I need advice on upgrading old PC

15/11/01 | me

[winslow]

Just wondered if anyone can help.
I have an old Packard Bell pulsar 20 which I recently bought second hand. It badly needs more RAM and I wondered if anyone can tell us what type of RAM I should be looking for.
I did a search and only got a reult off 1 site so I want to doublecheck it. As far as I know I'm looking for Pc66 standard SD RAM 168pin Dimm. Does that sound right. Also just wondered if it is possible to upgrade hard drive.

[winslow]

Putting together your own computer here in Ireland is a lot more expensive than in the USA.

[TomServo]

It would probably be OK as a Linux firewall. I've got an old 486-DX33 that can do that just fine.

You betcha. Of course, if that's all you wanna do with it.

[Aliska]

There was an excellent thread on this topic last night. Let me know if you cannot find it)

That thread is here and is long but well worth wading through. Consensus is pretty evenly divided between buying a new Dell and some other brandnames and building your own using resources (links) given throughout the thread.

[Britton J Wingfield]

I have an old Packard Bell

I'm sorry to hear that :(

[PaulKersey]

Problem with upgrading what you have is the motherboard is way out of date. Any money spent supporting it is wasted. Best to hang in there and start over with a fresh one.

[rdb3]

Sounds like you need SIMM modules.

But I can't suggest where to buy any new ones. Maybe the 'Net can help.

[d3nny h4st3rt]

Build your own, it may seem intimidating, but its not. Its cheaper than any other option.
www.axiontech.com

[tacticalogic]

Consensus is pretty evenly divided between buying a new Dell and some other brandnames and building your own using resources (links) given throughout the thread.

Something I forgot about last night is that Dell has a web site where they auction off some of their used equipment. The stuff is still current, or recently discontiunued models - mostly demo equipment and stuff from their lease programs. It comes from Dell, and will have the same warranty as their new stuff.

www.dellauction.com

[NonZeroSum]

"It would probably be OK as a Linux firewall. I've got an old 486-DX33 that can do that just fine."

You betcha. Of course, if that's all you wanna do with it.

Well, it beats using it as a doorstop, which was the suggestion to which I was responding.

[TomServo]

Well, it beats using it as a doorstop, which was the suggestion to which I was responding.

Yup.

[Redcloak]

If you tie a rope around it, it would make a dandy boat anchor.

[RightWhale]

Get a new motherboard, a new hard drive, and memory chips and cpu. The video and sound cards might not be plug compatible so check that, too. Be sure the parts come with mounting hardware. It shouldn't be expensive mailorder, and it's a lot easier than trying to find parts for an old design. The cpu will be the most expensive part, so don't look at the latest, hottest. A slower one -233- will be just fine.

[Squantos]

buildPC.net

Stay Safe !!

[tacticalogic]

Get a new motherboard, a new hard drive, and memory chips and cpu.

If it's like the rest of the Packard Bell's I've seen, the case and power supply aren't worth putting new parts in.

[R2]

I've never seen the problem because I've never tried PC133 or PC150 in a 66MHZ memory bus system, but, the required refresh rates on PC133 is usually much higher. Something to think about, but for the prices these days, it's an interesting trial.

From what I can find, your system can handle 256MB, has 2 banks, which means you can either put in a single pc100 or PC66 256MB SDRAM 168pin Dimm, or 2 - 128MB SDRAM 168pin Dimms. I wouldn't vouch for it recognizing the single 256 MB stick, though (It is Packard Hell - yeah, my first one was Packard Bell untill I gutted it).

Pricewatch.com shows 128MB SDRAM 168pin Dimm for $10, and the 256MB SDRAM 168pin Dimm for $16. Either way, you are gonna max out your memory for less than $20 plus shipping.

How much memory do you have in it now? Most packard Bells I've seen report the memory found on boot up.

[Focault's Pendulum]

I've got an old 486 hanging around...just needs a power pack...if you want it, let me know, you can have it, just pay the shipping.

[RightWhale]

the case and power supply aren't worth putting new parts in.

It will be plug compatible with the Irish power grid. Whatever that might be.

[lawdude]

You just devoted more time to it than it is worth. Gove it away, or better yet, junk it!