upgrade PS and Graphics

[frankb]

winxp pro sp2
compaq presarioi sr1720NX
motherboard A8AE-LE AmberrineM

power supply with unit is 200W.

want to install new graphic card Nvidia 8600 serikes.
requires 350W PS.

Has a Coolmax V-500 (500W) picked up on black friday for 10.00.
Will this work?

Also want to increase memory from 512 MB (2x256) to 2 GB. (1x1GB)
will motherboard accept High density in pairs?
Or does ram have to be low density?

Computer is used mainly for Flight simulator with lots of planes.
Elderly Retired person. Main activity.

[Steve R Jones]

Does the pc have a video card slot that will work with the 8600?

Does the 500w psu look like it'll fit in the case and does the main pin connectors look like it has the same number of pins on the mobo?

[photolady]

Don't know if that power supply will work. You'll have to compare the two to see if it will fit the case, as Steve said. And why we say this is, Compaq and HP used to use Priority psu's.

You have 1 PCE-e x16 slot for the graphics card. And you can have up to 4gb DDR400/PC3200 memory.

Where I found that info:

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/d...roduct=1815875

[frankb]

Jones.-
Yes, the PCI Express x 16 is empty along with 2 PCI's also empty.
So, lots of space for graphics card..

PS dimensions of Bestec is 3.375 H,5.875 W, 5.5 D
Coolmax is 3.35 H, 5.91 W, 5.51 D

The variants from .875 to .91 is only .035 which should be easy to overcome.
case is 7.2"wide OD.

Wiring is not a problem. 1 x Main connector (20+4 pin)
1 x 12V(P4)
4 x peripheral
1 x SATA
1 x Floppy

PhotoLady.-
Unfortunately Compaq/HP omitted the High/Low Density info in all their listings, write-ups.
Had to resort to internet search with sellers of memory pro's and con's.
It would appear that the consensus is that if the memory is used in pairs, than the High density is accepted.
As their are four slots. and at present a pair of 256 MB is present.
Shifting the 256MB in free slots, and insert the 1GB in their place. Should solve the problem.
He would have 2.5 GB of memory to "fly" with.

[photolady]

I know HP and or Compaq don't say High or low density but now days neither applies to be the revelent problems one used to see. www.crucial.com would have given you the correct amount and the correct type of ram to use with your computer.

[SuperSparks]

It should all be fine, though I wouldn't have bothered with 2GB or RAM, 1 gig would be fine for XP and Flight Simulator. Here are the specs:

http://www4.shopping.com/xPF-Hewlett...ARIO-SR1710-NX

[frankb]

photolady.-
did the crucial search and came up with
spec. DDR PC3200-CL=3 Unbuffered NON ECC DDR400 2.6v 128meg X 64

that last 128meg x64 would indicate high density
see
http://reviews.ebay.com/Myth-Low-Den...00000001236178

appreciate input, thank you very much.

Now I can order memory and save $$.

[jdc2000]

You will want to replace that Bestec power supply ASAP, even if you don't upgrade the graphics card. Those things have killed many an eMachine. Don't even think about adding a graphics card without replacing the Bestec, as it will probably fry other hardware.

[Train]

Bestec has killed more than a few gateway computers too.