P4 Ram 17
This question was put to me awhile back and I punted on the question because I had not done my research on the discussion.
I have some older laptops, one is new enough that it has a P4 processor. I use the older laptops for a 'mini' network in our Recreational Vehicle, it is a mirror of the network in my office. Why? Because with the network I can work while we are traveling through out the US of A. With all my tools available I can keep my forum up to date and do experiments that I do while in my office to assist readers of my web sites.
So instead of doing an upgrade on the laptops I was considering buying a new laptop for my work and keeping the others as is in the mini network. I know what the HP laptop goes for because we bought two of them last year. I really didn't know which way I would go new or upgrade, so here is my experience when I finally got around to doing the research.
Now a month or so later not only have I done the research, I have done the deed.
I have a nice IBM T-30 laptop, not too heavy, not too old, the case is in excellent shape. I am considering a new laptop for use when we travel in the RV so I did the research.
This is what I found -
o New HP laptop $1300
o T-30 Memory - Kinston now has a PC2100 1 gig memory module, about $44.00
o T-30 Processor - The fastest P4 400MHz FSB was 2.0 but 533MHz goes to 2.8 GHz. - $ 11 to $129
o Storage - IDE SSD (Solid State Drive) up to 128 Gig ($780.00 -oppps)
So what I did was set down with the results of my research and my bank account, how much can I afford to put in the laptop with out draining my small bank account verses a new computer.
One of the draw backs of upgrading is you don't get the latest and greatest, that is I can't have a Core 2 or Hyperthreading processor. The T-30 has ver 1.1 USB and two ports. It does how ever have a 15" video.
The HP has Core 2 Duo with 4 Gig of Ram, 160 Gig Hard Drive, Blue Ray DVD, wireless and wired network, 17" Portrait video, ver. 2.0 USB, weight 3 lbs.
Cost - $1300! (I know I bought two for my son and daughter-in-law)
I can do with out the Blue Ray DVD, the T-30 has wired network and I have added on a USB wireless, so here is what I did-
o Processor - 2.4GHz 533 FSB - $29
o Memory - 1.5 Gig PC2100 - $44
o Storage - 64 Gig SSD - $125
o Total cost - $198.00
Whoa! What a deal! A faster (not the fastest!) computer and it didn't cost $1300! Of course I had to buy a new battery that cost $94.00 but even with that it is less than 25% of the cost of the new HP.
A couple of lessons I learned from this exercise -
Do the research!
Compare the old with the new, what can you do with out? What do you want the computer to do?
Monte Russell is the author / owner of http://www.diy-computer-repair.com Retired USAF and Computer/Network Engineer of over twenty years has written numerous articles and books on computer repair and server configuration.
All in all I think the upgrade went very well, if you are interested in the compete process you can read about it here - http://www.diy-computer-repair.com/upgrade-your-laptop.html
What Is On YouTube Today?
DEAD RISING 2 ON p4 & hd 5450 on HIGH.mp4
Here Are Some Items From Amazon You Might Like.
 HP dm4-3050us (14.0-Inch Screen) Laptop List Price: Sale Price: $579.98 You save: $190.01 (25%)  Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days  |
 Dell GX620 SFF Desktop Computer, Powerful Intel 2.8GHz processor is included, LGA 775 CPU, Super Fast 2GB Interlaced DDR2 Memory, VGA Onboard Video, Fast 80GB SATA Hard Drive, DVD/CDRW Burn CD's and Play DVD's, Crystal Clear VGA Video, Intregrated Nic/Audio, XP Professional with COA Sale Price: $89.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
 Dell Optiplex Desktop with LCD Flat Panel Monitor (Single Core 2.8Ghz Pentium 4 Processor, 1 GB RAM, 40 GB Hard Drive, Windows XP) List Price: Sale Price: $111.95 You save: $388.04 (78%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
 Dell Optiplex Gx620 All-in-one Pentium 4 3.0ghz 2gb 80gb Cdrw /Dvd 17" Lcd Win 7 Professional List Price: Sale Price: $199.99 You save: $29.01 (13%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
 Dell Optiplex 745 Desktop Computer, Fast and Powerful Intel 3.0GHz Dual Core Processor, 2GB DDR2 Interlaced High Performance Memory, 160GB Super Fast 7200RPM SATA Hard Drive, DVD/CDRW, Record CD's and Watch DVD Movies, Intregrated Lan/Audio, Onboard Video, Wireless Capable (Adapter Sold Separately), Windows XP Installed with COA, Windows 7 Capable Sale Price: $124.00 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
 Dell Optiplex GX620 Desktop Computer With LCD Monitor List Price: Sale Price: $161.00 You save: $338.00 (68%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
 Intell pentium 4 processor at 2.59 mhz with a 20 mg Hardrive and Windows XP not XP pro Sale Price: $49.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
 Dell Optiplex Gx620 Pentium 4 3.0ghz 160gb Dvd-rw Desktop + 17" Flat Panel LCD Sale Price: $155.00 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
 Dell Dimension 4600 - Micro tower - 1 x P4 2.8 GHz - RAM 512 MB - HDD 1 x 40 GB - CD-RW - Extreme Graphics 2 - Win XP Home - Monitor : none Sale Price: $120.99 Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
 Toshiba Satellite P25-S507 17" Laptop (2.80-GHz Pentium 4 (Hyper-Threading), 512 MB RAM, 60 GB Hard Drive) List Price: Sale Price: $200.00 You save: $1,799.99 (90%) Eligible for free shipping!Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days |
Items recently purchased on this site:
Thanks for visiting!