Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with upgrades

Can anyone suggest an upgrade to the eVGA 6800GT video card?

Mesach — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:52:17 -0800

What is currently the fastest AGP video card out? I am on the fence about spending money on upgrading my computer, If i can find an upgrade to my videocard eVGA 6800 GT and more ram then I will most likely be good for now(playing warhammer online). My problem is currently I have a pretty nice computer, with the best you could get of the old technology, AGP, DDR ram, etc I have already upgraded to a dual core proc, but my ram is slow, and my videocard is starting to show its age, so If i can upgrade to another 2GB of ram and a higher level video card for under $200 I'll do it, otherwise its the all out upgrade(Mobo, PCI-Express, DDR2/3 ram, etc...) just to upgrade to a 24/30" monitor because its a Dual-DVI connector, and my current video card does not have Dual-DVI

Where is RAM socket 1 on a Dell D820?

mojohand — Mon, 21 Jan 2008 10:37:16 -0800

Where does RAM bank 1 (or A) live on a Dell Latitude D820? Popping the memory module cover on the back reveals the SODIMM socket for Bank 2, but I'd also like to replace the installed 512 MB on Bank 1. I'm dashed if I can find anywhere on the Web that deals with this.

Help me upgrade!

jefficator — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:14:37 -0800

Can a website or program benchmark my computer and advise updates? I'm curious as to whether there exists a program or website that can pull up the specifications for my system and then advise upgrades to hardware or software?

If not, do I need to just visit an expert?c

Is it time to buy a Macbook with the student discount deal right now?

gramcracker — Wed, 16 Aug 2006 13:16:21 -0800

Is it time to buy a Macbook with the student discount deal right now? Apple has a "Get a Free IPod Nano when you buy a Mac" deal for students going on that expires in a month. I've also read on some rumors sites that Apple may be updating their Macbook line with faster Core Duos.

Would Apple wait for the student discount to expire before they release the higher speed processors? Or is it possible that they'll release them before it expires? Anyone know the timing of this stuff from the past? Or is the fact there's a student discount indicate that Apple is definitely going to update their line soon? (I know I could just wait a month and see, but I'd like to get my Macbook eariler rather than later if I know I won't get the speed bump.) Thanks!

PS: I've seen the Mac Buying Guide, just wanted to get some actual people's opinions.

What initial notebook upgrades should I make?

mic stand — Fri, 08 Jul 2005 04:47:40 -0800

Just got a notebook (first one, woohoo!) and have $60 to invest further. What do you suggest? I am probably going to up the RAM to 1 G (purchasing a 512 MB SDRAM SODIMM 266 Mhz Corsair chip through Tiger Direct), but I just wanted to ask this knowledgeable community their thoughts. I don't game, but I might get a few now that I have capabilities. I have a spare PC Card slot, too. Thoughts?

Good (used) video card for a 733ghz Mac

yankeefog — Tue, 10 May 2005 10:18:45 -0800

My 733ghz G4 mac with a GeForce2 MX videocard no longer seems like the top-of-the-line powerhouse it was back in '01, but I'd like to squeeze another year or two out of it by upgrading the video card (I've already added a bunch more RAM). I don't expect to run Doom 3, but I'd love to have better performance when using Final Cut Pro or playing No One Lives Forever 2. Since I'm hoping to upgrade to a new computer in a year or two, I don't want to spend a lot of money on a video card now. Ideally, I'd spend less than $50 on eBay and buy a used one--after all, a two-year-old card is still many several generations ahead of the one I've got! Alas, I know nothing about graphics cards and I'm overwhelmed by all the possibilities. What do I need to know, and what older cards would you good folks recommend?

DIY home improvement blogs

nitsuj — Fri, 11 Mar 2005 08:05:41 -0800

Can anyone recommend any frequently-updating blogs that cater to first time home owners/buyers, mostly geared towards DIY repairs and upgrades? Maybe something like a blog version of ReadyMade magazine, but less hip, and focused more on practical jobs.

Apple Memory Upgrades

rubin421 — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 20:16:29 -0800

A long-time PC user, I am planning to switch to Apple, replacing my centrino laptop by a 12" ibook G4 (I want a small computer).

Most of the standard Apple configurations come with 256MB of RAM: is this because OSX needs less memory than XP (since most laptop configs today come with 512MB), or do I need to go for 512 (768?) megs?

I mainly use my computer to browse the web, send & receive e-mails, do some word processing, and manage my MP3, which I only store on my iPod.

Other question:
If I buy the computer at the local Apple Store (I'm in NYC), I'll only be able to get a memory upgrade, and not a hard disk upgrade. The laptop comes with a 30GB drive. For a Windows PC, I'd go for 60GB: should I do the same here? This would make me have to order it online, which is a bit of a problem (I'm not often at home...).