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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
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    664

    Default I feel the need, but how much speed?

    The time has come for me to 'upgrade' my computer as I am getting tired of the dial-up speeds it often gives me. The old system must be well over 10 years old and is incapable of running modern software.

    I am only going to buy a second hand unit and was looking at what speeds are available. There doesn't seem to be much available that has a clock speed of greater than 3.2G, but my current dinosaur is already 3.2. Have clock speeds not advanced, or do they not have too much bearing on speed?

    I am also looking for SSD rather than HDD, Win 10 (still running XP at the moment). What else should I be looking for in a speedy machine? Minimum RAM needed?

    I possibly need to be looking at replacing my modem as well. I still have the Thompson 530 that Telstra gave me back in the day when I first signed up for ADSL. Don't even recall how long ago that was. Any suggestions for a better and speedier modem compatible with Telstra?

    Tools

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    1,166

    Default

    Moore's Law has seen processor speeds tap out, but modern processors are much more powerful and more power efficient. If you're buying 2nd hand then it becomes important to look at the processor specs and age - I'd suggest looking at ones as young as possible. The bigger factors with performance to look at are on-die cache and number of cores. I'm using a dual core, 4 logical processors machine capable of 2.8Ghz, but it peaks at 3.2Ghz if needed in short bursts.

    Memory, definitely go for 8Gb minimum. If you can find a machine with 12 or 16, even better, but don't buy under 8 or you don't do the modern processor the justice.

    SSD. Absolute game changer in performance - in fact, the one upgrade I would do on a PC before any other, if I was to suggest that. I don't know how you will tell when buying 2nd hand how much life an SSD has left (since they are finite write life devices) so caveat emptor, and prepare to replace it.... or just buy a new one to start with? Seems like $150 for 500Gb for new with warranty would be good peace of mind.

    As for modems, what is your current ADSL speed and line condition, and what are the NBN rollout plans in your location? It's unlikely that you will see a significant improvement just by upgrading the ADSL modem (maybe 10% max depending on a LOT of factors?) so I'd be not worrying about that at the moment.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
    Posts
    7,696

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Tools View Post
    The time has come for me to 'upgrade' my computer as I am getting tired of the dial-up speeds it often gives me. The old system must be well over 10 years old and is incapable of running modern software.

    I am only going to buy a second hand unit and was looking at what speeds are available. There doesn't seem to be much available that has a clock speed of greater than 3.2G, but my current dinosaur is already 3.2. Have clock speeds not advanced, or do they not have too much bearing on speed?

    I am also looking for SSD rather than HDD, Win 10 (still running XP at the moment). What else should I be looking for in a speedy machine? Minimum RAM needed?

    I possibly need to be looking at replacing my modem as well. I still have the Thompson 530 that Telstra gave me back in the day when I first signed up for ADSL. Don't even recall how long ago that was. Any suggestions for a better and speedier modem compatible with Telstra?

    Tools
    I have Dzus ADSL modem that just got pulled out due to NBN you can have for a very cheap price plus postage.
    CHRIS

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    5,124

    Default

    100% agree with Poundy - a SSD will change your computer like you simply wouldn't believe.

    Pop as much RAM into it as you can buy (Ebay has outstanding prices on 2nd hand RAM from office upgrades).

    For examples, the 240GB Kingston SSD is only ~$55: https://www.mwave.com.au/hdds/solid-state-drives-ssd

    The addition of the SSD is easy enough... for making a mirror-copy of your existing disk, use EaseUS, MiniTool Partition Wizard or Acronis TrueImage, these and many more are free. Leave your old disk in the machine to use for a bulk storage.

    To assist with identification and compatible RAM, run Speccy to give you all the numbers: https://www.ccleaner.com/speccy

    I've upgraded around 8 machines this way for friends/family over the last 2 years (4 were laptops). They simply can't believe the change. It's such a cheap thing to do ($55!!!!!) that you'd be mad not to try it first.

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2016
    Location
    SEQ
    Posts
    166

    Default Budget and intended use?

    Hey Tools,

    What's your budget and what do you plan on using the PC for?

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    664

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Junkie View Post
    Hey Tools,

    What's your budget and what do you plan on using the PC for?

    Not much budget as I can't justify spending much on a computer which is why I am happy with a more modern second hand item.

    Probably only want to spend $3-400

    Tools

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    664

    Default

    It is used mainly for surfing the net, a bit of record keeping, photos etc.

    Tools

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    664

    Default

    WoodPixel,
    Yes after reading up a bit on SSD I think I would still have an HDD for storage and run the system from SSD for speed.

    Tools

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    664

    Default

    Poundy,
    I didn't realise that SSDs had a limited life span but reading up on them I now do so would probably look at having both SSD and HDD.

    My current machine is dual core but it is probably just old and clapped out. I have never used it but it still has a floppy disk drive!

    We aren't due for NBN until mid next year when we will have FTTC so it is worth trying to speed things up in the mean time. Current speeds are 6.5 download, 0.7 upload and 22ms ping.

    Thanks everyone for your input

    Tools

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    1,166

    Default

    I'd just suggest NOT buying an SSD 2nd hand - even if you bought a 2nd hand machine, plan to buy a new SSD as well. I've had a failure on a relatively new one (replaced under warranty so all good on that front) so you're never immune. Not with spinning disk either - so always have backups

    How about you tell us the specs of the current machine? Processor details and memory? If it's ok, it might be worth just adding either memory and/or SSD to what you have?

    You really should not be running Windows XP any longer. So so so many security vulnerabilities that are not able to be addressed, so get that upgrade done too

  12. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    68
    Posts
    12,006

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Tools View Post
    The time has come for me to 'upgrade' my computer as I am getting tired of the dial-up speeds it often gives me. The old system must be well over 10 years old and is incapable of running modern software.

    I am only going to buy a second hand unit and was looking at what speeds are available. There doesn't seem to be much available that has a clock speed of greater than 3.2G, but my current dinosaur is already 3.2. Have clock speeds not advanced, or do they not have too much bearing on speed?

    I am also looking for SSD rather than HDD, Win 10 (still running XP at the moment). What else should I be looking for in a speedy machine? Minimum RAM needed?
    perhaps a new computer is not required ?
    If you're still on dial-up you may not notice any improvement after the "upgrade".

    Also, Win10 really needs a touch screen, so if you on't have one, Win7 may be a better upgrade option for the operating system.

    If your existing machine is about 10 years old, a RAM and hard drive upgrade might be all you need.
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  13. #12
    Join Date
    Apr 2015
    Location
    Brisbane
    Posts
    304

    Default

    Have to disagree with ‘Windows 10 really needs a touch screen’. I use windows 10 all day at work (& sometimes all night) and never had a touch screen.

  14. #13
    Join Date
    Mar 2018
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    469

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Pete57 View Post
    Have to disagree with ‘Windows 10 really needs a touch screen’. I use windows 10 all day at work (& sometimes all night) and never had a touch screen.
    I use win 10 for both home and work and rarely use the touchscreen at all.

    My kids though on the other hand use it all the time for school homework (matheletics, etc...) so i guess it depends on your situation/ profession.

    Lots of people have advised getting 8gb ram as a minimum. I'm a heavy excel user and it eats ram for breakfast.

    Regards,

    Adam

  15. #14
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    664

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by poundy View Post
    How about you tell us the specs of the current machine? Processor details and memory? If it's ok, it might be worth just adding either memory and/or SSD to what you have?
    Current abacus is a 3.2G dual core Pentium with 3.5G of RAM (max in this machine).

    Tools

  16. #15
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    664

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by ian View Post
    If you're still on dial-up you may not notice any improvement after the "upgrade".

    Also, Win10 really needs a touch screen, so if you on't have one, Win7 may be a better upgrade option for the operating system.
    Not on dial up, is that even available any more?

    My laptop has Win 10 but no touch screen.

    Tools

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