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where is the bottleneck?
    #5639693 -

i'd like my computer system to be a bit more responsive. i can afford some upgrades, but not a new machine right now. what's holding it back the most?

specs:

CPU: Pentium 4, 1.7 GHz, 8KB L1 cache, 256 KB L2 cache
RAM: 640 MB total. 128MB + 512MB, PC133, SDRAM
Video Card: ATI Rage 128 Pro Ultra TF, 16MB
Hard Drive: 80 GB, 7200 RPM, 2MB cache

it's running ubuntu linux.


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Re: where is the bottleneck? [Re: wilshire]
    #5639825 -

How much are you looking to spend? You hardware is pretty well matched, the only real bottleneck is the video card if you want to play games. A higher density hard drive with 16MB cache might help a little, but I'd overclock your CPU and save for a new system.

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Re: where is the bottleneck? [Re: Ythan]
    #5639848 -

I'd overclock your CPU and save for a new system

it's a dell. is that even possible?

i probably will get a new hard drive just because i'm running out of space on this one and i can always carry it over to a new system when i do get one.


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Re: where is the bottleneck? [Re: wilshire]
    #5640317 -

Pretty much everything is holding it back. Most likely you won't be able to overclock your cpu either. How much do you have to spend and could you sell that machine for extra cash to put towards a new one?

What do you use your system for?


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"What business is it of yours what I do, read, buy, see, say, think, who I fuck, what I take into my body - as long as I do not harm another human being on this planet?" - Bill Hicks

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Re: where is the bottleneck? [Re: barfightlard]
    #5640402 -

yes, i could sell this machine. i've thought quite a bit about getting a new one. i've looked around at the costs of various components and i think i could build a new one that would be a nice upgrade for around four or five hundred dollars. my disposable income right now is just really tight and i have other things to spend it on than computer parts. if there was a component that was really holding my current machine back, which i could replace for fifty bucks or so, i would go for that (especially if i could use the part in the new machine).

i'm toying with the idea of building a new one right now, but what i have does work and it seems a little frivolous when things are as tight as they are. before long, i'll be working full time (i'm currently a student) and have a bunch of legal debts paid off (i got myself in pretty deep not long ago) and maybe then i can build a really serious computer. if i were to build one right now it'd be mid-range. i could hold off a couple years and build something no-expense spared.

What do you use your system for?

surfing the net, writing papers, sending emails, ripping/downloading music/movies, playing music/movies, writing music/movies to disc, and a little graphics stuff (nothing really heavy). i don't do any serious gaming, graphics/video, media encoding, or software compiling. i'm just looking for it to do things a little more responsively than it does them now.

plus i have to say i'm sick of looking at this dell. it's embarrasing.  :wink: i'm into computers, i use mine a lot, and this black, plastic peice of shit that i got 4 years ago when i was basically illiterate with computers isn't cutting it. i'd like to know if there is anything i can do to cheaply give it a bit of a boost for the time that i use it before i eventually move on.

that was probably longer than it needed to be.


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Re: where is the bottleneck? [Re: wilshire]
    #5640559 -

Quote:
i'd like to know if there is anything i can do to cheaply give it a bit of a boost for the time that i use it before i eventually move on.


Well the answer to that question is "not really", if the cash is burning a hole in your pocket get a nice keyboard or mouse which will improve any computer.

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Re: where is the bottleneck? [Re: Ythan]
    #5641462 -

get a nice keyboard

that i have covered.



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Re: where is the bottleneck? [Re: wilshire]
    #5642115 -

Well if you want to play new games buy nothing less than a 6800gs for your graphics card. Your CPU could probably handle newer games, but I don't know how much it would bottleneck you. And At least 2x 512mb of ram, preferably 2x1gb.

But if you don't plan on playing new graphic intense games I'd say get 2x512mb ram if your motherboard supports it(you use DDR right?) And a 10k rpm Raptor hard drive would speed things up alot too, thats if your motherboard supports SATA. If it doesn't I'd say sell everything you have and make the jump to the new technology.


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"What business is it of yours what I do, read, buy, see, say, think, who I fuck, what I take into my body - as long as I do not harm another human being on this planet?" - Bill Hicks

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Re: where is the bottleneck? [Re: wilshire]
    #5642340 -

Realistically if you are just using your computer for that type of stuff it should be good to go. Id recommend first defragging the hard drive, seeif that does anything. Disable all windows programs that start up automatically as that could slow it down. Get a new video card if you do any graphics stuff though, as thats some old shit you got there.

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Re: where is the bottleneck? [Re: wilshire]
    #5642673 -

Dude im running:

1.2 ghz Athlon
640 MB DDR266 RAM (same config as you)
40g + 120g HDs
Sapphire Radeon 9600 PRO (great OC card)

I run world of warcraft on this thing.  =0
Anyway, i dont see why its slowing down when youre only doing things like net and email.  The only time i get choppyness is if i use Photoshop CS2 with large files (PS 5.5 runs like a dream still, its almost like a 'lite' version), and when loading large zones quickly in WoW.

Either way, i full wipe n clean install can do wonders.  Altho i notice you are running linux which procures way less junk over time as compared to windows. 

If i were in your position (which i am) i'd save up for a completely new system.  The only thing you can really 'move over' to the new PC would be the HDDs.  Upgrading that system would be a waste of cash in my opinion.
Save up and dont go any lower than a 939pin AMD CPU+mobo system.

:sun:


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~Happy sailing~

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Re: where is the bottleneck? [Re: RuNE]
    #5643001 -

You could buy a decent motherboard/cpu from newegg for not a whole lot of money. I'd recommend going with Athlon processors just because it's more bang for your buck, IMO. You could get away with just upgrading the mobo/proc/ram/video card which wouldnt run you a whole lot if you're just going for decent stuff and not top of the line.

Also check out hardforum.com under their sale/trade forums, you might be able to find a decent deal from someone there.


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"It is dangerous to be right in matters on which the estabilished authorities are wrong."

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