Use What I have?

Amp34 · 21 Apr 2009 at 18:26

My parents PC is getting along a bit now (5+ years old) and seems to be running very slowly, so at least a complete reinstall of XP will be required.

I also have an (in bits) Dual CPU PC upstairs consisting of 2x 1.6 Xeons (single core but hyperthreaded) that were clocked to around 3GHz, with 1GB of memory. It was really loud but after modifying the CPU fans it was made pretty quiet. I am wondering (after my dad commented about it) whether to get them to spend £100 or so to get the dual CPU PC up and running again and use it as their main PC. I'm guessing it will be reasonably faster than the one they have now. The old PC is a 3000+ Athlon with 512MB of RAM

If I do I have a couple of questions -

How will Vista run on the new machine (with 1.5GB RAM)
I assume home premium won't recognise 2 CPU's, I would need Business or ultimate?
Power consumption and speed differences, noticeable?
With the new cooling system I would probably need a reasonably wide case, any cheap ones around?
Is there any point? Or would I be able to get a similar speed increase just buying a cheap base unit from the purple place?

Thanks

Audigex · 21 Apr 2009 at 20:22

It should be okay with 1.5GB, but it'll be a lot happier with 3 or 4. 2 is the recommended low end, but I've seen it run with 1GB without too much complaint.

It will use substantially more power than a core2duo CPU, since it's basically two old architechture chips (power hungry and hot) rather than a new chip with two new architechture cores.

I'd guess it will about equal a similarly clocked C2D, possibly slightly slower, although that's purely guesswork.

You'd be able to get a similar speed increase with a cheap base unit from OCuk - then there's no need to visit a competitor either.

Amp34 · 21 Apr 2009 at 20:46

Is there really that much of a difference beween 2 and 4GB for vista? Both my Vista machines have 2GB and both are fast, although I don't play games..

But could I get a whole base unit and OS for £100?

Angst · 21 Apr 2009 at 21:13

if you dont do any gaming or intensive tasks like video editing or the likes 2gb is plenty, i got my brothers pc playing counterstrike source at 100fps with vista and 1.5gb of ram + the whole system cost about £200

KingZeddy · 21 Apr 2009 at 23:07

as above depends on what it is used for, for light use - internet etc might be better to get a low spec new rig and sell the parts you have

Amp34 · 21 Apr 2009 at 23:59

KingZeddy said:
as above depends on what it is used for, for light use - internet etc might be better to get a low spec new rig and sell the parts you have

I did wonder about that, but I doubt I would get much money for any of it. When I first made the dual CPU pc it only cost me a couple of hundred and the other one is probably worthless?