Author Topic: What to do to improve my pc  (Read 564 times)

Offline xxIENAxx

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  • Posts: 112
What to do to improve my pc
« on: September 09, 2009, 05:42:27 PM »
Hi guys, need some advise. I dont know much about pc, it took me forever to find out how to do a dxdiag  :)
Now, that i have done it, i just would like to know what do you think i should "improve". I was thinking to start with an extra 1GB of RAM.



System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 9/10/2009, 00:26:01
       Machine name: PRIVAT-1
   Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.090206-1234)
           Language: English (Regional Setting: Danish)
System Manufacturer: Dell Inc.               
       System Model: Dimension 8400               
               BIOS: Phoenix ROM BIOS PLUS Version 1.10 A03
          Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
             Memory: 1022MB RAM
          Page File: 490MB used, 1972MB available
        Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
    DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: None
     DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

------------
DxDiag Notes
------------
  DirectX Files Tab: No problems found.
      Display Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 1: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 2: No problems found.
        Sound Tab 3: No problems found.
          Music Tab: No problems found.
          Input Tab: No problems found.
        Network Tab: No problems found.

--------------------
DirectX Debug Levels
--------------------
Direct3D:    0/4 (n/a)
DirectDraw:  0/4 (retail)
DirectInput: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectMusic: 0/5 (n/a)
DirectPlay:  0/9 (retail)
DirectSound: 0/5 (retail)
DirectShow:  0/6 (retail)

---------------
Display Devices
---------------
        Card name: NVIDIA GeForce 6800
     Manufacturer: NVIDIA
        Chip type: GeForce 6800
         DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
       Device Key: Enum\PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00C1&SUBSYS_024510DE&REV_A2
   Display Memory: 256.0 MB
     Current Mode: 1280 x 1024 (32 bit) (60Hz)
          Monitor: Plug and Play Monitor
  Monitor Max Res: 1600,1200
      Driver Name: nv4_disp.dll
   Driver Version: 6.14.0011.9038 (English)
      DDI Version: 9 (or higher)
Driver Attributes: Final Retail
 Driver Date/Size: 7/14/2009 20:54:00, 5842816 bytes
      WHQL Logo'd: Yes
  WHQL Date Stamp: n/a
              VDD: n/a
         Mini VDD: nv4_mini.sys
    Mini VDD Date: 7/14/2009 20:54:00, 7741664 bytes
Device Identifier: {D7B71E3E-4381-11CF-2050-4E2203C2CB35}
        Vendor ID: 0x10DE
        Device ID: 0x00C1
        SubSys ID: 0x024510DE
      Revision ID: 0x00A2
      Revision ID: 0x00A2
      Video Accel: ModeMPEG2_C ModeMPEG2_D ModeWMV9_B ModeWMV9_A
 Deinterlace Caps: {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YUY2,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(UYVY,YUY2) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(YV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
                   {6CB69578-7617-4637-91E5-1C02DB810285}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_PixelAdaptive
                   {335AA36E-7884-43A4-9C91-7F87FAF3E37E}: Format(In/Out)=(NV12,0x3231564e) Frames(Prev/Fwd/Back)=(0,0,0) Caps=VideoProcess_YUV2RGB VideoProcess_StretchX VideoProcess_StretchY DeinterlaceTech_BOBVerticalSt retch
         Registry: OK
     DDraw Status: Enabled
       D3D Status: Enabled
       AGP Status: Enabled
DDraw Test Result: Not run
 D3D7 Test Result: Not run
 D3D8 Test Result: Not run
 D3D9 Test Result: Not run

-------------
Sound Devices
-------------
            Description: C-Media USB Headphone Set 
 Default Sound Playback: Yes
 Default Voice Playback: Yes
            Hardware ID: USB\Vid_0d8c&Pid_000c&Rev_0100&MI_00
        Manufacturer ID: 65535
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: usbaudio.sys
         Driver Version: 5.01.2600.5512 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 4/13/2008 20:45:12, 60032 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Microsoft
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 200000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 0, 0
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 0, 0
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: No
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: No, No
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

            Description: Sound Blaster Live! 24-bit
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_1102&DEV_0007&SUBSYS_10071102&REV_00
        Manufacturer ID: 1
             Product ID: 100
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: P17.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.0315 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 6/9/2004 19:16:44, 840960 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Creative
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 4000, 96000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 64, 63
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 64, 63
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: Yes
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: No, No
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): No
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

            Description: SoundMAX Digital Audio
 Default Sound Playback: No
 Default Voice Playback: No
            Hardware ID: PCI\VEN_8086&DEV_266E&SUBSYS_01771028&REV_03
        Manufacturer ID: 65535
             Product ID: 65535
                   Type: WDM
            Driver Name: smwdm.sys
         Driver Version: 5.12.0001.5243 (English)
      Driver Attributes: Final Retail
            WHQL Logo'd: Yes
          Date and Size: 10/29/2004 23:14:44, 260096 bytes
            Other Files:
        Driver Provider: Analog Devices
         HW Accel Level: Full
              Cap Flags: 0xF5F
    Min/Max Sample Rate: 100, 192000
Static/Strm HW Mix Bufs: 33, 32
 Static/Strm HW 3D Bufs: 33, 32
              HW Memory: 0
       Voice Management: Yes
 EAX(tm) 2.0 Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
   I3DL2(tm) Listen/Src: Yes, Yes
Sensaura(tm) ZoomFX(tm): Yes
               Registry: OK
      Sound Test Result: Not run

Thanks.

xxIENAxx
367th "Dynamite Gang"
In game name IENA since Tour 59

Offline batch

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  • Posts: 640
Re: What to do to improve my pc
« Reply #1 on: September 09, 2009, 06:01:46 PM »
Yes adding another Gb of RAM  would be a good step......... also a new video card (which means a new power supply also)......... just depends on how much money you want to spend....... although your motherboard is a 775 socket it has a low bus so you wouldnt gain anything from upgrading the CPU
"theres nothin like wakin up with a Dickens Cider" - Dickens Fruit Stand

Offline ColTomb

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  • Posts: 214
Re: What to do to improve my pc
« Reply #2 on: September 09, 2009, 11:53:10 PM »
Somethings you could do are, get a cheap mic and headphone that plug in to your Sound Blaster Live card, not usb. Also, Go to control panel> sound devices> advanced> performance, and reduce your hardware acceleration, And yes, another gig of memory would definitely help. Make sure it is the same speed ie. 400 or 533 Mhz.
Turn off some unneeded service's, control panel> Admin. Tools> Services. This link has some good info on what you may or may not need .. http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm  , or a lot of people use Game Booster, that lets you turn off some services, and then back on when you are
finished playing. http://www.iobit.com/gamebooster.html. I check the specs on your 8400, and came up with a few items from Newegg that will help.
Under $100 USD without shipping.  G Skill memory 1Gbx2 $17 each $34 for both.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231022
Open box MSI 512mb video card, $35  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127412R ..The specs say you have 350 watt power supply.
That "may be enough" to power the video card, or a little better power supply,  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153023  ..
430 watts  $30 with rebate and free shipping, but if you can afford better, get it, don't skimp on the power supply..
Bios 03 is out of date, current bios 09. And a "urgent"  chipset update..The link is 
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&ServiceTag=&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_8400&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=   
Check the documentation on how to do all that..  Hope this helps...<S>

Offline Hap

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  • Posts: 3908
Re: What to do to improve my pc
« Reply #3 on: September 10, 2009, 07:53:26 AM »
Iena, before you add a new vid card or memory, confirm your chip and board will allow information to be pushed faster.  If they won't, you'll have wasted money.

Offline xxIENAxx

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Re: What to do to improve my pc
« Reply #4 on: September 10, 2009, 09:14:17 AM »
Thank you very much guys.
For the moment i'll buy only the extra RAM, now i have a bigger problem  :frown: my wife's pc finally gave up for real. So now i have to buy her a new one. I'll ask your help/advice again.  :lol

Thanks again guys

xxIENAxx
367th "Dynamite Gang"
In game name IENA since Tour 59

Offline Noir

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  • Posts: 5964
Re: What to do to improve my pc
« Reply #5 on: September 10, 2009, 12:27:27 PM »
Thank you very much guys.
For the moment i'll buy only the extra RAM, now i have a bigger problem  :frown: my wife's pc finally gave up for real. So now i have to buy her a new one. I'll ask your help/advice again.  :lol

Thanks again guys

xxIENAxx

give her yours and keep the new one.
now posting as SirNuke

Offline gyrene81

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Re: What to do to improve my pc
« Reply #6 on: September 10, 2009, 12:44:47 PM »
give her yours and keep the new one.
:aok That's what I would do. You will be better off in the long run.  :aok
jarhed  
Build a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day...
Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. - Terry Pratchett

Offline batch

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Re: What to do to improve my pc
« Reply #7 on: September 10, 2009, 02:48:34 PM »
how does she have time to use a computer between making sammiches and fetchin beers?
"theres nothin like wakin up with a Dickens Cider" - Dickens Fruit Stand

Offline wardog38

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Re: What to do to improve my pc
« Reply #8 on: September 13, 2009, 03:27:53 AM »
okay bro here we go .....ccleaner gamebooster.com Advanced system care ALL ARE FREE DOWNLOADS and will greatly increase your pc also defrag with your boots on it helps lol <<S>> WARDOG38