Upgrade Dell Dimension 4500

First, you don't have a "4Ghz" CPU.  You have a Pentium 4 CPU but 2.4Ghz is the maximum (if you have the highest upgraded CPU).  I don't know how you have 2GB of RAM when the Dell specs state maximum 1GB.  Dell Spec's

You need to weigh the costs of upgrading, and still having an old technology 2002 PC, with using those $$ towards a new, modern PC.  The "old reliable" may still work well, but is it really worth it? 

You only have the old (and obsolete) AGP video card type.  The maximum memory (RAM) is 1GB.  Your hard drive is only 40GB and that is very small compared to todays 200, 500 and even 1TB hard drives. 

I know this is not what you want to hear, but we get these type of upgrade posts frequently on this forum and we have to tell the users to reconsider since it's not really worth it with an "old" PC such as yours.

There was an article in my local newspaper, about 6 months ago, on when to replace or repair appliances and PC's were included in that.  The statement in the article was if it was over 3 years old, replace it.

Thanks, your absolutely correct, guess I was tired when I sped through my pride and joys qualities. My memory is installed 'Crucial' memory, recommended by and through 'Crucial' on line upgrade scan. Since I've installed it, all 2 GB is recognized and I've repeatedly verified exceeding "The Dell Spec's" of 1GB.

Your advice is much worth consideration....and I'll tinker with the upgrades one at a time just for amusement. I'd like it though if you weren't such a stick in the mud about moving up with as much as I may be able to change. I know already that I can not exceed 160GB (overall) Hard Drive, which is where I'll eventually start and reverse role until the 'Master' is equal to the 'Slave' to reach that maximum.

I enjoy your advice, but I am also not tunnel visioned to just stop here. Yes, I'll eventually buy another, but I'll not toss aside a quality 'Dell' computer even as inept as it may be with age, lacking newer shinier technologies. If it holds up another 100 years or more, I'd hope that bragging rights would take a back seat to the 'Hare'. LOL.

I know this computer will hold its' own as a 'Media Entertainment Center' for the kids TV room and can still get things done "even if it seems old fashioned'.

So....are you game to help or am I just wasteing your time asking for a 'Positive' hand up.....as I'm not wanting a hand out or any of your financial support. But thanks for an opinion that I'm already well aware is not solely your own.  

CD/DVD drives are practically all combination CD/DVD burner type drives.  The old CD ROM drives are basically a thing of the past and I don't recall seeing any lately.  You can buy IDE (PATA) type drives, such as THIS for about $23 that work well (I have Liteon drives in my home built PC).  www.newegg.com is where I buy a lot of my PC parts.  HERE is a possible video card upgrade from newegg.

The reason we discourage many from upgrading is that they put $$ into upgrades and expect the PC to work like a new model and it won't and then they are mad.