sound card

[bddotnet]

I have a Dell Dimension v333c that I use for backing up files. It has onboard video and audio but none of the drivers I've tried have worked.

I want to replace the video and sound cards. The onboard video is only 8MB which is not near enough resolution.

I have 192MB out of 384MB of SDRAM in this machine with the rest being stock parts. I am considering up'ing that to at least 256MB.

Any suggestions?

[entrecon]

Have you tried the Dell support website? If you put in the service tag ID they will usually give you all of the drivers for that machine.

[bddotnet]

Yes. Those are the drivers I tried. In addition to the Realtek AC'97 drivers from driverguide.com...

If that sound card is anything like the video card, I need to just disable both and replace them with PCI cards.

[Doc C]

Sounds like the most logical way, Bobby. As for memory, crucial.com has a system scanner that I use all the time at work. Makes it really easy to figure out what memory you need.

I just use a USB external HD for backing up files. In the event I have to vacate my place, I can just grab it and run!

[tpoynton]

seems to me that if this machine's primary purpose is file backup that sound isnt an issue, and since you will only be looking at it occasionally, why is the video resolution an issue? In fact, once you get the share setup, you should be able to do most things from another computer, except maintenance. I'd stuff it in a closet if I could.

[bddotnet]

I want to be able to set the machine up so that my fiance' (who will be my wife on June 28, 2008) can use it for whatever she wants. It's not identical to my Dimension 2400, but at least she can play games, browse the internet, etc. with sound and video at optimal levels.

Right now the machine IS a backup for me and IS networked/shared so that I have complete access to the entire machine.

[Doc C]

Don't take this wrong, Bobby, but that's a pretty low end machine for doing much of anything. Your 2400 is a, what, P4 2.6ghz and the 333 is a P2 333mhz?

Some advice from a guy who's been down the aisle twice, get her something nice. There aren't a whole lot of games you can play on machine that maxes out at 384 meg of RAM!!

[tpoynton]

Doc's advice RE: the hardware is spot on...I'd be trolling techbargains.com for the next good system deal. you'd really be better off spending money on a newer computer than upgrading an older one.

Or, my favorite tactic, get yourself a nice new one and hand off the old one!

Doc's is probably better advice marriage-wise, though.

[bddotnet]

I see exactly what you are saying. She has a Dell Inspiron laptop that is really nice but needs its memory maxed out. The v333c is just a backup machine.

[Doc C]

Keep her Inspiron running for as long as you can and give her a new laptop for your first anniversary.

Oh and BTW Bobby, the first time I got married was 25 June 1983. June's a good month.

[bddotnet]

Now I feel like a cradle robber...She was born February 28, 1983... Thanks for the advice though. I really think she should at least max the RAM out in that laptop.

[Doc C]

You aren't a cradle robber, Bobby. I'm just an old geezer! :D

And as I told one of my brothers at his wedding reception:

"The honeymoon isn't over until you let it be." (He's been married 20 years this summer!) :D

[(jj)]

Hey Doc, you aren't allowed to use my "geezer" title yet ;)

The first time that I lost my mind ..errr I mean that I got married, was in 1968.

[YvetteKuhns]

I was born in 1968! You ARE an old geezer! My husband is 17 years older than me, so he is a cradle robber. We will be married 12 years on April 27th. Don's late wife was 11 years older than him and she died of cancer just days before their 18th wedding anniversary. She died at the end of April and their anniversary was May 4th. That was our original date until someone else at my previous employment chose my date and made me reschedule. (Pharmacists are more important, but we couldn't have the same week off.) I think any day is a good day to be married. It sure beats being lonely.

I agree that a new computer is better than an old one. I normally build two nearly identical desktops, so I can easily swap parts and drivers. You can buy or build a system that is compatible with your newer computer. As long as the system meets or exceeds your needs. My son still uses my old laptop for old games and has a new desktop for new software. The laptop maxed out on RAM (no surprise).

Best of luck!

[Bad Hair Day]

Hey Doc, you aren't allowed to use my "geezer" title yet ;)

The first time that I lost my mind ..errr I mean that I got married, was in 1968.
Hey, JJ, you old fart - How are you?

I got married that same year. Come the 17th July, I will have served four life sentences with her (40 years)!

And I'm still doing the dishes..............

:D

[Doc C]

I was married for 12 years (7 the first time and 5 the second time). Now I've been divorced twice as long as I was married the second time. Do you ever get to claim to be single again?

[YvetteKuhns]

My parents got married July 9, 1966 and they are still married! It is amazing that they didn't kill each other. Dad almost never did the dishes. They used to avoid each other to avoid fighting. They have their own televisions, because they don't watch the same shows. They even listen to different music. They have next to nothing in common. Really don't know why they ever were together.

We recently attended a 50th wedding anniversary where Don's uncle renewed his wedding vows to his wife. I never saw so many old people in one room since I worked in a pharmacy and the retirement home bus arrived for senior discount day! People don't normally make it to 80 years old in MY family. I was the youngest person at our table and for the first time in a while, I felt young(er). :cool:

[Doc C]

<turning on PA system>

Attention. Your attention, please. Will this thread please report to it's original topic?
We seem to have wandered off topic due to a certain mod. That is all.

</turning off PA system>

[bddotnet]

I may just leave the machine (Dell Dimension v333c) as is (192MB SDRAM), though I think maxing out the RAM would give it a huge performance increase.

My main machine is a Dell Dimension 2400 with 1GB RAM and added DVD Drive. The rest is stock. It needs a severe RAM upgrade.

My laptops are a Toshiba Satellite Pro running Win 98SE and an IBM ThinkPad 560Z running Linux Mandrake 10. RAM is maxed out on this laptop.

[YvetteKuhns]

My old laptop maxed out on RAM, so my son uses it for old games and stuff running on Windows 98 SE. He has so many Hot Wheels computer games and other games that actually work better on that system. We tried playing a pinball game designed for that OS on the NEW computers. It was impossible to play as the balls shot too fast. And my digital camera can connect directly to that computer without using a card reader! It is nice to have an old system at times.

My main machine is a Dell Dimension 2400 with 1GB RAM and added DVD Drive. The rest is stock. It needs a severe RAM upgrade.

1 GB of RAM isn't enough with the latest OS, DVD drive and your usage. I have at least 2 GB with room for more. I may have 3 GB in the PC I am using now. I love to custom build my computer! Upgrade your RAM now and ask for money for your wedding, so you can get another PC for your wife. ;)

[Vistronic]

In regards to the onboard audio/video for an old file server, server, whatever in that class I would not upgrade it... go into bios and make sure devices are on... goto dell site or (maybe) driver guide.... for a backup computer or a storeroom these items dont help you... install tight vnc or a kvm switch and let it rip...