr910

You are correct I purchased this computer in 2000. I just installed Windows XP. Where I purchase the products you suggested and when I go to purchase them, are the names you used the understood formal name for the clerk to understand what it is I need. And how cheap are these items?

by fungus-among-us

Based on your current system (if I interpret it correctly), the first poster was right, you are better off buying a new computer. Not only would you have to upgrade the CPU, RAM and Motherboard, you would probably need to upgrade the POWER SUPPLY as well. Since the program you are trying to run is not as taxing on a computer system as say... a game, all you would need is a "basic", current pc. Any of the "specials" that DELL or GATEWAY push out for under $400 (after rebates), will work for you. If are determined to upgrade your own computer with parts. Check out www.pricewatch.com for comparative pricing. I tend to only use 3 or 4 companies, but I won't mention any here.

Good Luck

by thechas

My guess is that you have a Pentium II or AMD K-6 class computer.

You CANNOT upgrade this to what you need.

At a minimum, you will need a new motherboard, CPU, RAM, video card and power supply.

If you really like your case, it may be worth it to you to replace all of the parts.

Otherwise, as stated, it is time for a new PC.

Chas

by hal 9000

OK your current system sounds like a P3 as the P2's only went to 450 MHZ so it should have a socket 370 M'Board and this an only take up to a 1 GIG CPU and I would totally forget about any Celeron CPU as they are just not worth the price asked so look at a 1 GIG Pentium 3. The RAM size also sounds funny so I would hazard a guess that you have On Board Video which is a killer of CPU speed as the CPU has to do the work of the Central Processing Unit and the Graphic Processing Unit these are normally separate Integrated Circuits. You will also be using some system RAM for Video RAM and this is also much slower than any Video RAM that was used on any computer from the Pentium Days onward. At a guess without knowing more I would say that you have a upper limit of 256 MEG of RAM per slot and even them it has to be the Low Density stuff and you'll need a Video Card to relieve the CPU from a lot of it's work.

Now you'll need to pull off the cover and count the number of RAM Slots available to see what your upper limit is so just count the available RAM Slots by 256 MEG intervals so if there are 2 you'll be able to fit 512 MEG 3 will allow 768 and 4 will allow 1 GIG and a Video Card even an 8 Meg one will be enough here.

You'll need to pick all of this stuff up second hand and if you have a place selling Ex Government stock for parts near by they will be fairly cheap so your current upper limit is a 1 GIG CPU and 1 GIG of RAM the Video Card will vary depending on available slots and could be either an AGP of a PCI. Here these would come in at about $5.00 AU for the Video Card $90.00 AU for the CPU, $5.00 AU for a Heat Sink for the hotter running CPU and somewhere around the $20.00 AU per stick of RAM. So you would be looking at about $180.00 AU for an upgrade to the max possible if that is big enough to run the program.

by hal 9000

That's in the region of $136.00 US but the price depends on the availability of stock in your area but everything but the RAM should be freely available.

You may even find that the M'Board can support the 512 MEG High Density Chips it all depends on who made the M'Board but being consultive I would say that Yes it's doable a cheap upgrade to your existing system if you are doing it yourself and are confident to do this and you'll also need a video Driver which should be easily down loadable from the Web Site or maybe even picked up by the OS.

Now bear in mind that the stated Specifications are the [b]Absolute Minimum[/b] so if you maxed out this M'Board you would be able to run the application but it wouldn't be to the best of it's ability but it would run and if money is a problem it would do till you start to make some money when you could buy a replacement computer.

If you personally are unable or uncomfortable in performing the upgrade I would recommend a new or maybe even a refurbished computer from one of the Big Boys in Town.

by hal 9000

Personally I would lean toward a new unit as you'll get a guarantee with it where as upgrading your existing one or buying a refurbished one may result in a failure at a critical time when you can not afford something adverse to happen and since this unit will be expected to run 24/7 through all weather conditions I would at the very least suggest some form of surge protection on both the Mains and Internet in line depending on how people are contacting this computer this may vary with either a RJ12 [i]Phone Line[/i] or RJ45 [i] Network Cable Cat 5[/i] Socket required to dump any excess voltage to earth.

I would also suggest a UPS to power at the very least the Computer and modem so it remains functioning during power outages if this is important and if you are running a Cable modem just about every UPS has a Surge Protector on it for CAT 5 cable so any network leads can be surge protected though depending on the type of modem involved this may be destroyed.

That's what you can do with your current computer and now it's your decision on how to proceed from here.

Best of luck.

Col

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