Upgrade...

[Fatality]

This is for my friend, but he isn't that great with computers. I chose some items for him to upgrade and I want to know if this would fit him. He uses programs such as Guitar Pro 5, AIM, Browsing the net (ex. YouTube), and light games (Counter-Strike: Source and FlyFF). His computer is becoming outdated and he's planning on upgrading and I need some input.


Specifications NOW

Memory: 1.0GB of RAM (2 x 512MB) 168-Pin SDRAM
Video Card: nVidia GeForce FX 5500 128MB Memory AGP
Processor: Intel(r) Celeron(r) 2.93GHz
PSU: APEX AL-A400ATX 400W Power Supply
Board: http://www.abit.com.tw SG72(SIS 661FX-964L) V1.0 (Bus Clock: 133 MHz)
Hard Drive: WDC WD1200LB-00EDA0 [Hard drive] (120.03 GB)
CD-ROM Drive: DVD+RW RW5240 [CD-ROM drive] 16X


Suggested Items

PSU: Antec SmartPower 2.0 SP-500 ATX12V 500W Power Supply
Monitor: HYUNDAI B70A Siver-Black 17" 8ms LCD Monitor
Case: XION Onyx XON-301 Black Steel ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
CD-ROM: LITE-ON Black 16X DVD-ROM 52X CD-R 32X CD-RW 52X CD-ROM 1.5MB Cache IDE Combo Drive
Video Card: SAPPHIRE 100175L Radeon X1650PRO 512MB GDDR2 AGP 4X/8X


A few questions.

1. Would all this be compatible?

2. Need a suggestion on a CD-ROM Drive. He wants a faster CD-ROM Drive because his is VERY slow as his normal computer was 6+ years old and he NEVER upgraded the CD-ROM. HE just wants a fast CD-ROM that will load programs and such faster (i.e. installing programs). He will also burn CD's and such. If anyone could suggest a nice, cheap drive that burns and reads at a nice speed.

3. Anyone previously own any of the following items and have bad reviews on them?

4. Any suggestions? Did I make a mistake? :)

Thanks for your help.

Cheers,
Fate

[Staren]

Everything is compatible, but I would make a few changes. Go with a Lite-On DVD-RW drive. They cost around $30 bucks, but do the job very well. Switch that power supply. That's not a suggestion. Just do it. ;) Seriously though, Rosewill doesn't make their own stuff. They just buy bulk and rebrand. Some of it is ok, and some is pure garbage. Check the PCMech user approved brand list here: http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195 I might also consider upping to 2 ggs of ram. Mainly for that music program.

[Fatality]

Thanks for the suggestions. He can't get anymore than two sticks of 512MB of RAM in his old motherboard. He'd like 2GB but he says he doesn't want to end up buying a motherboard. Also, if your going to say to just buy two sticks of 1GB of RAM, that more than likely won't work because he has a similar motherboard to mine just 1 less slot. Mine can only hold 512MB in one slot, same as him. I'll try searching for a new power supply and that CD drive. Thanks.



Updated the suggested items, any more suggestions?

[glc]

Put a decent power supply into the existing case, upgrade the video card, and just use the DVD burner for loading software - it should read CD's at 48x.

[Fatality]

Well, why upgrade the video card? He's going to use it for light gaming. The only thing I'd ask is if that video card really isn't for gaming. He just wants a decent video card to play games better than what he is now. Is the video card I chose decent for gaming, or if anything, at least 2x better than his previous card?

Also, are you saying to not upgrade his case and get a new one? His old one is dusty, dirty, old, and falling apart.

[flanzig1]

glc was suggesting a minimum up-grade course of action. If your friend wants/needs a new case, get one.

[glc]

You misread my comment - the video card upgrade was implied, I was not taking issue with your choice. I was only implying that there is no need for that combo drive if he already has a 16x DVD burner. That Apex power supply HAS to go - its a time bomb. If you want a good case with a decent power supply already installed, get an Antec Sonata II.

[Fatality]

Well, the case is nice, but plain in his words. He wants one of them cool, blue LED lighting ones with a clear windows in the side, if you get what I mean. If it was me upgrading, I'd go with your word and get that but he wants something gaming-type. Thanks for your help though, if I ever build one I'd go with that.


Also, his CD-ROM drive HAS to go. I tried clean installing Windows XP Professional on his computer and it wouldn't read it PLUS it kept saying it couldn't read a certain file. What we did in order to clean install was taking a (I think...) 52X DVD/CD Drive out of his brothers computer and slapped it in his to reinstall. This worked fine. He also tried installing Counter-Strike: Source with his drive and he complained because of it going SO slow and it didn't even install correctly. My computer is older than his and my CD Drive is 3x faster.

[doubledragon5]

Here is are a few that I just chose randomly just add a good quality psu ...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811144151
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811129021
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811208021
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16811103010


Here is the PSU guide which will help you pick a good one for your friends case..

http://forum.pcmech.com/showthread.php?t=131195

[glc]

As I said - use the DVD burner, not the CD drive! The DVD burner is a 48x CD reader!

[Fatality]

He only has one CD/DVD Drive on his computer and it is the slow one. Yes, it probably can read DVDs, but it reads CDs SLOW.

[glc]

Is this the drive?

CD-ROM Drive: DVD+RW RW5240 [CD-ROM drive] 16X

That's not a 16x drive. It's a 40x CD reader. If it's slow, there's another issue - probably isn't running in DMA mode.

http://www.netcomdirect.com/rirw4xdv24cd.html

If you want to replace it, get a new DVD burner, not a combo drive.