OK so I got a hand-me-down HP pavilion N5415 notebook computer. Its a Duron 900mhz 256megs 20gig system and its in mint shape and it was free, so I cant complain, especially since its the only computer I have at the moment. It will be used as my desktop i dont need it to be portable. So I did a fresh install of XP pro and set it up for the best performance, but its still it pretty damn slow. I only use it for the basics but its still painfully slow with more then one application open. So Id like to do any upgrades I can to get it to perform better.
First off I want to upgrade the memory. It only has 256megs which ive found to be the absolute min. for runnin XP. But when I look up the memory upgrades onnline I get two differant stories. One says this notebook maxes out at 1gig and others say 512megs. WHich is it?? Id like to add as much memory as possible, if I could get a gig in there I think it would help alot. But if I cant is an upgrade to 512megs gonna do much??? Where could I get the memory cheap???
Next thing id like to upgrade is the cpu. It is not soldered to the board so it can be replaced quite easily. Its a socket A 100mhz fsb, so I could upgrade the Duron to a faster Athlon. My question is, if I will be using the computer as a desktop from the AC power, can i just use a regular cpu or do i have to use a mobile Athlon?? Whats the fastest socket A Athlon with a 100mhz FSB I could use?? Im thinking something like an Athlon 1.2 or 1.4 . What do you think??
So I would be upgrading
Duron 900 -----> Athlon 1400
256megs------->512megs
How much better performance can I expect?? I dont need it to be super fast, just not sloooow like it is right now. And these upgrades would only cost me around $100 or less if I shop around on ebay. Is it worth it??
Thanks
First off I want to upgrade the memory. It only has 256megs which ive found to be the absolute min. for runnin XP. But when I look up the memory upgrades onnline I get two differant stories. One says this notebook maxes out at 1gig and others say 512megs. WHich is it?? Id like to add as much memory as possible, if I could get a gig in there I think it would help alot. But if I cant is an upgrade to 512megs gonna do much??? Where could I get the memory cheap???
Next thing id like to upgrade is the cpu. It is not soldered to the board so it can be replaced quite easily. Its a socket A 100mhz fsb, so I could upgrade the Duron to a faster Athlon. My question is, if I will be using the computer as a desktop from the AC power, can i just use a regular cpu or do i have to use a mobile Athlon?? Whats the fastest socket A Athlon with a 100mhz FSB I could use?? Im thinking something like an Athlon 1.2 or 1.4 . What do you think??
So I would be upgrading
Duron 900 -----> Athlon 1400
256megs------->512megs
How much better performance can I expect?? I dont need it to be super fast, just not sloooow like it is right now. And these upgrades would only cost me around $100 or less if I shop around on ebay. Is it worth it??
Thanks