Upgrading a laptop??
 

I've recently noticed that my laptop computer is slow as funk. I'm going to germany in a month for 3 months, and I'd like to be able to use it without much hassle. So, I'd like to uprgrade the processor, and get more memory. So, how do I do it? I've got an HP Pavilion, 500Mhz, 6GB memory, 64MB Ram (I think). What would be my best option for a low cost upgrade?

To buy a New one.

You can add more memory and bigger hard drives to most note books, But uprgrading the processor most of the time is just not posible and motherbord in your notebook most likely will not take a faster processor.

Unfortunately for you, laptops really arent that upgradeable. They are upgradeable, just not very cost effective. Your best bet is 1 of 2 options.

1. Reformat, reinstall, and have fun on your trip.

2. Buy a new laptop, it will be about the same as trying to upgrade yours.

The problem with laptops, is that there really isnt a standard. I mean there IS a standard, but you are restricted by your case manufacturer...

re: forget upgrading
 

forget upgrading, i've been through 4 laptops already and right now prices for laptops are much cheaper than back in the day. you can get a decent one for like 600-800 bucks. not the top of the line but it'll run circles around the one you have now. i'd try to sell yours for like 200 bucks and spend a few hundred bucks. memory for that laptop and harddrive would probably cost you at around 200 so if you save 200 and sell it for 200 you're halfway there. also companies like dell have pretty good finance plans. no interest for like 3-6 months depending on promo. give it a shot. good luck

Thanks everybody. I was kinda investigating just getting a new one and selling mine. Hmmmmmm...spend money on stuff in Europe, or spend money on a stupid computer. Hmmmmm. Spend money on SVX, or spend money on stupid stuff in Europe :D :D :D

Two words. MORE RAM. 64 will give you crawl. New Windows OS (Codename Longhorn) needs min 256MB.:rolleyes: Here is the run down.

MS says the followings (if my memory is still correct):
Windows:??
Win 3.0:4MB ??
Win 3.11:16MB
Win 3.11 WG: 16MB
Win95: 32MB
Win98: 64MB
NT Workstation: 64 MB
NT Server 128MB
Wn ME : 64MB
Win Xp : 128MB
Win 2003: 256MB
Win w/ Media Center: 256 MB

That is the bare min. needed to run a computer. If you want to run it at a decent speed, double that number. If you can afford/if the computer can take it, put more RAM in it. Also, as a good rule of thumb, it is recommanded that you set your virtual memory manually and to 1.5 times the amount of your physical RAM. That should speed things up.

On 95/98/ME machines, set your machine as a network server and it will make things load up quicker.

L

How do you do that? I suffer from this problem too.

Right click on the "My Computer" and then hit properties. It's on one of the tabs. I can't remember which one. Just look around. It's one of the pull down selectors.

L

Hmmm. Interesting. Sounds like good advice, but I don't know what you're talking about when you say to manually adjust the virtual memory. I did grasp the rest, though. Thanks. I'll try that tonight.

-Mat

hes talking about your page file

basically you want your page file to be the same size as your memory and not exceeding 512M, unless using XP or Win2k then 766 should suffice.
also i put mine an a gig partition to reduce fragmentation.
knowing your OS would help a lot in determining what will work best and how to do it.

Hehe. MS knows what their OS wants? Yeah right. They are the people that recommanded 1.5x the memory size. If the OS knows, OS will not have a variable size page file. :rolleyes:

L

yeah i set mine to 768 low and 1024 high and i have 512mb of ram and it helps ALOT.:D :D

thats just what my professors told me. *ahem*
*cough*

but what i meant was if i knew that persons (svx10) OS i can fill them in on a lot more information.

im totally confident in the MS corporations ability to incorrectly market and spec their product.:D

The trick is to set the low and high limits to the same number so that your page file size stays the same. Try that. It will become quicker and it will be a little faster to boot as well.

L