Full Version: uping up my pc
i got a HP Pavillion 754n with P4 2.53ghz process...im plannin to upgrade my comp with a new video card, 1 more hard drive, new RAM, and maybe a new sound card(not sure yet, current one is fine)...i just need to know what do i need to look for specification-wise when upgrading each item...i know for the vid card, i need a card with 4x AGP compatibility...but i dont know what i need to know for hdd and RAM....i know my current ram is running a pc2100 ddr(ddr sdram)...any help would be great so i can get a great computer goin...thx....btw, my mobo is an MSI model MS-6577 Rev. 2.1.....any help is apreciated
You should visit the Crucial or Kingston websites as they have (I'm told) an upgrade tool which identifies RAM suitable for your mobo. For the limit on RAM capacity see the MSI website - or the HP website where I've just been, its 2GB maximum (1GB in each slot). I suggest you get another 512MB stick to bring your system to 1GB. More than enough for anything your going to do with it IMHO.
Re the hard drive your pretty safe below 132GB above that you need to be sure your BIOS will access the extra space. Your hard drive controller is ATA 100 - in which case any IDE drive will do. Probably best to order an ATA 133 88pin cable to suit the drive, just in case you have an older cable in the machine.
hth
Re the hard drive your pretty safe below 132GB above that you need to be sure your BIOS will access the extra space. Your hard drive controller is ATA 100 - in which case any IDE drive will do. Probably best to order an ATA 133 88pin cable to suit the drive, just in case you have an older cable in the machine.
hth
Dear nissan,
Here is what your mother board will take:HP.com:
Lucky for you a great upgrade will not cost you a lot of bucks.
Your specs say you are upgradeable to 2GB mem but Corsair says 1GB. Anyway, check you manual. Here is a memory upgrade, you will need two of these:ZipZoomFly.com
As for hard drive, I go with Western Digital, but you really need to match the drives. Meaning, 60gb with 60gb, 80gb with 80gb, and etc. Zipzoomfly kicks Newegg's butt in some pricing. Check both.
Now a sound card. Go with Creative labs. They have a great customer service and the best sound card on the market. Expensive for the best but they have some great lower price models that sound just as awesome.
Be careful to turn off you on-board sound before you install you new sound card.
Hope that helps,
junkdk
Here is what your mother board will take:HP.com:
Lucky for you a great upgrade will not cost you a lot of bucks.
Your specs say you are upgradeable to 2GB mem but Corsair says 1GB. Anyway, check you manual. Here is a memory upgrade, you will need two of these:ZipZoomFly.com
As for hard drive, I go with Western Digital, but you really need to match the drives. Meaning, 60gb with 60gb, 80gb with 80gb, and etc. Zipzoomfly kicks Newegg's butt in some pricing. Check both.
Now a sound card. Go with Creative labs. They have a great customer service and the best sound card on the market. Expensive for the best but they have some great lower price models that sound just as awesome.
Be careful to turn off you on-board sound before you install you new sound card.
Hope that helps,
junkdk
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