Dilemma of the Gaming Kind

[Ralph1Malph]

I now have two Sons into online gaming:(.
I/we have a entry level 3year old gaming desktop that still meets the need so far (not sure for how long though).
Specs:
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i7 CPU 860 @ 2.80GHz
Memory : 2048MB(1333)
Mother Board : H55M-S2H
Windows Version : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1
Installation Date : 2010-07-06
Monitor : LG L194WT(Digital)
Video Adapter : ATI Radeon HD 5700 Series
Mouse : USB Input Device
Keyboard : Standard PS/2 Keyboard
Disk Drive : SAMSUNG HD103SJ ATA Device(931GB,IDE)
DVD/CD-ROM Drive : HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH22NS50 ATA Device

Trouble is the youngest was using my 3yo laptop which gamed all but the newest game he plays and now the HDD is playing up so a lot of drive errors appear.
Like most boys, they don't share well.

Laptop Spec:
Processor : Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 CPU M 330 @ 2.13GHz
Memory : 2048MB(533)
Mother Board : Aspire 5740
Windows Version : Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1
Installation Date : 2010-03-20
Monitor : Generic PnP Monitor
Video Adapter : ATI Mobility Radeon HD 5650
Mouse : USB Input Device
Keyboard : Launch Manager
Disk Drive : WDC WD3200BEVT-22A23T0(298GB,IDE)
DVD/CD-ROM Drive : HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GT31N

My limited fiddling with computers is with desktops. Are laptops generally upgradeable?
In short I reckon just maybe, I could replace the HDD on laptop and possibily upgrade RAM/CPU etc to eek another year or so out of it.

Shelling out $1000+ for another gaming machine, just won't wash with SWMBO I'm afraid.

I would be up for selling off the above laptop and another one of slightly lower specs in order to fund a replacement if the numbers add up.

Reading other posts, I might have to visit these Umart folk to get a HDD drive for the laptop anyways.

Anyone have any suggestions as to a solution and way forward?

Cheers
Ralph

[jboot51]

For the laptop, ram and hard drive upgrades is all that can be done.


The pc could use more ram if desired.


A new hard drive in the laptop, 120Gig SSD would be the go.
You'll need to find the acer installation disc that came with the laptop to reinstall windows.
If it didn't come with one, there should be a disc creation program built in, so you'll have to create one. Best to make the disc before it fails altogether.

[Ralph1Malph]

For the laptop, ram and hard drive upgrades is all that can be done.
The pc could use more ram if desired.
A new hard drive in the laptop, 120Gig SSD would be the go.
You'll need to find the acer installation disc that came with the laptop to reinstall windows.
If it didn't come with one, there should be a disc creation program built in, so you'll have to create one. Best to make the disc before it fails altogether.

I do have the acer discs as I bought it new.
I prob wouldn't reinstall off that though, prob do a clean install with win7. I have a three machine licence so all good.

I do need a HDD anyways for the laptop so prob lash out on a 7200 rpm jobby.
Ralph

[WhiteD3]

Ralph,

I share your pain but its the boys gain :)

Here's my recent effort. The PC was $1300 of which Matt kicked in $300 and I get to sell his laptop and keep the proceeds.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/computers/187725-gaming-desktop-suggestions.html

Those two machines of yours will be no good for gaming given the memory (or lack of), CPU and graphics cards. At least if you go for a desktop you can upgrade components as and when required.

FYI there is little you can do in upgrading laptops other than to add RAM.

Cheers.

[Landy Smurf]

I am going to get someone to build me a tower pc in a few months hopefully. I tend to not use a laptop for moving around a lot and if I do I have one or can buy a cheap one for this purpose.

[loanrangie]

2 gig ram is nothing in todays pc's, up that to 8 gig and you may extend the life of them for a while.

[singlecell]

The desktop would go alright if you threw is some more ram and a up to date graphics card.

The laptop though wont get you anything if you sell it. A brand new latest gen i3 laptop is 6-700 bucks. Gaming laptops are quiet expensive if you want something decent, desktops give you much more bang for your buck.

[Ralph1Malph]

The desktop would go alright if you threw is some more ram and a up to date graphics card.

The laptop though wont get you anything if you sell it. A brand new latest gen i3 laptop is 6-700 bucks. Gaming laptops are quiet expensive if you want something decent, desktops give you much more bang for your buck.

Cheers,
I figured as much:(.
Neither of my two laptops were bought for gaming and I still use them heavily for word processing / spreadsheets when travelling with work.

Maybe another desk top may go on the list.

Cheers
Ralph

[Pedro_The_Swift]

doesnt stop there,, any decent vid card will require a bigger power supply,, also check the old monitor will handle the new amount of pixels,,