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Upgrading a PC: Upgrade Checklists - What You Need to Know About the Hardware Components Before You Upgrade Your Computer - Page 2

Last updated on 9 January 2008

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This page provides the information that should be taken into consideration in order to upgrade a desktop computer/PC successfully. The last thing you want to do is order components that can't be used at all, or that are in some way incompatible with one or more of the other components.

The following article shows how economical it can be to upgrade a PC bought in 2001 compared to buying a new, less upgradable Dell PC.

How To Revive Your Old PC -

"A few simple and economical upgrades to the motherboard, processor, and memory can bring an old PC back to life, with less expense and hassle than replacing the machine." -

http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205203815

The micro-ATX case, motherboard, Intel Core 2 Duo E4500 processor, 2GB DDR2 667 RAM (1 DIMM), a PCI IDE controller for a faster IDE drive, and 3.5" Floppy/3-in-1 Reader came to only $433/£215.

Visit the Desktop PCs section of this site for information on how to buy, build, repair, fix, and protect the various types of desktop PCs.

The arrival of Windows Vista

Note that the versions of Windows Vista for the home user were made available on 30 January 2007. Apart from Windows Vista Home Basic, which is comparable to Windows XP with regard to the hardware that it will run comfortably on, Windows Vista Home Premium, Vista Business, and Vista Ultimate require hardware specifications (hard-disk-drive space, RAM memory, and the type of graphics card and graphics memory) that are significantly higher than those of Windows XP.

Visit the Using Windows Vista section of this site for more information on the different versions of Windows Vista.

Does your PC use brand-name (proprietary) or standard PC components?

Note well that if you have a brand-name PC such one made by Dell, HP, Gateway, etc., standard PC components might not fit in a proprietary case. If that is the case, the only source of upgrade components is the PC manufacturer, and the components will usually cost much more than standard PC components. Therefore, if you have a brand-name PC, find out if you have to use proprietary components to upgrade it, because if that is the case, standard PC components can't be used.

Read this forum thread on this subject: Used to have a Dimension 8200.

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CONTENTS

Click the name of the component in the table below to go to its upgrade checklist. If there is no link available, the information has not yet been entered.

CONTENTS

The safest way to upgrade RAM: Use the UK and US Crucial Memory Advisors

Paul Mullen, the highly-respected computer guru of the Helpfile at ComputerShopper.co.uk - "I have recently been buying my memory only from Crucial Technology. I would rather pay the extra cost than waste time trying to track down the obscure program faults that bad memory can cause."

The memory requirements of the versions of Windows Vista

Most of the versions of Windows Vista require more RAM memory to run optimally on a computer that doesn't use memory-hungry applications than Windows XP. A video-editing application is an example of memory-intensive software. Only Windows Vista Home Basic has a recommended amount of memory of 512MB, which is the same amount recommended for Windows XP. Windows Vista Home Premium, the most popular version and Windows Vista Ultimate require 1GB (1024MB) of memory, which is twice the amount of memory recommended to run Windows XP. Read the information on the RAM pages of this site to find out if you should buy memory for use in single-channel or dual-channel modes.

For example, if your computer has an Asus motherboard, open the menu, scroll down to ASUS, and click GO. If, say, you have a Dell computer, scroll down to DELL, and do likewise. You will be taken to the relevant information on Crucial's website.

If you don't know the make and model of the motherboard installed in your computer, here is a good free utility - Belarc Advisor - that creates an analysis of the hardware and software on a personal computer. Look under FREE DOWNLOAD - http://www.belarc.com/. Another utility that also provides detailed information on the memory itself is CPU-Z.

Upgrade Checklist - Processors

Visit the Processors section of this site for more information on them.

Find out which processors a particular motherboard [mainboard] supports

You must know the make and model of the motherboard installed in a computer in order to be able to find out which processors it can run. You have to know that information in order to find out if a faster processor is supported. That can be done by opening the PC case and looking for that information written on the board itself, or by using a free utility, such as CPU-Z (look under its Mainboard tab), or the Belarc Advisor (look under the Main Circuit Board category. A description such as, Board: MS-7093, means that an MS-7093 motherboard made by MSI is installed.) If necessary, to find the manufacturer's site, you can enter the information, enclosed within double quotation marks, in the Google search box provided at the top of this page, with its Web radio button enabled.

You can download the user manual for a particular motherboard, but note that processors that the motherboard supports may have been released after the manual was written, so check the manufacturer's site for the latest information.

BIOS updates

Processors that the motherboard supports may have been released after the BIOS setup program was written, so check the manufacturer's site for a BIOS update, because you may have to reflash the BIOS with an update in order to run processors that the original BIOS does not support but that the motherboard is capable of running.

You should only reflash the BIOS if there is a later version that the version that is installed. The version is provided on the startup screen, but it can flash past so quickly that you have to press the Pause key in order to be able to make a note of it. The easiest way to identify the version is to use a free utility such as the free Belarc Advisor. The information appears under the Main Circuit Board category - e.g., BIOS: Phoenix Technologies, LTD 6.00 PG 07/21/2005. The US dating system is used, in which the month precedes the day of the month. The version in the example is dated as July 21, 2005, so you would only reflash the BIOS if a later version is available. You download motherboard driver and BIOS updates from the motherboard manufacturer's website. Read the information in the table above to find out how to identify a PC's motherboard.

Visit the BIOS page on this site for more information on it.

Make sure that the processor's cooling unit is adequate

You should never install and run a processor without fitting a heatsink and fan unit over it that is designed to keep that make and model of processor cool, or without employing some other type of cooling system that is recommended for use with that make and model of processor. The retailers of cooling units usually specify which processors they can be used with, but the best way to ensure that you use a recommended cooling unit is to purchase a boxed retail product made by Intel or AMD, because a recommended cooling unit is included in the package. If you buy a new or second-hand processor that is sold without a cooling unit, you have to make sure that you buy one that is a quality product designed to keep it cool. It is also a good idea to buy more than one unit just in case the one in use fails. If you upgrade the motherboard and the processor, don't use the cooling unit that was used with a slower processor unless you know for sure that it can also be used with the faster processor. You can find out if that is the case by entering the make and model, enclosed within double quotation marks, in the search box of a search engine such as Google. If you can't find that information, it would be best to buy a new unit that you know is capable of keeping your upgrade cool. The faster the processor, the more heat it generates, the greater the need for an efficient cooling unit.

Visit the Processors pages on this site for more information on cooling units.

Is the RAM memory the optimal type that the motherboard and processor can use?

If you are upgrading to a faster processor that is installed on your PC's existing motherboard, you can keep using your system's existing RAM memory, but if there is a faster type of RAM that the motherboard supports you can upgrade it. However, you are unlikely to see any noticeable increase in performance. If you are installing a new processor and motherboard, you should buy the fastest RAM that the motherboard supports. If the motherboard supports memory that runs in dual-channel mode, you have to install the modules in pairs. If you install a single module it can only operate in single-channel mode. If dual-channel mode is supported, installing two 512MB modules in the correct slots would be better from a performance point of view than installing a single 1GB module. The best way of ensuring that you buy the optimal type of RAM involves buying it from a vendor that sells it on a motherboard basis and guarantees that it will work or your money back. Crucial does that and provides that guarantee. See the US and UK Crucial Memory Selectors at the top of this page to find out how to use them. The motherboard's user manual provides information on the types of RAM that the board supports, and which DIMM slots support which modes of operation (dual-channel or single-channel modes) and sizes of modules. If you don't already have a copy, download a copy from the manufacturer's website, which is usually in the PDF format that requires the Acrobat Reader.

Visit the RAM pages on this site for more information on a computer's random access memory.

Is the power supply unit up to the processor upgrade?

The power requirements of a particular make and model of processor can be found on its manufacturer's website. Make a note of the requirements and then open the PC's case to find out if they match the power specifications of your existing power supply unit. The specifications are listed on the outside of the power supply.

The current Socket 754 and Socket 939 AMD Athlon 64 and Sempron and Intel socket LGA775 Pentium and Celeron processors require the power supply to have an extra 4-pin 12V power connector that connects to the motherboard. If you already have a Slot 1, Socket 370, Socket 478 motherboard for Intel processors, or a Slot A, or Socket A motherboard for AMD processors, they are no longer in production, but you will probably be able to purchase upgrades on a site such as eBay. You will probably be able to use your existing power supply for an upgrade that makes uses of the existing motherboard, but check just to make sure.

Most new motherboards use the new-style 24-pin connector from the power supply unit. Older motherboards use a 20-pin connector. If the motherboard uses a 24-pin connector, make sure that the power supply provides one, and ditto for a motherboard that uses a 20-pin connector. Some power supplies can be used with both types of motherboard connector, because you can detach the extra four pins on the 24-pin connector in order to use it with a 20-pin motherboard socket. You can find out which type of power connector is used for a particular motherboard before you buy it by downloading the user manual from its manufacturer's website.

Click here! to go directly to information on power supplies on this site.

Is the version of Windows capable of running a particular make and model of processor optimally?

All of the latest Intel Pentium 4 and Pentium D processors support Hyper-Threading technology, which simulates the use of two processors working from a single processor. Windows 2000 and Windows XP (Home and Professional Editions) supports this technology, but the earlier versions of Windows - Windows 95/98/Me - do not. Therefore, if you use one of those versions of Windows, the computer will be able to run, but it won't be able to run optimally.

Dual-core AMD and Intel processors house two processor cores within a single unit. Windows 95/98/Me do not support dual-core processors. Windows XP (Home and Professional Editions) supports the use of dual-core processors, but you may have to reinstall Windows in order to have it recognise both cores.

The quickest way to find out if both cores have been recognised is to press the Ctrl+Alt+Del key combination to bring up the Windows Task Manager. There should be two processors listed under the Performance tab. If there is only one processor listed, you should make Windows repair the existing installation. Visit the Recovering Windows XP page on this site to find out how to perform a repair installation.

If you have a Socket A motherboard that supports AMD Athlon and Athlon XP processors and you upgrade the processor from a standard Athlon to an Athlon XP processor, you will probably have to reinstall Windows so that it can make use of the new processor's extra multimedia instructions.

Upgrade Checklist - Wireless Routers

Visit this Networking page on this site for more information on routers.

Check your existing broadband modem

You can download the illustrated user manual for any make and model of router from its manufacturer's website. If you just want to have a look at a user manual for a router, download one from the Linksys site. It is in the PDF format, so you must have the Acrobat Reader installed.

The router is connected to the phone line, or cable connection, and to the gateway computer by suitable cables. All routers provide Ethernet ports for connection to the phone line and to the computer, but not many of them provide USB ports, because most users use Ethernet ADSL and cable modems. However, some Internet service providers provide USB modems in order to make it difficult to share a connection. USB routers are available but they're hard to find and usually only support a limited list of ADSL USB modems.

For more information, read this Q&A on this site: Why can't I find a router for my USB ADSL modem.

The cable or ADSL modem is usually connected to the gateway computer wirelessly or by an Ethernet cable. If the connection is wireless, the computer must have a PCI or USB wireless adapter installed in it. If the connection is wired, the computer must have an Ethernet PCI network interface card installed (NIC) in one of the PCI slots on the computer's motherboard.

A router with an inbuilt ADSL modem is the best option for sharing an ADSL connection on a wireless network, because less cabling is used and the modem is guaranteed to work with the router. However, if you have an ADSL modem that you want to use, or you have a cable modem, make sure that its connector can be used with a particular router. And Ethernet or USB port on the router is used for ADSL or cable connections. If you have a cable modem that is connected to the router via its Ethernet port, it is not necessary to buy a router with an inbuilt modem. You can also reuse an ADSL modem with an Ethernet port, but it would be a better option to buy a router that has an inbuilt modem. If your Internet service provider provided you with a USB modem, in order to use it, the router must provide a USB port. To find out if that is the case, check the router's specifications on its manufacturer's website.

Note that some Internet service providers provide a set-top box with an inbuilt modem that also provides access to cable television.

Check that the version of Windows being used supports wireless networking

Before you purchase any wired or wireless network adapters, visit the manufacturer's website to make sure that drivers for the version of Windows being used in a particular computer on your network are provided. If the version of Windows being used is Windows 98 SE or Windows Me, you should have the Windows CD at hand when you install the drivers, because they will probably require files from the CD. Note that the original edition of Windows 98 does not support wireless networking. You have to use a wired router if you are using that version of Windows. For Windows 2000 with Service Pack 4 (SP4) installed, Windows Vista and Windows XP, all you have to do is install the drivers that come with the network adapter, because those versions support wireless networking natively.

Does your computer have the connection ports for wireless adapters?

In order to be able to communicate wirelessly with a wireless router, you have to install PCI network cards or USB network adapters that broadcast a radio signal to the router in each of the computers in the network. To install those cards/adapters requires having free PCI slots or USB ports on the motherboards of the networked computers. If there is not a free PCI slot on a particular computer's motherboard, you'll have to use a free USB port, which can be added by making use of a USB hub or another device that provides USB ports, such as a LCD monitor or keyboard. Many motherboards also allow a USB bracket that contains additional USB ports and their cables to be connected by to USB headers on the motherboard. The bracket is fitted in one of the outlets for adapter cards at the back of the case. If you want to cable a computer to one of the router's Ethernet ports with a network cable, the computer must provide an Ethernet port that is provided by the motherboard or, if one is not provided by the motherboard, is added to the computer by installing an Ethernet PCI network interface card (NIC).

Upgrade Checklist - Webcams

WebcamFirst - "100% free software to install a webcam on your website or your local network" - http://www.webcamfirst.com/.

WebcamFirst is excellent free software for video surveillance. It can be set to capture at certain intervals or when triggered by movement and save the images to your hard drive or upload them via FTP. It's also useful if you need to find out if it's cats, foxes, or herons are taking your pond fish. However, I can't find a full-screen preview option. 640x480 is the largest size for live-video preview with my webcam.

Also provided on the same site - WebcamFirst Mail - Turn your PC into a powerful video surveillance system. Motion detector, e-mail notification on your mobile, home PC or office PC.

Before you buy a webcam, visit its manufacturer's site to find out if your PC meets its system requirements

The manufacturer of a webcam will provide the minimum system requirements that have to be met in order to be able to use the product. You have to make sure that your PC is up to using a particular model of webcam.

If you aren't familiar enough with the hardware and software that your PC runs to know that it can run a particular webcam after reading the minimum system requirements, you can download the free Belarc Advisor, which creates an analysis of the hardware and software on a PC. Find it under FREE DOWNLOAD here - http://www.belarc.com/. You can then find out if the system requirements of a particular webcam are met by your PC by matching the specifications. If they are lower than the minimum required specifications, you'll have to upgrade the PC in order to have them met. If the PC's specifications are higher than those required by the webcam, all the better.

If a webcam is to be operated from a PC, it must be running a version of Windows that provides the required type of USB support, because webcams are USB devices. The information in the table above provides the information you need to know in order to determine if a particular version of Windows is suitable from a USB standpoint.

To make a webcam that can use USB 1.1 work under Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE, update the following files to versions from 1999 or later: iyuv_32.dll, ntkern.vxd, vfwwdm32.dll, vfwwdm.drv, and msh263.drv. You can obtain these files from http://www.dll-files.com/ and http://www.driverguide.com/.

If a webcam requires USB 2.0 and your PC's motherboard doesn't provide any USB 2.0 ports, you can add them by installing a PCI USB 2.0 adapter card in a PCI slot on the motherboard. The image below shows such as card containing four USB 2.0 ports, which can be purchased online or from any good computer store.

Read the user manual carefully before you install the webcam

Read the user manual that came with a particular webcam and then follow the instructions carefully in order to avoid a problematic installation. For example, you will probably have to install the drivers before you plug the webcam into a USB port. If you are using an external microphone, plug it in to the Mic port on PC's sound card - or motherboard if it has integrated sound.

Does the webcam come with a microphone?

Most of the webcams that are currently available have a built-in microphone, buy a few do not, so check to make sure. If it doesn't, you'll have to buy a mic that connects to the PC's sound card - or motherboard if it has integrated sound. The best option is to buy a set of headphones with a built in microphone, because if the sound is produced by a set of speakers connected to the sound card or motherboard, the mic will pick it up and produce noisy feedback.

Google searches

If the information I have provided is not comprehensive or clear enough for you, you should be able to find many sites offering the information that you require. For example, if you want to know how to install a particular computer component enter a phrase such as install + xxxx (where xxxx stands for the device, such as RAM, hard disk drive, etc.) in the Google search box at the top of this page, with its Web radio button selected. Note that if a device has more than one word, enclose it within double quotation marks. E.g., to find out how to install a hard disk drive use the search term: install + "hard disk drive".

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