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A friend has a computer that was purchased about 1995 and which now needs to
be upgraded. It needs to upgrade memory to at least 256 mb (preferably
512mb) and to increase hard drive capacity to 80 GB (which is the minimum
you can buy). One computer servicing place told him to dump it as any
computer that is more than 5 years old is not worth upgrading!

Another computer technician advised him that generic memory is not
compatible with his system, so the costs of the memory would be quite high
as specific memory for the type of desktop would need to be purchased, and
this may not even be available at all. He also said that a computer that was
originally designed with a 6GB hard drive, may need a new motherboard if it
is to run a 80GB hard drive.

What do you think, would you risk upgrading this computer, bearing in mind
that the person involved has a very tight budget and cannot really afford a
new computer.

Is it likely that, after 10 years' use, other parts, such as the fan, the
motherboard, or the power supply are likely to fail also? In other words, if
your budget and your processing requirements are quite limited, how long
these days can you expect a computer to keep functioning?

Thanks, Percy

> What do you think, would you risk upgrading this computer, bearing in mind
> that the person involved has a very tight budget and cannot really afford
> a new computer.
>
> Is it likely that, after 10 years' use, other parts, such as the fan, the
> motherboard, or the power supply are likely to fail also? In other words,
> if your budget and your processing requirements are quite limited, how
> long these days can you expect a computer to keep functioning?
>
> Thanks, Percy

Given it only needs updating today indicates your pal only uses the most
basic functions such as email/webbrowsing. Buy an upgrade box and swap the
drives from the old comp to the new one. Should be able to get something
for round $400 without monitor/hdd/cd-dvd or OS.

You should say the amount of the 'tight budget'.

PCquery wrote:
> A friend has a computer that was purchased about 1995 and which now needs to
> be upgraded. It needs to upgrade memory to at least 256 mb (preferably
> 512mb) and to increase hard drive capacity to 80 GB (which is the minimum
> you can buy). One computer servicing place told him to dump it as any
> computer that is more than 5 years old is not worth upgrading!
>
> Another computer technician advised him that generic memory is not
> compatible with his system, so the costs of the memory would be quite high
> as specific memory for the type of desktop would need to be purchased, and
> this may not even be available at all. He also said that a computer that was
> originally designed with a 6GB hard drive, may need a new motherboard if it
> is to run a 80GB hard drive.

If I was a betting guy, I would agree.

> What do you think, would you risk upgrading this computer, bearing in mind
> that the person involved has a very tight budget and cannot really afford a
> new computer.
>
> Is it likely that, after 10 years' use, other parts, such as the fan, the
> motherboard, or the power supply are likely to fail also? In other words, if
> your budget and your processing requirements are quite limited, how long
> these days can you expect a computer to keep functioning?
>
> Thanks, Percy
>
>

Yes, old parts plus older PSUs can have quite small power
outputs......some as low as 120w.....It is probably an AT case so a new
motherboard will not fit....when it comes down to it trying to get some
bits to upgrade is plain hassle.....and not that cost effective IMHO.

If the use is quite low in terms of CPU and Ram, I'd suggest considering
a new bottom end laptop. The Acers sell at about $900 at
DSE....Otherwise a base Dell with 3 years support...

Or look at something on trademe or the second hand computer sites....a
p3-800 or similar for a few Hundred.....

regards

Thing

On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 11:10:15 +1200, "PCquery" <>
exclaimed:

>A friend has a computer that was purchased about 1995 and which now needs to
>be upgraded. It needs to upgrade memory to at least 256 mb (preferably
>512mb) and to increase hard drive capacity to 80 GB (which is the minimum
>you can buy). One computer servicing place told him to dump it as any
>computer that is more than 5 years old is not worth upgrading!
>
>Another computer technician advised him that generic memory is not
>compatible with his system, so the costs of the memory would be quite high
>as specific memory for the type of desktop would need to be purchased, and
>this may not even be available at all. He also said that a computer that was
>originally designed with a 6GB hard drive, may need a new motherboard if it
>is to run a 80GB hard drive.
>
>What do you think, would you risk upgrading this computer, bearing in mind
>that the person involved has a very tight budget and cannot really afford a
>new computer.
>
>Is it likely that, after 10 years' use, other parts, such as the fan, the
>motherboard, or the power supply are likely to fail also? In other words, if
>your budget and your processing requirements are quite limited, how long
>these days can you expect a computer to keep functioning?

Yup, not worth upgrading. Sounds like he's had a lot of use out of it,
but it's definately time to retire it.

Best bet would be to get a new one. If he gets a decent one from a
computer place (ie not a "warehouse" dell etc), he'll probably get
another 10 years out of it.

How "tight" is the budget, remembering that he can get a Hire Purchase
and spread the cost over a couple of years, although he'll end up
paying more in interest etc.

Another distant second option may be a TardMe machine, but you really
need to know a little about computers to not get ripped off on there.
There are some bargains, but there are also some real lemons going for
a heap more than they're worth.

In article <451710af$>, says...
> A friend has a computer that was purchased about 1995 and which now needs to
> be upgraded. It needs to upgrade memory to at least 256 mb (preferably
> 512mb) and to increase hard drive capacity to 80 GB (which is the minimum
> you can buy). One computer servicing place told him to dump it as any
> computer that is more than 5 years old is not worth upgrading!

You may need to buy a pci controller for that new harddrive, not necessarily a
new motherboard.
>
> Another computer technician advised him that generic memory is not
> compatible with his system, so the costs of the memory would be quite high
> as specific memory for the type of desktop would need to be purchased, and
> this may not even be available at all.

Correct. On the other hand, I am pretty sure that many people on this newsgroup
probably have some megabytes of exactly _that_ type sitting in a shoebox in the
garage. I recently gave away a whole stack of mine ...

He also said that a computer that was
> originally designed with a 6GB hard drive, may need a new motherboard if it
> is to run a 80GB hard drive.

(see up top)

>
> What do you think, would you risk upgrading this computer, bearing in mind
> that the person involved has a very tight budget and cannot really afford a
> new computer.

I think it is entirely possible to get a second hand machine for 300ish dollars
when that's quite possibly how much that upgrade is going to cost you.
But make sure to put it through its paces before taking it home and handing
over the money: some people sell because of upgrades, some because of problems.
Having said that, the problem can also reside between the ears of the previous
owner...

> Is it likely that, after 10 years' use, other parts, such as the fan, the
> motherboard, or the power supply are likely to fail also? In other words, if
> your budget and your processing requirements are quite limited, how long
> these days can you expect a computer to keep functioning?
>
> Thanks, Percy

You just can't tell. I have a comp that is a P166MX that still runs (as an
email terminal for visitors, it boots slowly but runs Firefox just fine) but on
the other hand I've replaced lots of optical drives that were no older than 1
or 2 years, and power supplies that were less than that. Looks like your friend
has a goer and probably only mechanical wear will eventually finish off the
parts that have bearings.

-P.

--
=========================================
firstname dot lastname at gmail fullstop com

"PCquery" <> wrote in message
news:451710af$...
>A friend has a computer that was purchased about 1995 and which now needs
>to be upgraded. It needs to upgrade memory to at least 256 mb (preferably
>512mb) and to increase hard drive capacity to 80 GB (which is the minimum
>you can buy). One computer servicing place told him to dump it as any
>computer that is more than 5 years old is not worth upgrading!
>
> Another computer technician advised him that generic memory is not
> compatible with his system, so the costs of the memory would be quite high
> as specific memory for the type of desktop would need to be purchased, and
> this may not even be available at all. He also said that a computer that
> was originally designed with a 6GB hard drive, may need a new motherboard
> if it is to run a 80GB hard drive.
>
> What do you think, would you risk upgrading this computer, bearing in mind
> that the person involved has a very tight budget and cannot really afford
> a new computer.
>
> Is it likely that, after 10 years' use, other parts, such as the fan, the
> motherboard, or the power supply are likely to fail also? In other words,
> if your budget and your processing requirements are quite limited, how
> long these days can you expect a computer to keep functioning?
>
> Thanks, Percy
>

YOu could buy something off trademe for a couple of hundred dollars which
would be far cheaper than upgrading an old computer. Biff the 1995 one, it
isn't even worth considering.

PCquery wrote:
> A friend has a computer that was purchased about 1995 and which now
> needs to be upgraded. It needs to upgrade memory to at least 256 mb
> (preferably 512mb) and to increase hard drive capacity to 80 GB
> (which is the minimum you can buy). One computer servicing place told
> him to dump it as any computer that is more than 5 years old is not
> worth upgrading!
> Another computer technician advised him that generic memory is not
> compatible with his system, so the costs of the memory would be quite
> high as specific memory for the type of desktop would need to be
> purchased, and this may not even be available at all. He also said
> that a computer that was originally designed with a 6GB hard drive,
> may need a new motherboard if it is to run a 80GB hard drive.
>
> What do you think, would you risk upgrading this computer, bearing in
> mind that the person involved has a very tight budget and cannot
> really afford a new computer.
>
> Is it likely that, after 10 years' use, other parts, such as the fan,
> the motherboard, or the power supply are likely to fail also? In
> other words, if your budget and your processing requirements are
> quite limited, how long these days can you expect a computer to keep
> functioning?
> Thanks, Percy

A computer "should" last forever.

However, a computer from '95 is likely to be a Pentium 120 at best, probably
a 486 DX266 if your friend was on a tight budget then too.

Sadly, those PCs were from the era just before PCs became powerful enough to
have really long lives for simple use. For instance, anything over 400MHz
will be adequate for email/browsing/basic gaming (period games) and should
last more than 10 years, barring parts failure. A 1GHz machine from a couple
years later is even better. A machine from 2000~ish could still be in use in
2020 IMO. (As stated, barring component failures, capacitors were
particularly prone to failure at that time).

Sorry to say that you friend's current machine is probably at the end of
it's life. What are it's specs? If it has PCI slots then a PCI - ATA/SATA
adapter takes away all the HDD size constraint worries. However, I seriously
doubt it's worth it. What operating system does it have?

Where are you guys at? I have an AT board sitting in an anti-static bag
that's fitted with a Pentium 166, has all 4 72-pin RAM slots populated
(Don't ask me how much RAM it is, possibly 32MB, maybe more) and has PCI
slots that he can have gratis. Or, for a modest sum, I can probably supply a
350MHz to 900MHz ATX box that he can use with his current peripherals. (My
biggest "expense" with machines of this era is SDRAM/graphics cards. I have
more mobo/CPU combos than RAM)

Or there's always something like:

http://www.eoneonline.co.nz/shop/UPG...one.co.nz.html

$400 + GST, use his current monitor/mouse/keyboard (although keyboard and
mouse will probably need replacing as they'll likely have wrong fittings)

Cheers,
--
Shaun.

PCquery wrote:
> A friend has a computer that was purchased about 1995 and which now needs to
> be upgraded. It needs to upgrade memory to at least 256 mb (preferably
> 512mb) and to increase hard drive capacity to 80 GB (which is the minimum
> you can buy). One computer servicing place told him to dump it as any
> computer that is more than 5 years old is not worth upgrading!

Dump it - you can buy something like a really nice, Compaq SFF P3/666
for ~$50 at Turners Auctions these days. Including a 17" monitor.

I'll bet that 1995 system doesn't even have USB ports.

On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 11:10:15 +1200, "PCquery" <> wrote:

>A friend has a computer that was purchased about 1995 and which now needs to
>be upgraded. It needs to upgrade memory to at least 256 mb (preferably
>512mb) and to increase hard drive capacity to 80 GB (which is the minimum
>you can buy). One computer servicing place told him to dump it as any
>computer that is more than 5 years old is not worth upgrading!

I think the most important question is why does it need to be upgraded?
Is he planning on running Windows XP on it, or some software which needs more
RAM or disk space, or does he just want it to go faster?

There have been lots of good suggestions here, but if you can let us know the
specs and operating system of the computer, and what your friend wants to do
with it, then the suggestions can be a lot more specific.

--
Ray Greene

"Ray Greene" <> wrote in message
news:ef7aen$26u$...
> On Mon, 25 Sep 2006 11:10:15 +1200, "PCquery" <> wrote:
>
>>A friend has a computer that was purchased about 1995 and which now needs
>>to
>>be upgraded. It needs to upgrade memory to at least 256 mb (preferably
>>512mb) and to increase hard drive capacity to 80 GB (which is the minimum
>>you can buy). One computer servicing place told him to dump it as any
>>computer that is more than 5 years old is not worth upgrading!
>
> I think the most important question is why does it need to be upgraded?
> Is he planning on running Windows XP on it, or some software which needs
> more
> RAM or disk space, or does he just want it to go faster?
>
> There have been lots of good suggestions here, but if you can let us know
> the
> specs and operating system of the computer, and what your friend wants to
> do
> with it, then the suggestions can be a lot more specific.
>
> --
> Ray Greene

Yes, there have been lots of good suggestions, thanks very much to you all
for these. The system memory is 128 mb with 1 x 64mb and 2x 32mb sticks. The
hard drive is 6 gig. It is an IBM brand computer. It is actually running
Windows XP, which is no doubt the reason why it is extremely slow, although
it has got worse recently. Various clean-up and virus checks have been made,
including a defrag, but these haven't noticeably improved things. The reason
it needs to be upgraded is to speed the computer up and to have more disk
space. I am surprised my friend installed XP with just 128mb RAM, I thought
you needed a minimum of 256mb. Despite this, the computer has been OK for
word processing, e-mailing, and some photo work, until a few weeks ago, when
it started to get very slow.

Thanks, Percy