Recommend me some upgrades

ajstan

ajstan

ajstan

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Joined
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London
Hi all, I have 31 computer which need speeding up.

Some pics so you know what I'm dealing with:

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Current specs are:
A rubbish AOpen socket 478 motherboard
Celeron 2.0ghz (some do have 2.4ghz)
512mb RAM (2x 256mb RAM)
40gb IDE HDDs
160W PSU
M-ATX chassis

I want to spend the smallest amount possible, with the least amount of effort to make these better.

First option: Upgrade to Pentium 4 and replace a 256mb RAM module with 1gb.
I have actually tried this and it has made quite a different but it would cost around £60 per computer (£1860 for all 31) which seems like a lot to spend on a computer of this age.


Second option: Get this:

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Will 160W be good enough for this, have I made any mistakes?

Do you have any other good ideas?

Thanks
 
Basing the rigs around AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 250 3.00GHz would be cheaper. Coupled with a cheap AM2+ board would be a good combo.

You realise that have a single stick of ram will compromise performance. I would shop around for 2x 1Gb kit's of value ram so it will run in dual channel.

Not sure about the psu although 160w sounds very low and the unit's are likley to be quite old now.

What are all of these for anyway if you don't mind me asking?
 
Computers are for a Sixth form centre in a school so they must be tough (hence why I'm not just buying crappy atom PCs in a cheap case).

I chose just one stick of RAM if I wanted to make any more upgrades in future.

I'm not familiar with AMD at all, how would it compare with the E6500?

The most important thing is would it run off that PSU?
 
pastymuncher said:
Basing the rigs around AMD Athlon II X2 Dual Core 250 3.00GHz would be cheaper. Coupled with a cheap AM2+ board would be a good combo.

You realise that have a single stick of ram will compromise performance. I would shop around for 2x 1Gb kit's of value ram so it will run in dual channel.

Not sure about the psu although 160w sounds very low and the unit's are likley to be quite old now.

What are all of these for anyway if you don't mind me asking?
Click to expand...

My guess is a school going by RM.

The intel spec you have there will use about 160w loaded and 130w idle.

See: http://www.anandtech.com/show/2757/10

e5300 and e6500 are same cpu but e6500 is running at a higher speed

Thus, the power supplies are not powerful enough for a modern dual core.
 
Swings and roundabouts really. About a 50/50 split between the AMD and the Intel performance wise. The AMD uses less power though which is what you will need to have a chance of getting away with those 160w psu's. Even then it's doubtful.
 
 
pastymuncher said:
Swings and roundabouts really. About a 50/50 split between the AMD and the Intel performance wise. The AMD uses less power though which is what you will need to have a chance of getting away with those 160w psu's. Even then it's doubtful.
Click to expand...

Hmm yh, cutting it pretty tight. Bummer.


stulid said:
I think you would have to upgrade to much stuff to make it a viable option.

how about a barebones system- http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=FS-266-OK&groupid=43&catid=1817&subcat=

with,

cpu- http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CP-251-AM&groupid=701&catid=6&subcat=803

stick of ram- http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-039-PA&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=813

and a harddrive- http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-118-WD&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=167

if you need a opticle drive? then add £13, so about £190 each
Click to expand...

Hard drive not needed 40gb is fine, got plenty of optical drives.

Will only consider a m-atx case and must be RM really because they are built like Panzer tanks.
 
Those chips are rated at 65W which is the same as the Intel. Maybe have a look around for some 45W athlon chips? Something like the 240e would be a possibility.
 
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