Upgrading Computer Hardware
Lerf:
My question.
According to "My Computer" I have a NVIDIA GEForce4 MX4000 . I have just updated to 1 Gig of RAM, and I've got an AMD Athelon 2500+ 1.84 GHZ.
So, why can't I get the special events camera? Is it my video card? I don't see it listed as supported, but there are number of other GEForce MX4###'s listed, just not the 4000.
Thanks
Motoki:
Yes that would be the video card, it's rather old in terms of video cards (with old being a few years for video cards ;) ).
DrBeast:
Well, you need RAM. Yesterday! Yes, THAT urgent! From what you've said you're not very comfortable with computers, right? In that case, I'd recommend getting a technician to do the dirty work. There's no rocket science involved in getting and installing new hardware, but there are a few pitfalls: first of all, you'd better get the same RAM as the one you are using with regards to frequency and latency times (if it's the same brand, even better), and finding out these two values on the RAM you have requires some assistance which I can't give right now, sorry. Then, the graphics card. I've been using both ATIs and nVIDIA cards, and I must admit I was a hardcore nVIDIA fan until they released the 5x00 series and ATI their 9x00 series. I chose a GeForce FX5200 to replace my aging GeForce 2. At the same time, my girlfriend got a new computer with slightly better specs than my computer but the RADEON 9200. The difference between her machine and mine were staggering! I wanted to throw mine out the window and hijack hers (well, some time later I moved to her place so I hijacked hers, hehe!). Anyway, as things are right now (as opposed to 2 years ago), I'd go with the GeForce 6800GT. It's in the mid-ranges, both price-wise and regarding performance. Dunno where you're from, but here in Greece this card costs about 180 Euros. Why this and not a cheaper one? Because it will last longer! If you buy a cheaper one you'll HAVE to replace it with a better one within a year or so. This will take you further down the road. As for the graphics card-motherboard incompatibility issue, sometimes upgrading the motherboard BIOS settles the problem. Again, nothing dramatically difficult to do, but better left to a technician if you're inexperienced. Oh, and something I learned the hard way: BEFORE installing the new graphics card, GET RID OF THE OLD ONE'S DRIVERS! When I replaced mine I didn't do it and the computer went nuts! Your processor is fine btw, I've pumped up my g/f's P4 from 2.4 to 2.7GHz and it's great (ah, the Northwood chipsets...).
Renatus:
To add to what Dr.Beast said - if you do choose to let a technician do the work, you may not want to remove the drivers beforehand, but let the tech know that you haven't. Any tech worth his or her paycheck will know how to handle it.
Also make sure to use a tech that is reputable and works for a place that gives a warranty for work done, if at all possible; when I was a tech I had a few too many "Well, I took the computer to this guy a friend of mine said is really good with computers, but now it doesn't work at all" folks, who ended up having to pay out the ass for me to repair the damage this 'really good with computers' person did. :-[
gali:
I always insist that the work will be done at my house. If the technician refuses - I don't hire him.
I have to see what he does and which products he brings with him to my computer: are they in an original box, brand new, etc.
Never send your computer to a lab - insist work at home.
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