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Sleek-Jet

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Posted: Nov. 07 2003,8:59 am

Post # 1

OK, all you computer gurus, Â I'm gonna upgrade my desktop computer and have a few questions. :break

First, can I replace my 1.3 GhZ P4 proccessor with a newer Pentium 4, or will I need a whole new mother board?? :stupid

Second, where is the best place to buy this stuff?? Â I built a few computers back in the dark days of pre-pentium, but I know the supplier I used is out of business. Â :confused

Thanks for the help. Â :good

- Sleek

Edited by Sleek-Jet on Nov. 07 2003,9:04 am

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Posted: Nov. 07 2003,9:35 am

Post # 2

dude - its a dell... lmao - sryh could not resist :puke

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Sleek-Jet

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Posted: Nov. 07 2003,10:10 am

Post # 3

Quote (yard barg @ Nov. 07 2003,10:35 am)

dude - its a dell... lmao - sryh could not resist Â :puke

lmao.

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Posted: Nov. 07 2003,10:48 pm

Post # 4

Everything I have is AMD technology. I have had great luck and its all cheaper than a pentium. I build my own also. I use www.pricewatch.com for about everything.

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Posted: Nov. 08 2003,5:51 am

Post # 5

I use AMD also, it's cheaper and just as good or better than a Pentium. It may be possible to upgrade it but you have to be a Dell tech to get in their site to get a flash for the motherboard. They do that on purpose so you keep coming back to them and give them your money. That's why I build my own (the way I want) and I can upgrade it myself, I just upgraded two of mine a month ago. BBT is a Dell tech, he can tell ya if you can upgrade yours!. If it was me, I'd just build another one, but that's just me!... :good

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Posted: Nov. 08 2003,6:23 am

Post # 6

The Dell Dimension 8100 can run up to a 2.0 ghz processor and up to 2gb of RAM. Hard Drive size shouldn't be a problem and any size should work as long as it's not a SCSI drive (must be an EIDE). You will not need a new motherboard to go up to a 2.0 ghz processor. There are no additional BIOS updates required for this machine. Here is a link to the Dell Dimension Specs http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/dsleest/specs.htm#general

Question though, why upgrade? DO you think that it will improve the performance? Usually the difference in costs vs performance gains are not good. Myself, I am STILL using an old P3 700mhz machine and it is plenty fast enough.
If you want to upgrade beyond your system's current capabilities, chuck the computer and get a new one that is not proprietary. To change a motherboard in your Dell PC, would require that you purchase your new motherboard from Dell since Dell MBD's are unique (not all but most) to Dell machines......and I can guarantee you that it will be cheaper buying a new pc than what it will be to buy a mbd from Dell. The Dimension 8100's System board is unique to Dell.......

Good luck.

Edited by BigBoyToys on Nov. 08 2003,6:31 am

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Posted: Nov. 08 2003,6:57 am

Post # 7

OK, that's what I wanted to know. I was going to buy a new mother board, but was curiouse if I could use my old one. So, it sounds like I'll just keep the tower a chuck everything inside, but I've got a feeling that your going to tell me that won't work either :laugh

. Me and my bright ideas. :good

If I wasn't into simulations as much as I am, I would just keep my current set-up. But, the new version of MS Flightsim grinds my poor old computer to a stop. I had my old 386 machine for almost 10 years. Actually I still have it, and it still does what it did best all those years (word processing and spread sheets, remember X-Tree gold?) :good

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Posted: Nov. 08 2003,8:09 am

Post # 8

Quote (Sleek-Jet @ Nov. 08 2003,6:57 am)

. Me and my bright ideas. :good

I'd be willing to bet that a new video card(A good one that is built for high ended gaming), combined with increased RAM, would solve your gaming problems. I just can't imagine a 1.3ghz processor being that Bogged down from a game unless there are other issues on your pc (Like TSR's, other programs running in the background, etc). Before chucking the PC, I'd definitely try and at least double the RAM and upgrade the video card. RAM is fairly inexpensive, a good video card can cost anywhere from $150.00 to $300.00

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Posted: Nov. 08 2003,8:15 am

Post # 9

Here is Microsoft's newest, Flight Simulator 2004, PC requirements.

Windows PC
2000/XP â€“ 128 MB Ram
98/Me â€“ 64 MB Ram
Processor:450 MHz minimum
Available hard drive space:1.8 GB
DirectX 9 or later (included with Microsoft Flight Simulator: A Century of Flight)
Video card: 8 MB/3D with DirectX 7.0 or later drivers
Other: mouse, joystick/yoke, sound card, speakers/headphones
Online/multiplayer: 56.6 kbps modem or LAN

I would think that your PC should be able to handle this program....... Make sure that your PC has plenty of Hard Drive Space available. It sounds like this game uses alot of "Virtual Memory" which "Borrows" hard drive space.

Edited by BigBoyToys on Nov. 08 2003,8:17 am

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Sleek-Jet

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Posted: Nov. 08 2003,8:24 am

Post # 10

Quote (BigBoyToys @ Nov. 08 2003,9:09 am)

Quote (Sleek-Jet @ Nov. 08 2003,6:57 am)

OK, that's what I wanted to know. Â I was going to buy a new mother board, but was curiouse if I could use my old one. Â So, it sounds like I'll just keep the tower a chuck everything inside, but I've got a feeling that your going to tell me that won't work either :laugh

. Â Me and my bright ideas. :good

Â

If I wasn't into simulations as much as I am, I would just keep my current set-up. Â But, the new version of MS Flightsim grinds my poor old computer to a stop. Â I had my old 386 machine for almost 10 years. Â Actually I still have it, and it still does what it did best all those years (word processing and spread sheets, remember X-Tree gold?) Â :good

I'd be willing to bet that a new video card(A good one that is built for high ended gaming), combined with increased RAM, would solve your gaming problems. Â I just can't imagine a 1.3ghz processor being that Bogged down from a game unless there are other issues Â on your pc (Like TSR's, other programs running in the background, etc). Â Before chucking the PC, I'd definitely try and at least double the RAM and upgrade the video card. Â RAM is fairly inexpensive, a good video card can cost anywhere from $150.00 to $300.00

I've been sitting here browsing computer parts, and I was thinking the same thing. Â At this point I'm just weighing my options. Â I wanted a few outside opinion first. Â :good

At any rate, I'll probably try upgrading first anyway before I go and build a whole new system. You talked me into it. :laugh

Edited by Sleek-Jet on Nov. 08 2003,8:55 am

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Posted: Nov. 10 2003,10:16 am

Post # 11

Any of the simulation games heavily rely on texture mapping in OpenGL or DirectX for the detailed look of the environment - landscape, walls, ground, etc. Most of the processing for the texture mapping can be done on the video card to alleviate the bottleneck of the CPU. Upgrade to the fastest video card you can afford and put that issue to rest. A good start would be any of the top of the line Nvidia based cards. RAM also is very cheap and I'd suggest you put as much as possible into the box.

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