Dell Vostro 200 Upgrade help

adocholiday

Hi guys,

I managed to get my hands on a Dell Vostro 200 for free so was wondering about upgrading it. Current specs as follows:

Proc: Intel E2180 @ 2.00GHz
RAM: 1GB DDR2
Motherboard: Dell 0RK936 (socket 775)
Chipset Model: P35/G33/G31
Chipset Revision: A2
Southbridge Vendor: Intel
Southbridge Model: 82801IR (ICH9R)
Graphics: ATI Radeon HD 3870 512MB

Can anyone recommend some good upgrades. Don't have a huge budget but would be happy with something along the lines of my laptop's performance (Samsung RV520, Intel i3 Sandybridge, 4GB RAM, integrated graphics).

I would like to be able to play games on it to some extent and for 3d modelling /game design. My laptop can run Blender fine so a spec similar would be perfect.

Thanks guys

Kimbot

Well the specs on the MB aren't all that good but my take on it is the following:

http://www.findlaptopdriver.com/dell-0rk936-specs/

Will only take a make of Intel Core 2 Duo processors so top end is this one:
http://ark.intel.com/products/30785 - I would imagine you might find one on Adverts


Also the max ram the board can handle is 4gb @ 800mhz:
http://www1.hardwareversand.de/800+Mhz/29463/4GB-Kit+G-Skill+PC6400+800%2CCL+5.article

Not too sure on the Graphics card tho mate, I'm well out of touch with them at the moment.

adocholiday

Thanks Jonny.

I've done a lot more research since yesterday and it seems that with the BIOS update I can upgrade this machine to a Core 2 Duo e8400 and up to 8GB of DDR-2 RAM

Got this information from this thread on the Dell forums.

There are 2 of these processors for sale on adverts right now. Would you guys recommend this upgrade or should I bother? It seems that I could get a very decent machine for a small amount of cash but I would like an experienced opinion

Kimbot

I would imagine it would be a good upgrade to be honest. I have a vostro myself and with 4gb she has ran everything I threw at her. I would imagine tho you will have to upgrade the OS to 64bit to get the 8gb of ram working and I would imagine you could easily get a higher spec graphics card for really low money and she would be grand for a few years

adocholiday

Thanks for that. Getting the e8400 and RAM today, have a 64 bit windows 7 too so be good to go!

Kimbot

adocholiday wrote: »

Thanks for that. Getting the e8400 and RAM today, have a 64 bit windows 7 too so be good to go!

Let me know how you get on, i might do the same to my old machine for my sister But i will need to get a graphics card aswell.

adocholiday

Hi Jonny,

Upgraded the CPU today worked right out of the packet no issues. Got it second hand for €50. Could you recommend a graphics card that would work with this system? I'm lost when it comes to them they're so damn complicated to figure out. The graphics card I'm using isn't going to suit my needs at all.

Kimbot

Not too sure, but I would imagine that anything DDR3 or GDDR5 will work in it. But you may have to upgrade the power supply as its only 300W

adocholiday

Is there a limitation on the power supply a motherboard can handle? What in my setup would limit my choice of graphics card? Haven't a clue about them!

Kimbot

You need more power to run higher graphics cards. I would safely say the 450W would be grand. Well doing a google all i came across was that once its the above you should be fine. I would imagine there is no point buying big tho as your processor and all will limit you.

Hopefully one of the lads on here will recommend a card, or you could just close this thread up and start a new one looking for Graphic card advice

adocholiday

That's great Jonny will start a new thread. Thanks for the input

badboll11

hi,

I own a Dell Vostro 200 today it's about 4 years old.
Still run Like a Dream.


Hers my Specs today.

-Intel Pentium Dual CPU e2180 @2.66Ghz (org.@2.00Ghz)
-120GB SSD OCZ Agility 3 SATA III
-1TB Western Digital WD1001
-512MB GDDR5 ATI Radeon HD 4770 PCI-e
-5GB Ram DDR2 400Mhz PC2-6400 (org. 2GB)
-400W DELTACO PS-400 Ultra Silent(org.300W)



*The processor is overclocked with guides from
http://www.overclockers.com/dell-vostro-200/

*Used the 300w Power supply for about 3 years.

*Had the Original 80mm cooler + fan for 3 years


New Parts (2 months old)
-400W DELTACO Ultra Silent
-SSD 120GB OCZ AGILITY3
-New CPU Cooler + Fan



Planned to buy (*This is Socket LGA775 )



Intel® Core™2 Duo Processor E6750

http://ark.intel.com/products/30784/Intel-Core2-Duo-Processor-E6750-4M-Cache-2_66-GHz-1333-MHz-FSB


or


Intel® Core™2 Quad Processor Q6600

http://ark.intel.com/products/29765/Intel-Core2-Quad-Processor-Q6600-8M-Cache-2_40-GHz-1066-MHz-FSB



before uppgrading parts!
please i strongly recommend to check if your parts is compatible with youre computer

Sorry for my english.



Can really recommend Dell VOSTRO 200. Old But Strong

contact me for help or questions
/ Proud Vostro Owner

yabadabado

Mods if its not OK to bump this thread please close.
I have a similar system to the OP and am looking for some advice on upgrading it,I wouldnt know much but am willing to give it a try.these are the specs I could find.What else would be needed to give advice on th esystem.
Proc: Intel E2180 @ 2.00GHz
RAM: 2Gb
Motherboard: Dell 0RK936
Chipset Model: G33/G31

yabadabado

yabadabado wrote: »

Mods if its not OK to bump this thread please close.
I have a similar system to the OP and am looking for some advice on upgrading it,I wouldnt know much but am willing to give it a try.these are the specs I could find.What else would be needed to give advice on th esystem.I wouldnt be playing games on it just general web browsing,downloading and streaming tv/matches .
Proc: Intel E2180 @ 2.00GHz
RAM: 2Gb
Motherboard: Dell 0RK936
Chipset Model: G33/G31

bump
any help/advice would be really appreciated.

ED E

Look for a q6600 on ebay and adverts, don't pay more than 50e for it. Its the fastest you can support.

If all your ram slots are full then you need to buy all new ram, and cause this is ddr2 its a rip off(old and now valuable). If the board supports 8gb then you need 4x2gb of the same speed ram(use speccy to find this). This will cost a fair bit and may not be worth it imo. Could do 4x1 for a bit less, but see smaller improvement.

Lu Tze

yabadabado wrote: »

Mods if its not OK to bump this thread please close.
I have a similar system to the OP and am looking for some advice on upgrading it,I wouldnt know much but am willing to give it a try.these are the specs I could find.What else would be needed to give advice on th esystem.
Proc: Intel E2180 @ 2.00GHz
RAM: 2Gb
Motherboard: Dell 0RK936
Chipset Model: G33/G31

What are you looking to do with it specifically/Is it struggling with anything at the moment?

yabadabado

Lu Tze wrote: »

What are you looking to do with it specifically/Is it struggling with anything at the moment?

just improve the overall performance,it seems to have gotten very slow/sluggish and I was thinking of buying a new one but for the amount of use it gets I dont think its worth it.I was thinking if I spent a few quid on more ram and a cpu it would knock a bit more life out of it.

Lu Tze

yabadabado wrote: »

just improve the overall performance,it seems to have gotten very slow/sluggish and I was thinking of buying a new one but for the amount of use it gets I dont think its worth it.I was thinking if I spent a few quid on more ram and a cpu it would knock a bit more life out of it.

A reinstall of windows might get rid of some of the bloat, might be worth throwing in an SSD while you are at it. It really depends on your budget to be honest.

yabadabado

Lu Tze wrote: »

A reinstall of windows might get rid of some of the bloat, might be worth throwing in an SSD while you are at it. It really depends on your budget to be honest.

I did a reinstall of windows a few days ago and it did improve but I just thought if I upgraded ram and cpu it would be fairly cheap to do and make a big difference.

tuxy

A ram upgrade may be enough to get a nice boost in performance and is cheap and easy. If you want the best advice you would have to tell us what exactly you use the PC for.

yabadabado

tuxy wrote: »

A ram upgrade may be enough to get a nice boost in performance and is cheap and easy. If you want the best advice you would have to tell us what exactly you use the PC for.

just general web browsing,downloading and streaming tv/matches,it doesnt get a huge amount of use but I still would like to give it a boost.

I forgot to say I have 1gb x 2 of ram and there is 2 free slots .

tuxy

I got this info off the dell forum it looks correct to me

The Vostro 200 was built with two different motherboards, either a G33M02, or G33M03.

If your Vostro 200 was purchased with either a Core 2 Duo, Pentium Dual-Core or Celeron processor and a 300w power supply, this system usually has a FoxConn G33M02 motherboard, that only supports Core 2 Duo, Pentium Dual-Core and Celeron processors and 4gb of RAM.

If you have a Core 2 Quad processor and a 350w power supply, you have the FoxConn DG33M03 motherboard.

You could also, open the case and check the label on the motherboard.

The processor ED E recommended will not work in your system and the best processor you can get is from the core2duo range, no quad cores will work.

You would need to make sure your BIOS is the latest version
The something like this would make a nice upgrade

Look for second hand Core2Duo E8x00 (where x can differ, eg E8400.)

Do not pay more than €40ish for one of these.

If you are running the 32 bit version of windows you can only have 3gb ram max.

If running the 64 bit version you could add 2x1gb sticks to bring you up to 4gb.

Dubba

yabadabado wrote: »

just general web browsing,downloading and streaming tv/matches,it doesnt get a huge amount of use but I still would like to give it a boost.

I forgot to say I have 1gb x 2 of ram and there is 2 free slots .

If what you're looking for is faster boot times, as well as general application responsiveness you could upgrade to Win 8 for €15

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-IE/windows/upgrade-offer

Or if you're a student its free:

http://e5.onthehub.com/WebStore/OfferingsOfMajorVersionList.aspx?ws=4596720f-879b-e011-969d-0030487d8897&vsro=8&pmv=ff0e2894-1464-e111-8056-f04da23e67f6&cmi_mnuMain=bdba23cf-e05e-e011-971f-0030487d8897&JSEnabled=1

tuxy

He could be running windows xp, so windows 8 with it's higher hardware requirements might slow things down.

yabadabado

I have vista but was thinking of putting windows 7 on it.

tuxy

Either windows 7 or 8 will be better than vista. Windows 8 does boot faster as far at I know.
Get the 64 bit version and 2GB more ram. This might be enough of a speed boost for you. That's what I would try first.
If you're still not happy then upgrade the processor too

adocholiday

Hey I've just seen these posts. Would have weighed in sooner prior to this. I have upgraded as follows:

Proc: Core 2 Duo e8400 (3GHz) (€50)
RAM: 4 x 1GB DDR2 800MHz (€40)
GPU: ATI Radeon 5870 Sapphire Vapor-X (€100)
PSU: Antec VP-450 450w (€45)

Most games run great on it in high settings, some of the newer titles in medium, and I use 3D modelling software too which runs with no problem. This is pretty much the limit of the machine/motherboard. That should serve as a guide for anyone looking to upgrade.

yabadabado

thanks for the advice folks.I put in 2GB more ram and updated to windows 7.noticeable difference.