how to upgrade nothing and improve your comp

[richnpoor]

This site is wonderful for learning. The how it works section taught me more than I really wanted to know about computers, give it a browse if you haven't been there.

The people are helpful, replies are quick and usually friendly.

It does however have one drawback, That is that most solutions offered usually involve buying and installing some upgraded component to put you on the edge of cutting technology.

Now for those of you who have limited budgets this solution isnt always viable. Especially if you have 5 kids to feed like me. So I have some suggestions on how you can improve without spending a single cent.

I came upon these because I was having some problems with games freezing despite an upgraded video card, people suggested I upgrade my sound card here's what I did instead.

1> First check to see if there are upgraded drivers available for your video card, most manufactures have sites and perhaps someone can post the Geforce and radeon sites for you.

2> Next check for updated sound card drivers, do this even if you have integrated audio. I did and it is what finally solved my problem. I could play my games without freezing before doing this now I have no problem playing them on the net. I had integrate Soundmax dig audio on my comp which is 5 years old turns out my chip can handle their newest drivers.

3> Check the manufacturers website for downloadable upgrades. I did this at compaq they had a program which auto detected my setup and got it right even though i upgraded processors and provided me with a list of downloadable upgrades

4> Reflash your onboard Bios ROM compaq gave me a link with explicit instruction on how to do this

5> Buy a can of compressed air and cleann your machine that should set you back about $2

before doing this I could not even enter the battle tutorial on Medieval total war without a freeze now I slaughter 4500 men online total upgrade cost $2

of course I could have spent $200 for a top of the line video card, $100 for a sound card, and $150 for a new processor, just seemed like a waste to play a $40 game

best $2 I ever spent

[brassman]

Nice post, richnpoor. Many times, people tend to forget or dismiss the power of upgraded drivers.

[Spyda]

overclocking doesnt cost anything, unless you go too far

[Cricket]

Originally posted by richnpoor
It does however have one drawback, That is that most solutions offered usually involve buying and installing some upgraded component to put you on the edge of cutting technology.

I don't find this to be necessarily true. If you go over some of the threads, you won't see members telling the person with the problems to go out and buy something new all the time...they're usually telling them how to go about fixing their problem (just as you've outlined). Of course it depends on what the problem is. I know I very rarely will tell someone to upgrade an existing component just to fix a problem...unless it's to replace a part that has been determined to be defective. My own computers are no where near cutting edge technology...my main computer is using technology that is several generations old (Pentium II, SDRAM, ISA expansion cards).

Cricket