I have an older (2008ish) Dell Inspiron 530. I'm looking to upgrade a couple things on it, namely the RAM, GPU, and (if needed) PSU.

I'm thinking of just adding another 2GB of RAM to it, bringing the total to 4. I know that my XP Home will only recognize like 3-3.5 of it, but I'm gonna install 2x1GB sticks anyway. How are these? - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134012

I'm only tentatively thinking about upgrading the PSU. It will only be a requirement if my current PSU (came stock with the PC, I think it's a 300W) can't hand the new GPU. This is one I'm looking at - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817822004

Now on to the fun part, the GPU. I have an ATi Radeon HD 3850. What would be a good upgrade from that card while keeping the price of the GPU alone under $100? I'll switch to an NVidia if it's a better bang for the buck, but I'm a bit of an ATi fan. The problem is I haven't kept up with the hardware wars for the past couple years, so I don't know who is top-dog this particular week.

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And now Networking questions!

I have a Linksys WRT54G2 router that's in the living room. But I'm constantly dropping wireless signal in the bedroom (keep in mind that the house is BARELY 1000 sq. ft.). Could this be because the router isn't pumping out enough juice, or is it because my USB wireless adapter just svcks at picking up the signal?

Either way, I'm looking to fix this problem. I want to get a bridge adapter in my room, so that I can run my XBox 360, PC, and DirecTV HDDVR. What is a good quality, yet inexpensive, bridge? I need at least 4 ports. I've searched NewEgg, but I have no idea what I'm really looking for, or maybe I just can't find it. Should I just get a bridge for the room? Do I need a new router also?

While we're on the subject of routers, how hard is it to flash my router with DD-WRT? Do I even really need to?

Thanks, all!

More than likely the RAM in your computer currently is PC2-5300, best to match RAM whenever possible.

Not familiar with that brand of PSU, but looks a bit cheapish to me

Try seeing the signal strength of your wifi where you are, and whether you are getting any interference

http://www.metageek.net/products/inssider/ is my favorite tool ATM for it. If it is picking up a couple of networks, choose a channel no one else is using (1,6, or 11 ideally)

For a lot of detail on the signal throughout your house, you can try http://www.ekahau.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=102&Itemid=91, but you'll have to create your own floor plan. There are newer versions, but you have to register to get them :yuck:

Flashing your router with DD-WRT is really simple, you don't really need to do it, but it adds a lot of features to your router when you do


Don't forget to set your WiFi network to use WPA2!

Switched it with a pair of 5300 from Kingston.



Shouldn't be a problem. We're the only house within a half-mile.

I think the problem could just be the USB dongle wireless receiver I'm using. I can be sitting at the PC, it will tell me I have Very Low or No Connection, but my iPhone will have full signal... I'm hoping a good quality bridge will solve the problem. Plus let me hook up the aforementioned stuff.

Know any good ones?

I've got a WRT54G with DD-WRT flashed on it, I've run an Xbox 360 and desktop off it in client mode (acts like a wireless bridge) flawlessly.

Edit.

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/best-gaming-graphics-card-geforce-gtx-590-radeon-hd-6990,2879-2.html, as far as the best graphics cards in their respective price categories go.

You know, you could have just texted me...

But that means I'd have to get ANOTHER WRT54G2 and then flash that to use it as a bridge. I'd rather use something that's ready out of the box.

If your house is only 1000 ft², why not just run an ethernet cable to your computer? It's more secure, more reliable, and faster than WiFi to boot.

I don't think I'm ever going to understand the WiFi craze. Sure, it makes sense for mobile devices, but for stationary devices ethernet always is superior.

Ethernet cable is pain to run to all rooms of a house. WiFi is much easier to deal with, and for the most part is reliable and secure enough for most applications.

People never had a problem doing it with coax :shrug: Running to one or two rooms isn't hard and can be cheaper than buying a wifi adapter when your PC doesn't have one built in (like in the OP's case). I wouldn't call WiFi easier to deal with, but easier to set up. Ethernet is far easier to deal with, but much more of a hassle to set up. Once an ethernet cable is put in place, you are not going to run into any problems generally, whereas a plethora of problems can crop up over time especially given how noisy the 2.4 GHz frequency is*.

Damn people getting lazy :swear:

*Yes, I am aware that 802.11n does not use 2.4 GHz, but 5 GHz. To achieve this, though, the OP would also have to replace his router.

802.11n is both 2.4GHz and 5GHz (depending on Router). However, 802.11n at 5GHz has terrible range in comparsion. I live in a sub-development of at least 150 homes and don't have issues with the 2.4GHz frequencenies being to crowded. Most people use Channels 1, 6, or 11.

Also if you aren't the owner of the house, then running Ethernet cable correctly can be impossible. A "messy" installation doesn't seem like a good option (to me at least).

Other than matching the speeds of your installed RAM, you should try your best to match the timings too. I highly suggest you to download and run CPU-Z:
http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

Go to the Memory tab and find the DRAM Frequency and timings. You will want to match this as much as possible. No point in mixing performance RAM (ie Kingston HyperX) if your existing RAM is ValueRAM, which it will most likely be....the performance RAM will perform as good as the lowest denominator and that is assuming it even works. Mixing RAM can be hit or miss if not matched well and the motherboard may be extremely picky.

GPU under $100 that will work with your current power supply, Radeon 5670:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102917&cm_re=1gb_Radeon_5670-_-14-102-917-_-Product

Benchmarks of Radeon 3850 vs Radeon 5670:
http://www.techspot.com/review/240-ati-radeon-hd-5670/


Don't ever consider the power supply you linked. That's more like a 400-450W unit. It has very poor specs for being touted as a "650W" PSU. These would be far better investments if you needed one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371030&cm_re=antec_eco-_-17-371-030-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817139018&cm_re=corsair_power_supply-_-17-139-018-_-Product
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371035&cm_re=antec_power_supply-_-17-371-035-_-Product

Thanks, Tig. Always a helper.

When I switched the RAM I was looking at earlier, I just added some Kingston ValueRAM to the cart. (Haven't purchased yet). - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820134384


Looking at those benchmark tests, the $90 pricepoint of the 5670 doesn't make it all that appealing of an upgrade from the 3850. What if I were to drop a few more bucks on the 5750, 5770, or 4770? Would that make it more worth the upgrade? Would that still work with my stock PSU?

If your PSU was able to take the Radeon 3850 well, then the Radeon 5750 are 5770 are certainly viable options since they actually consume less power under load:

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/radeon-hd5770-hd5750_5.html

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/radeon-hd3870-hd3850_13.html#sect0

Go for the 5770 as it doesn't cost much more than the 5750, but it's a respectable increase in performance. Do note that these cards do require an auxiliary 6-pin PCI-E connector. I do not believe your PSU has one, but I do know that the Radeon 3850 required one too so I'm guessing you mickey-moused wires here to make it work. :unsure:

The 5770 comes in at $99 (after mail in rebate of course) from HIS and is certainly worth the extra money.

Yeah, the 3850 needed the 6-pin PCI-E connector. And I found out when I put the danged thing in that I needed Molex to SATA adapters also.



From where? Lowest I'm seeing on NewEgg is 109 after rebate.

From newegg.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814161338

Right on. Thanks, bro. What's the difference between PCI-E 2.0 and 2.1? Will 2.1 work?

I still need to find a decent bridge, tho. Any ideas of good ones? I don't want to run CAT5 cables all around my house.

Short answer, nothing is different as far as performance, and a 2.1 card will work on a 2.0 mobo.

I'm telling you, craigslist, $10 for a linksys router in my area. On second thought, craigslist for any cheap router! http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/Supported_Devices

Not meaning to be pedantic: but is running a single ethernet cable really running it all around your house?

If you absolutely must do WiFi, just get a replacement dongle, or get a proper internal WNIC. If you are set on a bridge, then find a cheapo router you can DD-WRT.

The modem and router are on one side of the house, the bedroom is on the other. I'd have to go through the living room, the kitchen, the hallway, and then to the bedroom. Or through the living room, the laundry room, one bedroom, a hallway, and then my bedroom. Yes, it really is "all around the house". And I can't just run them under the house from one point to the other, since the house sits on a concrete slab and has no crawlspace.

So I really NEED to do it wireless. Plus I have 3 devices in the bedroom to be hooked up. So my best bet would just be to get another router and put DD-WRT on it?

Imho, yes. It's free, easy to do, easy to work with, and can support up to 4 devices. :goodjob:

-Ceiling (dead-simple in most cases. Air vents for the other ones)

-Wall (complicated, but doable depending on the building structure)

-http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=294&name=Powerline-Networking (granted, more expensive if you don't already have them)


Ethernet switch


If you are going WiFi, then yes, that is your cheapest and best option

Edit: dang, looks like LH did my pitch for me

http://lifehacker.com/#!5782479/how-to-ditch-slow-wireless-speeds-and-go-completely-wired-in-your-home-and-why-you-should

particularly http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sue1Zvmh8JA

Wired: 0.5 seconds to transfer a 100 MiB file. Consistant connection.

Wireless: 150 seconds to transfer a 100 MiB file. Inconsistant connection.

Powerline: 20 seconds to transfer a 100 MiB file. Consistant connection.

Alright, DEFRON, you win. I really didn't feel like messing around with DD-WRT. I'm just gonna go up in the attic and drill a couple holes. I got a cheap switch off NewEgg, gonna run a line. :brokencomputer:

Also bought the HiS 5770 and 2 GB of Kingston ValueRAM. Not a bad deal for $175 overall plus a $30 mail-in rebate. And I'll probably sell the HD3850 to a friend. What do those go for used?

A case of beer.