First post, please be gentle. I have a Compaq Presario 6000 (specs are attached) with Window XP SP2 which i bought in 2002. It has 1GB Ram, AMD Athlon XP2600 (2.1Ghz) GIGABITE MAYA RADEON Graphics card.
I use the PC mainly for storing my music, family videos from my camcorder (incl editing) playing the occasional intensive game (Everquest II etc) and light games (Age of Empires, Worms etc) and usual word, internet & email stuff.
My computer is getting tediously slow to start up and run apps and now really struggles with video editing (takes sooo long) and I can't have many apps open and working like it used to, she's getting tired I suppose. She used to be so quick
Sooo, here's the question. Do I upgrade (CPU, Motherboard, graphics card) and if so which ones do you recommend, or do I go and buy a new PC (budget £600-£800 which must incl duel monitors, I love em now) although I'm worried about 1) Vista and 2) Trasfering all my music, docs, pickies etc to new computer.
There is not much to upgrade there. You can add RAM up to 2GB.
The CPU is about maxed out for a Socket A. The GPU is restricted to AGP 4X.
To see if it will go back to "as it was" you can always reinstall the operating system via Compaq's instructions.
You have also added hard drives that may be straining the PSU. It is most likely under 300 Watts I would imagine.
As for a new system your budget will allow for a mid-range gaming /graphics machine but not including monitor(s). You need about the same again for two monitors.
I agree with what Jephree says here about upgrading. From what you're describing, it sounds like an upgrade to 2GB RAM will definitely help your multi-tasking. That's really cost-effective too. And you may well be able to get a better graphics card (but not a brilliant one if you only have AGP 4X support). However, video editing performance and games performance is still going to be stifled by your processor. All things considered, there isn't a whole load of scope there and upgrading all those parts won't be very good value for money in comparison to what you could get out of a new PC.
On this occasion, however, I actually don't agree with Jephree about your options for a new system. I think I've got something that's right up your street (I'm a Dell reseller). For around £600 + VAT, you can get your hands on one of Dell's new Vostro PCs, with a beefy dual core 2.3GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 500MB hard disk with hefty 16MB cache, 2GB RAM, 256MB high-definition graphics card and a 19" widescreen flat panel. For a little more than your budget, you can get two screens. Take a look at our web site (link in my signature) and take a look at the 3 example systems on the Desktops page - I'm talking about the middle one. If you want something different, let me know and we'll do you a quote - we beat Dell's UK online price 99% of the time.
I'm not trying to blatently advertise here - the reason that I think a Dell could be good for you (apart from the new Vostros being really good value) is that Dell still let you configure a brand new PC with Windows XP. 95% of the new PCs that we sell still go out with our customer choosing XP instead of Vista so I understand that you might not be that keen on the new OS.
Also, regarding your concerns about copying your documents, photos, etc., there's nothing to worry about there. Windows XP comes with a utility for this very purpose. Go to Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Files And Settings Transfer Wizard. This actually works really well - it packs up all your stuff into one big compressed file that you can then copy to DVD, USB drive, online backup drive, etc and later restore to your new PC easily
I kinda started to realise that I'd probably just be postponing the inevitable if i did a PC upgrade. So it looks like a new PC then, oh well. I've had a look at similar spec machines that DJNafey describes on ebay (i know i know) so I'm pretty confident that I can get what I want for my money (<£800) although you do take a little gamble. As a result I might contact you about that computer you recommended. Need to chat to the bank (the Mrs) just to be proper about it.
I'll have a look at the Files And Settings Transfer Wizard, sounds like it'll do the job, although I'm sure as sure it wont squeeze it all onto a DVD. Thats like trying to put a mountain into a shoe box, only HIM can do that and Microsoft isn't HIM, although they think they are
