Upgrade and Computer-Building Advice Thread

[Stubby]

Bumpity bump bump

[ZombiEater]

1. Make and Model: Gateway 5200S
a. Motherboard: Intel D915GAG
b. CPU: Pentium 4 2.80 Ghz
c. Case Form Factor: Gateway 6-bay mid tower case (ATX)
d. PSU: 400w
e. GPU: NVIDIA GeForce 6600 GT, 256 MB
2. RAM: 2 x 512 MB, 2 x 1024 MB - all DDR
3. Disk Drive(s): 80 GB 7200 RPM SATA
4. Optical drive(s): 1 x DVD/CD
4. Image Quality: 1024 x 768, moderate concern about AA/AF and texture quality.
5. Case+: N/A
6. BUDGET: ~$150.00
7. OS: XP

I'm thinking I'll probably need to upgrade my PSU if I'm going to get anything too advanced. However, my gaming needs are not extraordinarily high - I'm looking to upgrade mainly for editing high quality, high DPI images (photoshop, etc.).

[aliquidparadigm]

Assuming you've tried this with little or no success already, you'd need a new CPU.

Which means a new mobo. Which means new RAM.

The cheapest options which will get the job done are...

CPU
MOBO
RAM - only real rule with RAM: if you intend to run it at speeds higher than, oh, 800MHz, you should probably buy sticks with a cooling solution.

PSU-wise, it really depends on how decent the one you have is. That CPU/MOBO/RAM combo shouldn't really push any decent PSU too far.

If you want to play it safe, here's a cheap PSU which will more than do the job.

As far as video card goes, that has almost nothing to do with Photoshop performance, so it's moot.

edit: If you're just looking for a video card which will fit your budget and system, that'd be the 5750/5770, depending on what prices you can find.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16814131330

[ZombiEater]

Yikes, that's a bit more than I bargained for, but I guess I should've known when attempting to upgrade a 6 year old computer. The reason I mentioned photoshop was because when attempting to modify pictures I often get error messages telling me that my memory is too low. I assumed a video card with a higher memory would fix this problem.

Thanks for the advice and the links, though. If I find an extra $525.00 laying around, I may take your advice.

[aliquidparadigm]

Ah, that'd be system memory. Not much you're going to be able to do about that anyway without switching to a 64-bit operating system... and CPU... and MOBO... etc.

edit: Also, you totally could purchase all four (including the PSU) for just over $250, which isn't bad at all.

[ultima]

did it say your virtual memory is too low ??

[ZombiEater]

Well, when I added up the parts it came to around $500, but there were several options on those links you provided, so perhaps I was choosing some of the more expensive options.

System memory you say, huh? Hmm....

Ultima: I'll quote you the error message, "Not enough memory to complete this action. Close programs that are not in use, and then try again." Another similar error message I receive reads as follows, "Out of Memory|There is not enough memory to complete this operation. To free memory, close other programs and try again."

[aliquidparadigm]

Originally Posted by ZombiEater

so perhaps I was choosing some of the more expensive options.

I'd assume so; I, personally, would buy:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16819103704
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16820231149
from the list options; price/performance on those will be good. Unless you're counting the video card, that's about $260-270.

[ultima]

i'm thinking your virtual memory may be set too low

go into your control panel
look for "system"

in there look for "advanced"
then click on "settings" in the "performance" section

if memory is not set to "system managed"
then set it to that option.

"apply"

and then close the windows. you'll have to restart at that point


if you are using Vista, its a little different but you should be able to
find it. if not post here

[ZombiEater]

ultima, you were right in that the advanced settings under the systems was not set to "system managed." I changed that and restarted the computer.

However, when I attempted to perform the same actions that previously gave me the error messages, I got the same results.

Ah well.