[GOODY350]

I've found lately that I'm just a small amount lacking in power on any of my computers to perform a few tasks I'd like to have the power to do (ie HD vid editing). My Sony desktop is a pretty good computer and not far off from what I need in performance. It's a PCV-RS420 ( PCV-RS420 LINK ) w/ a P4 2.8GHz HT processor. It took me quite a bit of searching to find the socket type to help with searching for a processor upgrade, but it appears to be a 478 ZIF socket. I've found a few different P4's w/ HT at 3.0GHz and 3.2GHz for around $100. They all have the same 800Mhz FSB and usually upgrade to 1Mb Cache over the 512Kb I now have. I've not had much experience w/ side-by-side comparison of different powers of processors to see what may be a reasonable upgrade and what may not be. And, at the same time to make sure there's not anything else I'm overlooking in considering this upgrade. If anyone can assist in ANY fashion I'd greatly appreciate any thoughts/support you can offer!!!

This post has been edited by GOODY350: 01 October 2009 - 08:36 AM

[Sean]

I think a good thing to do would be to open the case and get the motherboard make/model and share that with us. You might be able to upgrade to faster ram as well as a faster CPU. It might also stop you from upgrading because the motherboard may not support faster L1 or L2 cache.

[Sean]

Oh, and how much ram do you have? And What operating system are you running on it?

[GOODY350]

I hope to open it up tonight, but for now I'm going on what I've found online. I gathered that it's an Asus P4SDR-VM motherboard, but that's from online searching and I'll have to confirm that later upon opening it... Here's a link to info on that motherboard: P4SDR-VM
Also:
XP Home Ed. 2002 SP1 (planning to reinstall windows and then get current to SP3)
1.5Gb RAM

[Sean]

I would upgrade it to the full 2 GB of ram that it allows if possible. I will take a look at this pdf and see what we can find for your cpu and possibly faster ram.

[Sean]

Yea lets confrim your motherboard make/model to be 100% positive on the parts.

[GOODY350]

Though close, I was wrong... It's the P4SD-VX
FYI, I got on this "tangent" after I decided to renew Meg's Norton subscription and it says you could install it on 3 computers. I found out that because I have SP1 I can't run the latest version and that just became the final straw! I can't update the computer due to virus or spyware or whatever is dragging it down, there are times that I just don't use it for months because it's so problematic as a result of virus', and it's SOOOO close to being able to run my HD Vid software. Not to mention that's the computer I use for my music recording/editing as well. It's a GREAT computer, but I've let it get bad and it's time I did something about it. I'm ready to backup my files, wipe it clean, reinstall windows, update it, and upgrade it!

[GOODY350]

Ok, I tried for a while now to find a manual or specs on that model number and can't... Apparently searching for that is where I found the other manual and it was noted that they were similar models. I may try some searching at work tomorrow, but I don't know for sure if I'll have the time.

[GOODY350]

I found where someone that said going to cpuid.com has a program to run that tells you lots about your system. It appears that because the motherboard is used only by Sony that Asus doesn't provide any information on it and I can't find anywhere that Sony knows anything about it either... I'm gonna keep diggin...

[Sean]

It might be best to just build a new system. You can build a nice one for 450 or so.

[GOODY350]

I actually just started looking into some stuff on newegg and c.c. websites. How likely is it that I could find a motherboard/processor combo that'll swap into everything else I've got??? I'm talkin 100% of everything. It looks like there are some reasonably priced dual core processors at or just above 3.0GHz, but I have NO CLUE what the odds are of finding a motherboard that would work with one AND then coincide w/ the rest of it... I REALLY would want to stay under $250.

This post has been edited by GOODY350: 02 October 2009 - 11:52 AM

[Sean]

More than likely you will need to get different cpu, ram, video card, case depending on the form factor of your current case. I had an htpc built and put in my shopping cart on newegg for 375. That is an entire pc with 4 GB of ram, AMD dual core cpu, 500 GB sata hard drive, and a motherboard with DVI, VGA, HDMI video out and optical audio out on the board. Hell, just buy a few parts every paycheck and build a nice machine. Seems like you can just format your current Sony and use it until you buy all of the new parts. Oh, i wouldnt buy from tigerdirect.com or circuitcity.com because most of their shit has mail in rebates which is a pain in the ass to actually get. And tigerdirect.com actually owns cc.

[GOODY350]

I've got 2 hard drives in the Sony and I've got an older compaq that I was considering adding in as well... If I didn't have a need to purchase a HD to make it work then I'd just not get one. I did forget about RAM... But, if my vid card would work I wouldn't care right now to upgrade. Also, if I found something to fit in the Sony case then I'd use it. I guess this is all still just gathering thoughts on possibilities, but if I found the right thing I'd go for it. I had forgotten about tigerdirect! Glad you mentioned it.

[GOODY350]

I did the CPUID and here's what I got if it helps any:
 cpuid1.JPG (45.57K)
Number of downloads: 7  cpuid2.JPG (34.53K)
Number of downloads: 10  cpuid3.JPG (38.15K)
Number of downloads: 6
 cpuid5.JPG (137.21K)
Number of downloads: 6
 cpuid4.JPG (34.11K)
Number of downloads: 5  cpuid6.JPG (28.6K)
Number of downloads: 4  cpuid7.JPG (37.06K)
Number of downloads: 3

[Sean]

I still think we need to find more information on your motherboard. But, you def. need to max the ram out at 2 GB.