Desktop upgrade queries.

[absk]

Hi

This is the summary (by Everest Home Edition) of my desktop Compaq Presario SR 1720IL

Field Value
Computer
Operating System Microsoft Windows XP Professional
OS Service Pack Service Pack 3
DirectX 4.09.00.0904 (DirectX 9.0c)
Computer Name
User Name

Motherboard
CPU Type Intel Pentium 4 516, 2933 MHz (22 x 133)
Motherboard Name Unknown
Motherboard Chipset ATI Radeon Xpress 200
System Memory 960 MB (DDR2-667 DDR SDRAM)
BIOS Type AMI (01/18/07)
Communication Port ECP Printer Port (LPT1)

Display
Video Adapter ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Series (256 MB)
Video Adapter ATI RADEON XPRESS 200 Series (256 MB)
3D Accelerator ATI Radeon Xpress 200 (RC410)
Monitor COMPAQ 7540 CRT Monitor [NoDB] (CNN5431XXJ)

Multimedia
Audio Adapter ATI SB450 - High Definition Audio Controller

Storage
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
IDE Controller Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller
SCSI/RAID Controller A2GHTH40 IDE Controller
Disk Drive ST380011A (80 GB, 7200 RPM, Ultra-ATA/100)
Optical Drive LITE-ON COMBO SOHC-4836K
Optical Drive TCDSLE 9ABC9UJG SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive TCDSLE 9ABC9UJG SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive TCDSLE 9ABC9UJG SCSI CdRom Device
Optical Drive TCDSLE 9ABC9UJG SCSI CdRom Device
SMART Hard Disks Status OK

Partitions
C: (NTFS) 20000 MB (506 MB free)
D: (FAT32) 19990 MB (139 MB free)
E: (FAT32) 19990 MB (430 MB free)
F: (FAT32) 16292 MB (1399 MB free)
Total Size 76272 MB (2474 MB free)

Input
Keyboard HP PS2 Keyboard (2K - 3)
Mouse Microsoft PS/2 Mouse

Network
Network Adapter Realtek RTL8139/810x Family Fast Ethernet NIC (192.168.1.6)
Modem Agere Systems PCI-SV92PP Soft Modem

Peripherals
Printer Microsoft XPS Document Writer
Printer PDFCreator
USB1 Controller ATI SB450 - USB Controller
USB1 Controller ATI SB450 - USB Controller
USB2 Controller ATI SB450 - USB 2.0 Controller

Problems & Suggestions
Problem Disk free space is only 3% on drive C:.
Problem Disk free space is only 1% on drive D:.
Problem Disk free space is only 2% on drive E:.
Problem Disk free space is only 9% on drive F:.

I have 4 questions:

1. What is the maximum RAM that I can install on this PC?
2. What is the maximum HDD that I can install on this PC? (Somebody told me p4 won't take 500GB well)
3. Is my HDD IDE or SATA?
4. Can I add a graphics card to this system ?(It already has onboard graphics)

 

[ceasar]

1. Due to 32bit OS limitation on RAM you can install upto 4GB but it may detect only more than 3GB. Its not a problem really but some reported system instability.
2. and 3. Your HDD is PATA. and having a huge HDD is counter productive because your PATA has a maximum speed of 100MBps (a lot slower than USB). Imagine if you have 500GB drive?
4. yes you can add a graphics card.

just a piece of unsolicited info.
I think its best to get a new mobo. You can have dual core AMD proc for as low as $40 and another $40 for jetway mobo $40 for 4GB brandless RAM and $120 for a 1TB SATA HDD. That is if cost is a factor.

 

[absk]

Thanks. I just found my model's online specifications.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00579258&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=in&product=1825407&lang=en

It says that it supports a maximum of 2GB RAM. Is it limited by the motherboard?

Also, in my motherboard specification,

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00590356&tmp_task=prodinfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=in&product=1825407&lang=en

It shows 2 IDE connectors and 4 SATA connectors as well. Does it mean both are compatible?

 

[gtvr]

from your motherboard link:

"Maximum HP/Compaq approved memory is 2 GB" - I don't know if that means total, or per slot. It may also be possible to run more, but it's not "approved" - I would be surprised if you can't run 2 x 2GB of RAM. Whether it's a benefit in that system is a different issue. XP on 2GB probably is not bad, depending on what you're running.

It certainly should support SATA if it has MB connectors.

At some point, you have to say, with that limited of a system, is it worth putting in 4GB RAM, a SATA HD or other larger HD, vs going all-new?

 

[Paperdoc]

Although I can see the argument for replacing most of your system, you did ask originally what is possible. With Win XP Pro SP3 and a BIOS dated in 2007, I am SURE you have all you need to use hard drives larger than 128 GB ("48-bit LBA Support"). In fact, large HDD's in IDE form these days are getting scarcer, and you certainly would be better off adding SATA II's which surely do allow large drives. However, you MAY need to be sure you have the ability to force the SATA II drive you buy to slow down to the original SATA communication speed of 1.5 Gb/s (may be done with a jumper setting on Seagate or WD or some other drive units) just in case the SATA II drive fails to make its own adjustment automatically. I'm betting here that the mobo does NOT have newer SATA II controllers, but maybe I'm wrong on that. The issue here is not the P4 CPU. The issues are 48-bit LBA support (for drives over 128 GB) that was not available in IDE systems made earlier, nor in original Wn XP, but IS available in your system, and the match of SATA II drives to SATA ports that is supposed to be automatic but sometimes needs manual adjustment.