Hay everyone... I've been using Google to find out what my options are for upgrading and old pc for my kids (young) and this forum keeps popping up in my search results... so I thought it a good place to ask advice... I'll post the specs for the pc below....
here's my problem it's a Compaq (MOBO) options are limited right? memory is a no brainer... I'm doing that just got to shop around.
I need advice on whats supported by the mobo for a video card it has AGP slot and available PCI but how high can I go... oh and I want to keep the existing monitor. also I don't believe a processor upgrade is viable as it's already p4 1.5g but please correct me if I'm wrong.....
the kids are young and wont be doing any 3d gaming so I'm thinking save some money..
here's the specs


OS Information:

Property Value

OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional|D:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partitio n2

Service Pack 2.0

OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation

Windows Directory D:\WINDOWS





Processor:

Property Value

Current Clock Speed 1496

Description x86 Family 15 Model 0 Stepping 10

Manufacturer GenuineIntel

Name Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 1500MHz





Memory (RAM):

Property Value

Bank Label

Capacity 268435456



Bank Label

Capacity 524288



Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~256 MB

Memory Reported to Operating System: 255MB



Disk Drives:

Property Value

Description Disk drive

Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)

Model Maxtor 4D040H2

Media Type Fixed hard disk media

Size 40015503360 (~37 GB)

Number of Partitions 2





Motherboard:

Property Value

Manufacturer Compaq

Model

Name Base Board

Part Number

Product 077Ch

Serial Number 2H1BJXDY807B

Version





BIOS:

Property Value

Manufacturer Compaq

Name 686Y2 v1.05

Release Date 20010906000000.000000+000

Version COMPAQ - 20010906





Monitor:

Property Value

Description COMPAQ FS740 Color Monitor

Name COMPAQ FS740 Color Monitor

Screen Height 768

Screen Width 1024





Keyboard:

Property Value

Description Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard

Description USB Human Interface Device



Pointing Device:

Property Value

Manufacturer Microsoft

Name PS/2 Compatible Mouse



Sound Card:

Property Value

Manufacturer Analog Devices, Inc.

Description SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio

Device ID PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_2445&SUBSYS_008A0E11&REV_12\3&61A AA01&0&FD





Video Card:

Property Value

Adapter Compatibility NVIDIA

Adapter RAM 33554432

Description NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400

Installed Display Drivers nv4_disp.dll

Driver Version 6.14.10.9136

Driver Date 9/24/2006 5:53:53 PM

Video Mode Description 1024 x 768 x 4294967296 colors





DirectX Installation:

Property Value





Modem:

Property Value

Model PCTEL Platinum V.90 Modem

Name PCTEL Platinum V.90 Modem





Network Adapters:

Property Value

Description Intel(R) PRO/100 VM Network Connection - Packet Scheduler Miniport

Description RAS Async Adapter

Description Packet Scheduler Miniport

Description WAN Miniport (L2TP)

Description WAN Miniport (PPTP)

Description WAN Miniport (PPPOE)

Description Direct Parallel

Description WAN Miniport (IP)

Description Packet Scheduler Miniport



External Ports:

Property Value

External Reference Designator COM A

External Reference Designator COM B

External Reference Designator PAR

External Reference Designator USB 1

External Reference Designator USB 2

External Reference Designator KBD

External Reference Designator MOUSE

External Reference Designator

External Reference Designator

External Reference Designator

External Reference Designator

External Reference Designator

External Reference Designator Line I/O: MIC

External Reference Designator Line I/O: Line In

External Reference Designator HeadPhone & Line Out

External Reference Designator

External Reference Designator

External Reference Designator



Expansion Slots:

Property Value

Slot Designation AGP Slot J40

Slot Designation PCI Slot 1: J20

Slot Designation PCI Slot 2: J21

Slot Designation PCI Slot 3: J22





Enclosure Type: Desktop

Processor a Main Circuit Board b

1.50 gigahertz Intel Pentium 4

8 kilobyte primary memory cache

256 kilobyte secondary memory cache Board: Compaq 077Ch

Serial Number: 2H1BJXDY807B

Bus Clock: 400 megahertz

BIOS: Compaq 686Y2 v1.05 09/06/2001

Drives Memory Modules c,d

40.01 Gigabytes Usable Hard Drive Capacity

28.84 Gigabytes Hard Drive Free Space



COMPAQ DVD-ROM GD-8000 [CD-ROM drive]

PHILIPS CDD4851 CD-R/RW [CD-ROM drive]

3.5" format removeable media [Floppy drive]





Slot 'XMM1' has 256 MB (serial number 6D602A00)

Slot 'XMM2' is Empty

Slot 'XMM3' is Empty

Local Drive Volumes



c: (NTFS on drive 0) 32.68 GB 26.04 GB free

d: (NTFS on drive 0) 7.33 GB 2.79 GB free



Controllers Display

Standard floppy disk controller

Intel(R) 82801BA Ultra ATA Storage Controller - 244B

Primary IDE Channel [Controller]

Secondary IDE Channel [Controller] NVIDIA GeForce2 MX/MX 400 [Display adapter]

COMPAQ FS740 [Monitor] (15.7"vis, November 2001)

Bus Adapters Multimedia

Intel(R) 82801BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller - 2442

Intel(R) 82801BA/BAM USB Universal Host Controller - 2444 SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio

Communications Other Devices

PCTEL Platinum V.90 Modem

What is the exact Compaq model?

The 077Ch motherboards that I have researched in the past can run up to a 2.0g P4 CPU plus an AGP 8X/4X graphics card which will run at a 4X level.

thanks for replying.....
it's a compaq presario 5330CA
470019-732ce is the parts build

Compaq Presario 5330CA Desktop PC

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/p...&lang=en&cc=us

Product information

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/p...=93219&lang=en

RAM:

256MB 133MHz SyncDRAM, three total DIMM slots upgradeable to 1.5GB (SyncDRAM DIMM required)

Graphics:

32MB 4X AGP GeForce2 nVidia NV11 Video Card

CPU:

Intel Pentium 4 Processor - 1.5 GHz

-----------

Note the RAM spec: SyncDRAM

The CPU could be 2.0g. BIOS update probably needed.

The Graphics any AGP 8x/4x which will run as 4x. In other words don't buy an expensive 8x as it will not run 8x. You can up the graphics RAM from the 32MB to either 128MB or 256MB.

Here is a list at 256MB. I'd suggest the models @ $50.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...611&name=256MB

syncDRAM is just SDRAM right no diffrence??? I've found a place local that sells 256 pc133 sdram for $29 and the 512mb pc133mhz sdram for $59

also in your opinion is the processor upgrade going to make much diffrence as I'm still limited by the 400fsb 256kb cache???

lastly these are the two cards I was looking at locally whats your thoughts?
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Product...10384(ME).aspx
http://www.oemexpress.com/Itemdesc.a...2DR9250128&eq=


thanks for the help
Dion

Yes on the RAM. It is most advisable to have the same brand and speed on all sticks but not always necessary. Here is a scan that might show more options and clarify compatibility:

http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/

I'd think a 25% increase in process speed would be noticeable but I haven't looked at prices etc to determine if it would be worth it.

The graphics here along with the RAM will make the most difference.

The first card is out of stock but ...

I only use NVIDIA (GForce). I would never use (again) a Radeon (ATI/AMD).

My personal experience and choice.

Also both those cards list only as 8X. Whereas most 8X cards are 8x/4x most will also say this in the specifications. This is important to verify as your board will only run at 4x.