What Parts Are Compatible?

I have a DELL Inspiron E1705 with Win XP Pro, Intel Duo Core T7200, 2 GB RAM, and an ATi x1400. Does someone have a list on what Processors and Graphics Cards I can buy? My laptop is going absolete so I need new parts.

 

You might want to look at a new laptop.

The fastest Core 2 for your laptop is the T7600 @ 2.33 GHz but it won't make a difference from your T7200.

Your E1705/9400 can take the 7900M GS/GTX but it is known for overheating and the card brand new is like 300+ dollars unless you want to risk a used one from fleabay.

 

Depending on what you need it for, RAM will probably be the optimal way to increase performance. See if you can get 4GB of DDR2 SODIMM memory. Any speed of 2x2GB modules will do.

 

one side of the story would be to sell the laptop and get a new one since a newer one would be not that expensive....

the other side would be to say get some moar ram and maybe a faster hdd if you have a 5400 rpm drive (7200rpm drive or a XT).... other then that its like placing shiny new rims on a beat up, paint peeling off old car.... the rims will look new and shiny but its still a old beat up car that could break down at any minute

 

I would also suggest to let this computer go obsolete.

What you may want to optimize for no $$$ cost though, is:

1) Latest BIOS and other firmware for your model.

2) Clean WinXP install on the minimum sized partition that will still give you about 20GB free space (with all your apps installed). The Data that you want to hold should go on the second partition of the hard drive.

3) Latest Drivers, and utilities (or skip any/all Dell Utilities altogether, if you can).

4) Install only the software/apps/utilities that are needed for your daily needs, but which don't appreciably degrade the notebook's performance. In other words, match the software used to the realistic performance the system is capable of.

5) Use a good defragmenter like PerfectDisk 11 Professional once a month.


Upgrading the CPU, GPU (if possible - I don't think it is without a M/B change) and even the HDD/RAM will not give you a substantially faster system - it may have more initial 'responsiveness', but the platform you're on is what is limiting the overall performance available (no matter what upgrade you can do).


Good luck.

 

I think I use DDR3....

 

im pretty sure your comp is only limited to 2gb ddr2 667mhz...

 

Yeah dude 945PM is 4 GB DDR2 667 max (Windows will see ~3.5 GB)

 

new i3 machines are well under $600- How much 'upgrade' $$ do you expect to put into the old machine?

 

Save your money for a new laptop, as everyone else is saying. Any money spent on this one will be a waste really.

 

I would actually put a SSD on it, the best thing is that you can put the SSD in another pc that you buy, as Im doing, Im going to buy a Corsiar F120 and change the notebook to a Sony vaio SB, maximizing the cost efficiency.

If you buy RAM, its going to be DDR2, so not going into the new laptop.

If you buy a CPU, you probably wont notice or even use it to its full potential.

 

Around $200-300....

 

If you say your laptop is obselete.. then just sell it and get one that isn't. It's the best way to get a bunch of non obsolete parts in 1 go.

You said it yourself in your first post.. you could upgrade it but if the warranty is gone just sell it and put the money down you wanted to spend on better parts, on a new laptop.

Just my 2 cents.