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"Beefing up the PC"

Right, as many of you may have seen I know pretty much nothing about computers.

A year and a half ago my parents got me a Dell Dimension 2400, mainly as it was quite good value for what I wanted it for. (Internet, writing essays and storing music/pictures).

However, I kind of want to play new games on it now but this system isn't that great for it... so I'm going to upgrade it as best I can. I probably should just use the money to buy a mac or something but my parents would go mental, probably.

Here it is here [URL]http://www.dealtime.com/xPF-Dell_Dimension_2400_Cel_2_20GHz_128MB_40GB[/URL]

I have only have one slot for memory, so I'm thinking of getting a stick of 512 RAM, plus I need a really good graphics card.

Erm, so please help tell me what I need and any suggestions. Plus, do I need a new motherboard?

Lol, nah, you just stick it in front of the door and they can't leave ;)

Bet that impresses the ladies.

Thermaltake cases are nice. Some of the girls at uni can't actually lift my Xaser III :) Stops 'em nicking it.

What I have also learned is never let my dad go near a computer store, never touch Dell again (or any other main factory line system thing).

So, yeah. Still don't know I'm doing, I want to play good games, boo.

Buying a PC means getting one which someone doesn't want back faulty, so they might make it "safe" for general non tinkering usage with stickers saying the waranty void if removed and stuff :).

I actually learned a lot about computers in the last few days.

Doesn't mean I'll probably build one from scratch. I'll find a site that will customise it the way I want.

Bonus wrote:
> Agreed, package PCs are built for bulk convenience and 0 problems,
> whereas I'm the osrt of plonker who happily paid £80 just for a
> case this week, it is damn nice though.
>
> Pity the 4 middle LEDs on my strip light didn't work :D.
>
> [URL]http://www.thermaltake.com/xaserCase/tsunami/swa/swa.htm[/URL]

Ooooohhhh. Not a massive fan of cases myself, but that's quite a classy box. (woof woof)

Mine at the moment is a crap black one I picked up for 50 quid (including 550w PSU, junked straight away. Not risking that thankyouverymuchly.) and is simply a shelf for my empty cans of lager. I really should put that side panel back on too. :D :D

On a side note, It has an LCD display for HD / Power and internal temps. This was powered off a unique connector on the old PSU. I spend about a day finding the combination of molex wires to get it working without burning up. Nothing more frightening than that frying components smell.......

Pandaemonium wrote:
> All I'm saying is that it's best to start somewhere, and building a
> completely new pc from scratch is a far better way to do it than
> paying someone else to do it. :D


Agreed, package PCs are built for bulk convenience and 0 problems, whereas I'm the osrt of plonker who happily paid £80 just for a case this week, it is damn nice though.

Pity the 4 middle LEDs on my strip light didn't work :D.

[URL]http://www.thermaltake.com/xaserCase/tsunami/swa/swa.htm[/URL]

Bonus wrote:
> Then Pandaemonium you should know better than to assume than a
> complete newbie wont have any problems. I wouldn't have though Abit
> would make it impossible to fit a PSU with a clip on the 4-pin
> connector to their board, but I was wrong ;).

I'm not assuming anything of the sort. It's the same with everything. If you are doing something for the first time, it's a steep learning curve. I'm simply relaying my experiences with PC building. Before I did my first on I was terrified I would screw something up after hearing horror stories from other people. I simply took it slowly, calmly, and read all the installation guides. Worked a treat. Hell, now I don't even bother with anti static bands / anti static mats and can replace a CPU in minutes. Piece of pish.
All I'm saying is that it's best to start somewhere, and building a completely new pc from scratch is a far better way to do it than paying someone else to do it. :D

> And Sheepy, ha ha, good luck, sounds like you need it :D.

Good luck, and rememeber the magic word. RTFM. You'll probably know it, but for those that dont

R ead
T he
F ******
M anual.

> It really is easy when you know how, and all it takes is a little
> common sense. If you try it you will more than likely be fine, as
> long as you take it slow :D.

There we go. Best advice to give. PC components are often described as fragile things that if breathed on wrong, will break. They're not. Simply take a few common sense precautions, and Robert is your fathers brother :D

[URL]http://www.pcbuyerbeware.co.uk/Build.htm[/URL]

Dunno how out of date it is, but this looks to be a good guide (from a quick skim). As it says, forwarned is forearmed.

[edit]Oh and I'm not saying there's anyone here like it, but I've came across people before that treat PC building like a car mechanic. You know, the inhale of breath between the teeth "Ohhhhhh, you don't want to be doing that, building yout own PC? Madness. I'll do it for you for a small fee", and hiding the sacred knowledge away in it's ivory tower. It's easy when you know how, and upsets these people when they find out that almost anyone tech savvy can do it.

All the best. :)

Then Pandaemonium you should know better than to assume than a complete newbie wont have any problems. I wouldn't have though Abit would make it impossible to fit a PSU with a clip on the 4-pin connector to their board, but I was wrong ;).

And Sheepy, ha ha, good luck, sounds like you need it :D.

It really is easy when you know how, and all it takes is a little common sense. If you try it you will more than likely be fine, as long as you take it slow :D.