Need Help to Update Dell Dimension 4600

[+Templars+Pow]

I have an older system, and want to upgrade some components....

Dell Dimension 4600

It has a p4 2.6 ghz, with 512MB RAM
NVidia GeForce FX 5200, (128 MB (i think))

... what changes , aside from starting from scratch would give me the biggest bang for my buck....

What's the highest end card that the system could handle, also thinking of topping up the RAM...... what types of RAM, would this have a significant impact on the current gaming experience

... next I have to figure out how to make the changes and if my computer is capable of being upgraded...

Thanks for any help

[|CBW|Simon]

Re: Need Help to Update Dell Dimension 4600

Ram / Hard Drive / Video Card.

you don't get much choice on ram. Figure out what your machine takes and get at least 1GB for it. I personally use 2GB.

Hard Drive. See if your system can use a SATA drive. If it can and the current hard drive isn't SATA, Get one. 7200RPB and 16MB cache would be cool. Everyone has their own brand favorites. I like Maxtor because it has software that allows you to install the drive and move all the contents of your old drive over to the new one and make it a boot drive. Very painless.

Video Card. Figure out if you are AGP or PCI Express and get the best one you can. NVIDIA make some killer cards with about 512MB max for both AGP and PCI Express. I prefer the brand name BFG for my NVIDIA cards as they have a lifetime warranty.

Simon

[+Templars+Pow]

Re: Need Help to Update Dell Dimension 4600

This is going to sound bad, but here it goes... how do I tell if its AGP or PCI....
....also the RAM type .... the hard drive...

[Stormy{CAN}]

Re: Need Help to Update Dell Dimension 4600

Specs for the Dimension 4600,

http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...cs.htm#1119251

AGP 1X, 4X, 8X

Memory type PC2700 (333-MHz) or PC3200 (400-MHz) DDR SDRAM (non-ECC)

Internally accessible:

Primary IDE channel 40-pin connector on PCI local bus

Secondary IDE channel 40-pin connector on PCI local bus

Serial ATA two 7-pin connectors

And before anyone gets too carried away recommending a video card, according to the specs it only has a 250W power supply.

[signa]

Re: Need Help to Update Dell Dimension 4600

I think your best upgrade for the money would be to max out your Ram, and look into what video card you could upgrade to considering the PS is only 250W. I'm not sure about the newer nvidia cards, but previously the comparable agp Ati cards drew less power. (which is why I opted to get a Ati x800xt-pe over the comparable nvidia card at that time.)

[|CBW|Simon]

Re: Need Help to Update Dell Dimension 4600

Or just add to my list a 350 or greater power supply.

Hell, a 250? He's within a year from burning that out with decent game time and a halfway card and increase in ram and possibly drive.

So it comes with both IDE and SATA. Now it's just 'what does it have in it now?'

The SATA drive in comparrison to IDE will save you a ton of time during Verification. At least for me, I went from 45 to 60 seconds down to 10 or 20.

[+Templars+Pow]

Re: Need Help to Update Dell Dimension 4600

You guys are great.... thanks so much for your help......I think I will ship that pc off to the kids rooms "for homework" only mode...... I need to reload.... maybe I'll look at one of those new Dell XPS models, great info from you guys... I will look to max out the RAM, SATA DRIVE and minimum CARD with512MB RAM, good power supply.... not handy enough to build one myself... but I sure love to play....

[cloakster]

Re: Need Help to Update Dell Dimension 4600

With the computer your looking for i would definately Reccomend you building your own. You'll save about $750!

[lonegunm4n]

Re: Need Help to Update Dell Dimension 4600

You guys are great.... thanks so much for your help......I think I will ship that pc off to the kids rooms "for homework" only mode...... I need to reload.... maybe I'll look at one of those new Dell XPS models, great info from you guys... I will look to max out the RAM, SATA DRIVE and minimum CARD with512MB RAM, good power supply.... not handy enough to build one myself... but I sure love to play....

You'll save your self alot of headaches if you just save up your money and build a whole new system. Your not going to extend the life of this machine very much more, without buying a new PSU, more RAM, another hard drive, and maybe even a new CPU.

So, it'll be cheaper to save up what you can and put towards the purchase of a new machine.

[+Templars+Pow]

Re: Need Help to Update Dell Dimension 4600

Where do you begin to build your own, is there a good place to buy quality pieces ?

This may be in fact completely insane (pretty exciting though). I'm actually going to try this with zero knowledge. Ok, so I found a some links to building your own PC.

Step 1. The case.... Mid Tower, aluminum, without a Power Supply so that this can be upgraded ?.... anyone know a couple of quality case's on the market...(more quality sensitive then price)... what are some of the cosiderations around cases ? ... anyone know a good place to buy

[Venomous]

Re: Need Help to Update Dell Dimension 4600

Newegg is a awesome place to buy. They wont let you down there

They have every computer part you need

[megawhompertoo]

Re: Need Help to Update Dell Dimension 4600

Step 1. The case.... Mid Tower, aluminum, without a Power Supply so that this can be upgraded ?.... anyone know a couple of quality case's on the market...(more quality sensitive then price)... what are some of the cosiderations around cases ? ... anyone know a good place to buy

Sonata II: This is a super case, from a great PSU manufacturer--and you get a 450W PSU included for $95, $75 if you send in the rebate, and they are offering free 3-day shipping this weekend (saves you $15 because of the weight of the case). I've got a Sonata I, really happy with the build quality of the case, and the 380W psu is still running like a champ, two years later.

Besides that, it's a fairly quiet case.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129155

edit: from the 'net, I understand that most people don't install that silly black exhaust vent, and you can also install a second 120mm fan to keep your parts running cool (i actually cut a hole in the side of mine and installed an extra 120mm fan--total of three now--but I'm a cool/quiet freakazoid).