Replace vs Upgrade ... that is the question!

Question

Hi, I'm looking for some advice and hope someone out there can help me.

I have a 6 year old Dell Dimension 4550: 120GB HDD, 512mb RAM. I work from home and use it virtually all day - Windows XP, MS Office, iTunes, internet, email, Photoshop CS4, RAW photography files (loads!), just started developing a couple of small websites. It has got to a point where I can't run stuff together. I have to shut one thing down, open another etc. I get a lot of errors, crashes etc. The HDD was full so I am using my backup HDD as additional storage. No backups now, no room!

I was going to upgrade it but can only go to a total of 1GB RAM. I may be able to get another 120GB IDE HDD.

So, first question - Is it worth upgrading??

If not, I have narrowed it down to a couple of desktops but would like some advice on the main components, bearing in mind my usage. I would also like to future proof it to a degree without over-egging it. My budget is £1000 max, including a screen and maybe software. I currently use MS Office 2002 and am thinking of upgrading to 2007, but I'm not sure it's really worth it.

I have tried speaking with a couple of local pc shops and Dell, but they simply try to sell me stuff rather than discuss my needs and come up with a pc that is suitable. The more I read about the main components online, the more I lose the will to live!

Here are the two I have been looking at, along with the various options on offer, including those currently included in the price:

DELL STUDIO DESKTOP (£679):
Intel® Core™ 2 Quad-Core Q9400 Processor (2.66GHz, 6MB cache, 1333MHz FSB) [add £90.00]
Intel® Core™ 2 Quad-Core Q8200 Processor (2.33GHz, 4MB cache, 1333MHz FSB) [Included in Price]

3072MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [2x1024 + 2x512] [Included in Price]
4096MB 800MHz Dual Channel DDR2 SDRAM [4x1024] [add £20.00]

750GB (7200rpm) SATA Hard Drive [Included in Price]
1TB (7200rpm) SATA Hard Drive [add £30.01]

512MB nVidia GeForce 9800GT graphics card [Included in Price]

DELL XPS 430 (£779):
Intel® Core 2 Quad Processor Q9300 (2.50GHz, 1333MHz, 6MB cache) [add £90.00]
Intel® Core 2 Quad Processor Q9450 (2.66GHz, 1333MHz, 12MB cache) [add £149.99]
Intel® Core™ 2 Quad Core Processor Q8200 (2.33GHz, 1333MHz, 4MB cache) [Included in Price]

3072MB 1067 MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [3x1024] [add £30.00]
3072MB 1333 MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [3x1024] [add £50.00]
4096MB 1067 MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [4x1024] [add £60.00]
2048MB 1067 MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [2x1024] [Included in Price]
4096MB 1333 MHz Dual Channel DDR3 SDRAM [4x1024] [add £80.00]

1TB (7200rpm) Serial ATA/100 Hard Drive [add £90.00]
500GB Serial ATA non Raid (7200 Rpm) Hard Drive [Included in Price]
750GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA/100 Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst™ cache [add £59.99]
640GB Dual Hard Drive Raid 0 Stripe (2x320GB - 7200rpm) [add £59.99]
1TB Dual Hard Drive Non RAID (2x500GB - 7200rpm) [add £90.00]
640 GB Serial ATA non Raid (7200 Rpm) [add £30.00]
1.2 TB (2x 640 GB) Serial ATA (7200 Rpm) Dual HDD Config Raid 0 Stripe [add £120.00]

512MB ATI® Radeon™ 4850 Graphics card [add £80.00]
512MB ATI™Radeon™ HD 4670 graphics card [Included in Price]

Any advice and guidance posters can offer would be very much appreciated.

Hope to hear from you soon, Lulu

SlamX · Answer

How much is F1000 in Us dollars.....sorry I don't know. You have the right idea by setting your budget limit. My rule then it to get the best stuff you can afford which is not the top of the line obviously.

1st you need a decent graphics card and the Nvidia one listed I think wold be ok..much better than what you now have by 4 times.

Next go for the CPU which the Core 2 quad wtill be ok in just about any speed the; more cache is better though. Next would be the RAM which 3 gigs with Vista should be fine.

Surprisingly value per dollar is worse with software since it cost the most if you cannot migrate your current software over to Vista.

In US dollars with a balance of the hardware you site with a 650gig SATA hd would be about $600.. the monitor a 22" would be $150-$200

Then any software you'd need. As for future capabilities I think you 'd be ok unless you went into heavy gaming or heavy video editing. Gaming would be the choker.

Lulu_2020 · Answer

Hi SlamX, thanks for getting back to me. The rate at the moment is £1 to $1.45.

Would you go for the Studio or XPS430? The prices quoted include a 20" screen which is miles better than my current 15" for Photoshop work.

Not sure whether to go for Vista or stick with XP. All I keep hearing is bad news re Vista, hence not knowing whether to stick with MS oFFICE 2002 or go for 2007.

RChris · Answer

Just a couple of thoughts. If you don't want to spend the money for a new system, you can certainly get by with more RAM and an additional hard drive. Do a reinstall of XP on a drive with plenty of room. That will clear up most of your errors and crashes. Those are pretty cheap upgrades that will make the most difference. Your system isn't worth any more investment beyond that.

On the other hand, you'd be amazed at the increased performance of Photoshop on a new system with any of the Core 2 Quads. (Your other software's performance increase won't be nearly as noticible.) So a new system will certainly be enjoyable if you can afford it. You don't need more than 3GB of RAM with 32-bit Vista; but 4-6GB would be nice with the 64-bit Vista. You don't need the high-end video cards unless you're an avid gamer. You don't need to upgrade MS Office unless you're sure there is something you need in the new version (unlikely).

I'm sure you will get plenty of advice. Have fun.

shesagordie · Answer

Lulu01

The 4550 is basically not worth upgrading, beyond installing 1gb RAM, a larger HD and maybe a new AGP graphics card, but you would still have old outdated system. Buying a new system would make more sense.

Personally, I would choose the XPS 430, with the Q8200 processor, single 500gb HD [you can always add an additional hard drive], the Radeon HD 4670 graphics card.

If you use XP, the default 2048mb RAM is fine, but if using Vista, buy 3072 1333MHz RAM [+£50]

Personally given a choice, I would pick XP as the operating system.

If your budget allows it, buy a 22" wide screen monitor, it's well worth the additional cost.

Bev.

SlamX · Answer

I'd agree with Bev's suggestion. And it'd be affordable.

Lulu_2020 · Answer

Hi, thanks to everyone who has replied. Much appreciated.

Bev, thanks for your response. Very helpful. Why would you choose the XPS over the Studio? Also, why XP over Vista? Based on your comments, I'm thinking I'll go with your suggestions including the monitor if possible. I think I may also go for the 3072 RAM so that I can move to Vista as and when (if and when!) it settles down. At least then I've got the choice.

Thanks again.

shesagordie · Answer

Lulu01

The XPS is more upgradable.

Vista still has some bugs to work out, plus Microsoft will soon be releasing Windows 7, Vista's replacement.

I'm running both Vista [since 2007] and XP [Professional and Home Editions] and find that XP is somewhat easier to use and I can still use all my exsisting software and applications.

Bev.

speedstep · Answer

Where I live they offer an Inspiron 530 with Vista business that has XP installed out of the box with

Downgrade rights.

Only reason I upgraded to vista on one of the machines I have was to take advantage of 8 gigs of system ram.

That combined with a Radeon HD 4670 video card Gives me a Vista Performance index of 5.0

Lulu_2020 · Answer

Hi Bev, thanks for getting back to me. Based on your post, I think I'll stick with XP for now and see what happens re Windows 7.

I love your profile picture of what looks to be an enormous cat. Is it yours, ie a real cat?

Lulu

shesagordie · Answer

Hi, Lulu.

Yep, I'm waiting for Windows 7 to be released, before I buy another computer.

It's a real cat, she is one of three cats we have, her name is Bubbles, because has a bubbly personality and is full of high spirits.

She just loves to pose for pictures.

Bev.

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Replace vs Upgrade ... that is the question!

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