Relative value of upgrades

[Merkelcp]

I am about to pull the trigger on a new 4500--the incentives this week are very
appropriate to what I have been looking for. But I could use some
recommendations on which of the following upgrades is likely to actually
produce performance enhancement, or to put it more simply, will give the best
bang for the buck. My budget is tight and I will likely only spring for one or
two of these upgrades at most.

a) 256 mb DDRAM to 512 mb DDRAM

b) 2.0 mhz, 400 fsb to 2.4 mhz, 533 fsb

c) HK 395(?) speakers to Monsoon 512s

d) SB Live to Santa Cruz audio card

e) basic 10/100 nic to IBM upgrade (I am likely to get a cable modem)

The system will be used for Office software, web surfing, burning audio and
data CDs, and video games...high end graphics and heavy multi-tasking are less
likely. Thanks to all in advance for your help.

GLENN

[Hank Arnold]

I'd go with a) first and then b). c) and d) are ear candy to me. e) would
be a choice, but I think you'd be better with getting the basic card,
pulling it and installing a 3Com (or LinkSys) card yourself....

--
Regards,
Hank Arnold
"Merkelcp" <merk...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:20020824002229...@mb-fx.aol.com...

[SteveR]

On 24 Aug 2002 04:22:29 GMT, merk...@aol.com (Merkelcp) wrote:

>a) 256 mb DDRAM to 512 mb DDRAM
>
>b) 2.0 mhz, 400 fsb to 2.4 mhz, 533 fsb

On a tight budget, these are the only two I'd be thinking about.
Since you don't say anything about graphic operations, the extra
memory probably won't do a whole heck of a lot for you; the
applications you mention are not especially memory intensive as, say,
Photoshopping 2400x1600 graphics. However, you WILL see a measurable
performance boost on all applications from the additional memory
bandwidth moving up to the faster FSB. So, (b) first, IMO.

SteveR

[Tom Almy]

Merkelcp wrote:
My budget is tight and I will likely only spring for one or
> two of these upgrades at most.

How about half of an upgrade, and save the difference for later? If
you haven't done so already, you might want to consider the 80GB HD
which is at the "sweet spot" for pricing right now.

> a) 256 mb DDRAM to 512 mb DDRAM

If there is no double memory promotion now, stick with the 256MB and
then buy an additional 256MB from Crucial.com *if you find out that you
need it*. The Task Manager will report maximum memory usage since last
reboot. If you are nowhere near 256MB, then you don't need the
additional memory.

> b) 2.0 mhz, 400 fsb to 2.4 mhz, 533 fsb

I'd suggest going to the 2.26GHz, 533FSB. That will give the best speed
improvement for the buck (as far as processors go) and give you the
future upgradability (to at least 3GHz) that you would get with the 2.4.

Frankly, though, for office software, web surfing, burning CDs, and all
but the high-end action games *any* processor will do. Processor
capability has far exceeded need for most users.

> c) HK 395(?) speakers to Monsoon 512s
> d) SB Live to Santa Cruz audio card

Speakers are such a personal item that I wouldn't buy unless I could
hear them first. Only reason to get the Santa Cruz card is if you have a
5.1 speaker system.

> e) basic 10/100 nic to IBM upgrade (I am likely to get a cable modem)

IBM? At any rate, the speed of a cable modem hardly taxes any NIC, so an
upgrade here is not worth it.