PC Purchase Help

henry296 · 02-12-2003, 03:57 PM

I know these threads have appeared here numerous times in the past, but I can't find them with the search.

I have priced out a nice new laptop:

2.0 GHz Mobile Pentium 4
512 MB RAM
40 GB Hard Drive
64 MB DDR Video Card
15 in UltraSharp UXGA Monitor
Windows XP Home

Here are my basic uses: Wireless Internet, Text Sims including CM4, FOF4 and TDCB, and sometimes strategy games like Civ3. Most of my use will be at home and replaces at P2 450. I would appreciate any opinions on the value of the following upgrades.

Is it worth $300 dollars to upgrade to 2.4 GHz.

Is it worth $50 dollars for the UltraSharp Monitor.

Are there any other upgrades that are worth the price, like a bigger hard drive. I am going to buy my own wireless card.

Thanks
Todd

Airhog · 02-12-2003, 04:04 PM

I wouldnt spend 300 dollars to upgrade your cpu. the monitor is it a 17" or 19" monitor? that would definately be worth it.

henry296 · 02-12-2003, 04:05 PM

One more questions:

Office 97 will work with XP Home, right?

Todd

Airhog · 02-12-2003, 04:09 PM

it should, but dont quote me on that.

Neel · 02-12-2003, 04:38 PM

Office 97 should not work with XP Home. You should purchase Office XP, and you can open and convert your older office files.

You will never notice the difference between 2 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz cpu, so not worth it.

With a laptop the #1 thing to invest in (and the #1 cost you are paying for) is the monitor. Worth the $$ to make sure you monitor is top notch.

Tarkus · 02-12-2003, 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Neel
Office 97 should not work with XP Home. You should purchase Office XP, and you can open and convert your older office files.

You will never notice the difference between 2 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz cpu, so not worth it.

With a laptop the #1 thing to invest in (and the #1 cost you are paying for) is the monitor. Worth the $$ to make sure you monitor is top notch.

Well Office 2000 works perfrectly with XP. I don't know about '97 but just call the Microsoft pre-sales number and they'll tell you.

Tarkus

Neel · 02-12-2003, 05:42 PM

Hope this helps...

Getting older programs to run on Windows XP

Most programs run properly on Windows XP. The exceptions are some older games and other programs that were written specifically for an earlier version of Windows. To run your program on Windows XP, try the following:

Run the Program Compatibility Wizard.
As an alternative, you can set the compatibility properties manually.
Update your program, drivers, or hardware.

wishbone · 02-12-2003, 06:10 PM

Office 97 works in XP.
$50 for a "better" monitor is a no-brainer
$300 for 400 MHz is silly. Your text based stuff will run fine at 1GHz and your video card will probably limit you more than the CPU for anything real intensive.

sabotai · 02-12-2003, 07:19 PM

Office 97 works fine in XP. I know, I have XP and Office 97 and it works fine.

astralhaze · 02-12-2003, 07:24 PM

The other thing with upgrading the processor is that it will make the battery die much more quickly. Not worth it.

wbonnell · 02-12-2003, 07:46 PM

get the best hard drive you can buy. From my experience, hard disk access is a huge bottleneck on laptops.

henry296 · 02-19-2003, 09:48 AM

Thanks guys.

One more question.

I want to get 512 MB of RAM.

From the standard 256, they want 150 for the upgrade or 50 to only put 1 DIMM. It would seem cheaper to put 256 with on DIMM and go out and buy another 256 MB chip since I have seen them for about $50. Am I missing something in regards to compatibility or performance that I should have the 512 installed by the manufacturer.

Todd

Samdari · 02-19-2003, 11:07 AM

You probably have not seen laptop memory for $50 - it is a different animal altogether. Also, if you have never taken a laptop apart and made repairs/upgrades, you are better off not planning to. It is a very different animal from a desktop PC.

If I read your last post right, you can upgrade to 512MB for $50 if you are willing to get one 512MB chip. I think that is the best way to go.

henry296 · 02-19-2003, 11:33 AM

Thanks. I saw some on sale for a little less than $100 but it was PC100, and the laptop I am looking at is DDR RAM which is $100, which makes it a wash.

The $50 was to get 1 256 MB DIMM which would allow an easy upgrade. The options were:

0 - 256 MB, 2 DIMMs
50 - 256 MB, 1 DIMM
150 - 512 MB, 2 DIMMs.

Todd

02-12-2003, 04:04 PM	#2
Airhog Captain Obvious Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Norman, Oklahoma	I wouldnt spend 300 dollars to upgrade your cpu. the monitor is it a 17" or 19" monitor? that would definately be worth it. __________________ Thread Killer extraordinaire Yay! its football season once again!

02-12-2003, 04:05 PM	#3
henry296 College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	One more questions: Office 97 will work with XP Home, right? Todd __________________ "It's a great day for hockey" - "Badger" Bob Johnson

02-12-2003, 04:09 PM	#4
Airhog Captain Obvious Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Norman, Oklahoma	it should, but dont quote me on that. __________________ Thread Killer extraordinaire Yay! its football season once again!

02-12-2003, 07:24 PM	#10
astralhaze College Prospect Join Date: Dec 2002	The other thing with upgrading the processor is that it will make the battery die much more quickly. Not worth it. __________________ I can understand Brutus at every meaning, but that parahraphy threw me for a loop.

02-12-2003, 07:46 PM	#11
wbonnell College Prospect Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Round Rock TX	get the best hard drive you can buy. From my experience, hard disk access is a huge bottleneck on laptops. Last edited by wbonnell : 02-12-2003 at 07:47 PM.

02-12-2003, 04:38 PM	#5
Neel n00b Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Seattle, Washington	Office 97 should not work with XP Home. You should purchase Office XP, and you can open and convert your older office files. You will never notice the difference between 2 Ghz and 2.4 Ghz cpu, so not worth it. With a laptop the #1 thing to invest in (and the #1 cost you are paying for) is the monitor. Worth the $$ to make sure you monitor is top notch.

02-12-2003, 05:42 PM	#7
Neel n00b Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Seattle, Washington	Hope this helps... Getting older programs to run on Windows XP Most programs run properly on Windows XP. The exceptions are some older games and other programs that were written specifically for an earlier version of Windows. To run your program on Windows XP, try the following: Run the Program Compatibility Wizard. As an alternative, you can set the compatibility properties manually. Update your program, drivers, or hardware.

02-12-2003, 06:10 PM	#8
wishbone High School JV Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Hillsboro OR	Office 97 works in XP. $50 for a "better" monitor is a no-brainer $300 for 400 MHz is silly. Your text based stuff will run fine at 1GHz and your video card will probably limit you more than the CPU for anything real intensive.

02-12-2003, 07:19 PM	#9
sabotai General Manager Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: The Satellite of Love	Office 97 works fine in XP. I know, I have XP and Office 97 and it works fine.

02-19-2003, 09:48 AM	#12
henry296 College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Thanks guys. One more question. I want to get 512 MB of RAM. From the standard 256, they want 150 for the upgrade or 50 to only put 1 DIMM. It would seem cheaper to put 256 with on DIMM and go out and buy another 256 MB chip since I have seen them for about $50. Am I missing something in regards to compatibility or performance that I should have the 512 installed by the manufacturer. Todd __________________ "It's a great day for hockey" - "Badger" Bob Johnson

02-19-2003, 11:07 AM	#13
Samdari Roster Filler Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Cicero	You probably have not seen laptop memory for $50 - it is a different animal altogether. Also, if you have never taken a laptop apart and made repairs/upgrades, you are better off not planning to. It is a very different animal from a desktop PC. If I read your last post right, you can upgrade to 512MB for $50 if you are willing to get one 512MB chip. I think that is the best way to go. __________________ http://www.nateandellie.net Now featuring twice the babies for the same low price!

02-19-2003, 11:33 AM	#14
henry296 College Starter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	Thanks. I saw some on sale for a little less than $100 but it was PC100, and the laptop I am looking at is DDR RAM which is $100, which makes it a wash. The $50 was to get 1 256 MB DIMM which would allow an easy upgrade. The options were: 0 - 256 MB, 2 DIMMs 50 - 256 MB, 1 DIMM 150 - 512 MB, 2 DIMMs. Todd __________________ "It's a great day for hockey" - "Badger" Bob Johnson

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