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Breathe new life into your old PC
How to upgrade your old laptop
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It’s time to spring-clean your computer. It has been running with its RAM sticks tied together for months now, coughing and spluttering at the most simple of tasks. It’s not time to replace it. There’s no need to shell out for a new laptop. Not yet. All your PC needs is a little love and today we’ll show you how to give it just that and breathe new life into your old computer.
Nothing we’re going to talk you through is wildly complicated but it is going to take a sense of adventure and one or two internet guides to get you through the process.
So, now that you’ve girded your loins, prepare to save yourself lots of cash, gain an immense feeling of satisfaction and actually walk out of it all with a super-speed computer, just like the one you bought all those years ago.
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11Comments
20/03/2014 16:53
It's not true that it's always a faff to upgrade CPUs. No, you generally can't upgrade the chip series (e.g. a Core 2 Duo to a Haswell Core i7), but there are often many variants within a single range. You can usually go for a higher spec model within the same range, especially if the same laptop is available with these variants.
I upgraded the Core 2 Duo in a Dell laptop to a much faster Core 2 Duo without having to change the mobo (it's certainly rarely worth doing that for a laptop). I needed a BIOS update, but that was all.
Don't forget to replace the heatsink compound on top of the CPU chip. Manufacturers often put too much on, or use adhesive pads. Clean off or remove what is there and spread a thin, even layer of compound over the metal lid of the CPU with a razor or the edge of a credit card. As long as the layer is even with no gaps, the thinner the better.
21/03/2014 16:25
I DUMPED MY LAPTOP TOO MUCH OF A HEADACHE.
WENT BACK TO DESKTOP EASIER TO FIX AND CHANGE PARTS IS A BREEZE AND SAVE A LOT CASH FOR ME.
BUT FOR LAPTOPS IVE RIGHT OFF THEM TOO HOT, OVER HEATING, CRASHES, I FOUND MY LAPTOPS FOR ME WERE ALWAYS GOING WRONG, MANUFACTOIES NOT SUPPLY REINSTALL DISC SO THEY CAN CHARGE YOU MORE AND RIP YOU OFF, FOR REINSTALLING IS VERY EASY TO DO VERY EASY.
SO I DUMPED MY LAPTOP SOLD GONE INSURANCE DUMPED GONE.
NOW I CAN GET ALL MY PARTS I NEED SECOND HAND JUST AS GOOD, NO PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER, EVEN GOT SPARES.
NO SILLY ARROGANT CALL CENTRE OR SILLY HAVE YOU TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN.
PROBLEMS SOVLED MUCH EASIER AND BETTER.
TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH LAPTOPS, NO POINT IN HAVING ONE REALLY UNLESS YOU HAVE JUST BOUGHT ONE, TO JUST SAY OH LOOK WHAT I HAVE GOT MMMMMMMMMMM NOT VERY GOOD REALLY
I HAVE SOFTWARE I ACTUALLY WANT AND USE NONE OF THAT PACKAGE MARKETING CRAP, BUILD YOUR OWN PEOPLE MUCH BETTER AND IT WILL DO WHAT YOU WANT IT TO DO.
PC WORLD THEY SUCK, I DON,T CARE WORST COMPANY EVER OR DIXONS OR KNOW HOW OR PC MASTER CARE DO YOU KNOW THERE ALL THE SAME COMPANY JUST CHANGING NAMES AND FACE OVER THE YEARS.
THE PRICES FOR CHANGING MEMORY OR YOUR HARD DRIVE ITS A FRAKKING JOKE A FEW SCREWS A FLAP AND REINSTALL THEY ARE LIEING TO YOU AND THEY KNOW IT TO WAKE UP PEOPLE.
WENT BACK TO DESKTOP EASIER TO FIX AND CHANGE PARTS IS A BREEZE AND SAVE A LOT CASH FOR ME.
BUT FOR LAPTOPS IVE RIGHT OFF THEM TOO HOT, OVER HEATING, CRASHES, I FOUND MY LAPTOPS FOR ME WERE ALWAYS GOING WRONG, MANUFACTOIES NOT SUPPLY REINSTALL DISC SO THEY CAN CHARGE YOU MORE AND RIP YOU OFF, FOR REINSTALLING IS VERY EASY TO DO VERY EASY.
SO I DUMPED MY LAPTOP SOLD GONE INSURANCE DUMPED GONE.
NOW I CAN GET ALL MY PARTS I NEED SECOND HAND JUST AS GOOD, NO PROBLEMS WHAT SO EVER, EVEN GOT SPARES.
NO SILLY ARROGANT CALL CENTRE OR SILLY HAVE YOU TURNED IT OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN.
PROBLEMS SOVLED MUCH EASIER AND BETTER.
TOO MANY PROBLEMS WITH LAPTOPS, NO POINT IN HAVING ONE REALLY UNLESS YOU HAVE JUST BOUGHT ONE, TO JUST SAY OH LOOK WHAT I HAVE GOT MMMMMMMMMMM NOT VERY GOOD REALLY
I HAVE SOFTWARE I ACTUALLY WANT AND USE NONE OF THAT PACKAGE MARKETING CRAP, BUILD YOUR OWN PEOPLE MUCH BETTER AND IT WILL DO WHAT YOU WANT IT TO DO.
PC WORLD THEY SUCK, I DON,T CARE WORST COMPANY EVER OR DIXONS OR KNOW HOW OR PC MASTER CARE DO YOU KNOW THERE ALL THE SAME COMPANY JUST CHANGING NAMES AND FACE OVER THE YEARS.
THE PRICES FOR CHANGING MEMORY OR YOUR HARD DRIVE ITS A FRAKKING JOKE A FEW SCREWS A FLAP AND REINSTALL THEY ARE LIEING TO YOU AND THEY KNOW IT TO WAKE UP PEOPLE.
17 hours ago
Wait what? so ive been doing this wrong all these years, "Can you upgrade the CPU - The short answer is no. You can but it’s not always a good idea. Firstly, the big issue is that you’ll often have to change the whole motherboard and that can become expensive. If you’re looking at upgrading the RAM and storage drive too, then you’re getting into economic limitations. It’s probably more cost-effective just to buy a new computer."
Since when?
Its more economically viable to build your own PC than to buy one made by some one else with added costs on top because they need to make a profit.
It is ALWAYS cheaper to build your own.
Does the writer of this article actually know anything about PC's?
Best advice would be to say, First check your motherboard model number on the web and find out what socket the motherboard has on it for the CPU, this will determine if you can actually upgrade the processor (CPU) for a faster one, or whether you need to replace the motherboard completely.
If you have an older socket 775 motherboard for instance and you have a Core2duo installed, and after checking, you find the motherboard can handle a core2quad, then its well worth upgrading to the faster Core2quad, Its also at present very cheap to do so, with a Core2Quad Q6600 rolling in at just £40 from ebay. and is still a damn good processor with out having to touch the motherboard, especially if you are lucky enough to own a Socket 775 motherboard that can accept DDR3 ram.
If you do want to upgrade the motherboard, don't be scared of going second hand to achieve the same results.
Same goes for any of the i3 i5 and i7 motherboards, its always worth checking to see if you can upgrade the processor.
Same with graphics card, though its now a better option to find out if you have the older AGP slot, or the even older PCI slot on the mother board.
Its going to be your motherboard in your desktop that will determine what you can upgrade too, so it might just be an idea to find out what sockets are actually on it., after all you are going to be limited to what graphics cards and what amount of ram you can put in with an old motherboard.
So dont be put off about upgrading that too, motherboards generally retail for between £45 upwards to £250 depending on what's on them and what they can do. so its always best to check around.
What you ideally want though, is a motherboard that can handle DDR3 ram, PCI-E graphics cards, SATA ports, Processor would be depending on what you want it to do, i3 is good for browesing the web watching films and casual use, i5 would be for entry level gaming, but dont over look the older quad core processors, coupled with DDR3 ram, the older socket 775 can still hold their own, even with today's top games), i7 would be top of the range PC activity for those who want the best of the best.
And never be afraid to get on a PC forum and ask questions.
Since when?
Its more economically viable to build your own PC than to buy one made by some one else with added costs on top because they need to make a profit.
It is ALWAYS cheaper to build your own.
Does the writer of this article actually know anything about PC's?
Best advice would be to say, First check your motherboard model number on the web and find out what socket the motherboard has on it for the CPU, this will determine if you can actually upgrade the processor (CPU) for a faster one, or whether you need to replace the motherboard completely.
If you have an older socket 775 motherboard for instance and you have a Core2duo installed, and after checking, you find the motherboard can handle a core2quad, then its well worth upgrading to the faster Core2quad, Its also at present very cheap to do so, with a Core2Quad Q6600 rolling in at just £40 from ebay. and is still a damn good processor with out having to touch the motherboard, especially if you are lucky enough to own a Socket 775 motherboard that can accept DDR3 ram.
If you do want to upgrade the motherboard, don't be scared of going second hand to achieve the same results.
Same goes for any of the i3 i5 and i7 motherboards, its always worth checking to see if you can upgrade the processor.
Same with graphics card, though its now a better option to find out if you have the older AGP slot, or the even older PCI slot on the mother board.
Its going to be your motherboard in your desktop that will determine what you can upgrade too, so it might just be an idea to find out what sockets are actually on it., after all you are going to be limited to what graphics cards and what amount of ram you can put in with an old motherboard.
So dont be put off about upgrading that too, motherboards generally retail for between £45 upwards to £250 depending on what's on them and what they can do. so its always best to check around.
What you ideally want though, is a motherboard that can handle DDR3 ram, PCI-E graphics cards, SATA ports, Processor would be depending on what you want it to do, i3 is good for browesing the web watching films and casual use, i5 would be for entry level gaming, but dont over look the older quad core processors, coupled with DDR3 ram, the older socket 775 can still hold their own, even with today's top games), i7 would be top of the range PC activity for those who want the best of the best.
And never be afraid to get on a PC forum and ask questions.
21/03/2014 15:04
17 hours ago
GOOD ADVICE FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME THANK YOU SO MUCH BING TO BRAETHE NEW LIFE TO MY PC
22/03/2014 03:47
Although Laptops have no space to fit a separate graphics card, most desktop pc's may be able to have a new graphics card, even if the motherboard has an integrated one (you may also need to turn off the integrated graphics card in the BIOS settings). However, you need to know what type of daughterboard slot you have (i.e. PCI or PCI-e x16), you may also need to check if you need an additional power connection, and indeed if your power supply unit (PSU) actually has the correct spare power lead(s). If you are not sure, check with the manufacturers website.
21/03/2014 17:42
carter i built a platform with holes near the ,no over heating or any problem,2x pieces of ply 2x pieces 2by 1 screw togeather ,dtill holes where fans located job done,.
21/03/2014 12:15
This is good and great but it is only Jesus that can breath life into us. If we continue to love and do His will, we will have eternal life and life everlasting. Give your heart to Jesus today and you will enjoy this everlasting life when He comes. Have a blessed day.
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