Please help Dell upgrade

Question

Hi I currently have a Dell Dimension 9150 with Pentium 4 D (3.2ghz) 940 dual core.

I have 1.5 gig ddr2 ram. And a dell dxp051 motherboard(ive run numerous benchmarks but still dont know what socket it is. I have recently fitted a Nvidia geforce 7900gs pci express with 512 mb ddr3 graphics mem. Samsung SATA 260 gb h/drive. etc.

I want to upgrade what should I next get?, maybe I should try to overclock the 940?, but as its a Dell I think I need a new motherboard/powersupply?.

But maybe I should just get a new motherboard and a core2duo chip?. But would I need a new case as its a dell?, or would the motherboard I have support the core2duo?.

So many questions!!! :-( I do hope you can answer them, I cant really give much more info about the system as its at home and Im at my parents. Help would be very appreciated, merry xmas.

p.s your thoughts on if my computer is ok or not as it is, would also be helpful so I know how good it is.

xmas2006 · Answer

Hello,   In my opinion, you have a very nice system 'as is' so if you don't have a specific need for an upgrade, I would just leave it alone.   xmas2006

DELL-Donald K · Answer

I can't think of an upgrade that would make a significant improvement in the system performance.  You could kick up the RAM to 3 GB but in my opinion just about any Performace upgrade would be a waste of money.

newone2wireless · Answer

Hello,   From what I have read, the 9150 requires memory to be installed in 'matched pairs' for optimum performance, so how did you accomplish that with 1.5G of RAM?   2x512 and 2x256?  And if my configuration assumptions are correct, do their bus speeds match or is the 256 slower than the 512?  If the 256mb chips are indeed slower than the 512mb chips, then you are suffering a performance loss.   The reason for my concern is that neither the Dell or Crucial memory selectors show a compatible 256mb chip for your PC and from my limited experience, many of the 256mb chips are rated at 400mhz while your current 512mb chips are probably rated at 667 mhz.  So if my configuration assumptions are correct, where did you get those 256mb chips?  Just curious.   Thx,   newone2wireless Message Edited by newone2wireless on 12-26-200611:57 AM

cassiusuk · Answer

newone2wireless - regarding your mem question, I have 4 slots in my motherboard that each support 1 gig ddr2 memory sticks.  I have 2 512 in 2 slots(made by dell) and 1 512 mb by kingston in the 3rd slot, leaving one slot left over.

rickmktg · Answer

cassiusuk wrote:

newone2wireless - regarding your mem question, I have 4 slots in my motherboard that each support 1 gig ddr2 memory sticks. I have 2 512 in 2 slots(made by dell) and 1 512 mb by kingston in the 3rd slot, leaving one slot left over.

Which means you've disabled dual channeling resulting in a 10 - 30% performance hit. Boost performance by removing the 512 or adding another...

cassiusuk · Answer

Thanks rickmktg  I have just sent you a email about it.   I may have a memory problem, I have just started a new topic called'memory problem, blue screen'.  Please give it a look everyone, your expertise would be grateful as always.

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Please help Dell upgrade

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