O.K. folks, I need guidance with my machine - what can I do with it?

Tech Talk
1

O.K. now that I got it running right (and in ENGLISH) here is what’s up.

My GF’s Aunt just bought a new Gateway with a dual core chipset, etc.

So they gave me an HP Pavilion 745n for FREE.

What’s the farthest I can push this thing?! - I’m talking processor, RAM, etc.

So far I found 3.4Ghz P4, 320GB Drive, 2GB RAM.

What kind of Video Card can I pop in it?

What can be done to this?

No overclocking, etc. Just normal shit - anyone got any input for me?

This is the first machine I’ve had of my own in AGES.

2

Also it has an Intel 845G mobo

System Specifications
Type of system Desktops/Servers
Bus Architecture PCI/AGP
Hard Drive Bus Ultra ATA/100
Native OS Windows XP Home
CPU Type 2.53GHz Intel Pentium 4
Model Comments 533MHz FSB, Intel 845G Chipset
HDD Comments 80.0 GB

System Memory Specifications
Standard Memory 512 MB (removable)
Maximum Memory 2.0 GB
Memory Expansion 2 sockets
Memory Comments PC2100 DDR SDRAM DIMMs

3

All I know is get a better processor… Someone else will be able to give you specifics…

4

Yeah the 3.4Ghz P4 is the best I can get it seems -I’ll be doing that soon but the first thing I’ma do is get some RAM.

I need to know the best kind to get for my mobo, some sites said 1GB max, others said 2GB - I have no clue.

5

All I know is Pentium’s have a reputation of being a named brand only used in most comercialised computer sales… There are far better processors on the market for a much cheaper price that can do your computer justice… A 1GB memory block (including your current RAM) would give you more than enough to run decent games, although once you get your graphics card (depending on how powerful you go) you might want to upgrade to max just for optimum performance.

6

Looks like the best it’ll get for this rig is…

Pentium 4 HT 3.4Ghz “Extreme” (Prescott Core) or a normal Pentium 4 HT 3.4Ghz (Northwood Core)

2GB’s RAM (1GB x 2)

320GB @ 7200RPM Drive.

IMO that ain’t too bad at all - now I need to look @ Sound/Video.

7

Bump for Mycah, surely someone can help him out…

8

Honestly…as a guy who does custom builds, you’re going to pay WAY too much for that, and you’re really overhauling the hell out of it. You might be better off to get a new mobo as well, despite the charity.

The first question is: what do plan on playing on it? Think about your requirements before throwing piles of cash in.

Is it a PCIX board, or an AGP board? If it’s AGP…scrap the board, and just rebuild from scratch. A free mobo isn’t worth paying twice as much for video cards.

9

O.K. as for chip - it’ll be the “Normal” Pentium 4 HT 3.4Ghz (Northwood Core) cause this is better for NON graphics aps (gaming)

I don’t use my PC for gaming, that’s what consoles are for IMO - the most “gaming” I’ll do on it are Arcade emus.

RAM is still a fuckin’ toss up, HP’s site and others that deal with Storebough OEM shit say only 1GB but everyother site that deal with homebrew rigs say that I can get 2GB of RAM on this mobo. (1GB x 2)

The Drive, well 320GB is the highest that Ultra ATA/100 can get…WTF am I gonna do with 320GB?! lol

Now as for Audio/Video I’ve got AGP but I still ain’t opened the case.