i've got a laptop that is pretty old (around 01) but runs XP and runs deece for the most part. the dvd rom/cd-rw drive is extremely fucking slow (it takes me over 30 min to burn one cd) and i'm thinking about upgrading. that said, i'm assuming its got the same amount of ram as when it was first built and if i upgrade to a faster dvd/cd burner, i might need a ram upgrade or the computer won't be able to process shit that fast, if you guys get what i'm saying.
it'd be a hell of a lot fucking easier if i had my cpu with me at work so i could answer more specific questions, but any advice in general would be great. thanks.
Ram and installing a new internal dvd writer
Moderator: ElTaco
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ElTaco
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To upgrade your memory in your laptop, go to Crucial.com and go through the wizzard to find what type and how much ram your laptop will take.
Next you'll want to open up the ram door (on the bottom of laptops, usually a square door with two screws) and see if either of the slots is available. Depending on how you ordered it, it may have an integrated slot with set memory and an upgrade slot or it may have two slots that are accessible but one or both are used. Depending on what you find, order the appropriate amount of memory. For example if your computer has 512 mb of ram but both slots are used (2x 256) then you may need to order 2x 512mb to have a decent upgrade and just toss the other ram you take out.
You will also want to check with the manufacturer to see if by some miracle they have a better deal but crucial.com is usually the best place to get ram.
Next you'll want to open up the ram door (on the bottom of laptops, usually a square door with two screws) and see if either of the slots is available. Depending on how you ordered it, it may have an integrated slot with set memory and an upgrade slot or it may have two slots that are accessible but one or both are used. Depending on what you find, order the appropriate amount of memory. For example if your computer has 512 mb of ram but both slots are used (2x 256) then you may need to order 2x 512mb to have a decent upgrade and just toss the other ram you take out.
You will also want to check with the manufacturer to see if by some miracle they have a better deal but crucial.com is usually the best place to get ram.
I'll have to check out crucial.com - but right now I must recommend tigerdirect.com for ram. I haven't seen it cheaper anywhere else. If you have a problem and need to return it, they don't screw around - they make it easy, and they generally pay for the shipping back. You just need to be sure you're buying the right kind of memory stick...but even if you screw that up, they'll exchange it for you.
As for a drive to burn discs with...you might want to look into an external USB drive. I'm betting that you can get a fast, stable drive for cheaper than one that you need to jump through hoops to install an older laptop with.
Lastly, make sure that these purchases do not exceed or come close the price of a new laptop with better hardware. I hate to say it, but I weigh almost every peripheral purchase against the purchase of a new machine. You don't want to face other problems right as soon as you've addressed these. There's always a relative or friend or someone who could use your older machine.
As for a drive to burn discs with...you might want to look into an external USB drive. I'm betting that you can get a fast, stable drive for cheaper than one that you need to jump through hoops to install an older laptop with.
Lastly, make sure that these purchases do not exceed or come close the price of a new laptop with better hardware. I hate to say it, but I weigh almost every peripheral purchase against the purchase of a new machine. You don't want to face other problems right as soon as you've addressed these. There's always a relative or friend or someone who could use your older machine.
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Screw_Michigan
thanks guys, i'll probably go with the external burner. best buy had one for $50 last week that was a dvd burner as well. psu, trust me, this won't come close to what a new computer might cost. i'm looking at maybe spending $100 at the most. all i want is be able to burn dvds, burn cds in less than 2 min, and that's about it.