help me upgrade please!!!

OK so here is the situation, i have a hp dv5000 laptop. purchased in 2006 its getting old but still works (the fan makes noise however). i don't NEED a new laptop but would like one . My question to you is what should i upgrade on my current machine if anything?

below is my current laptop specs. items in bold i upgraded since purchased.

HP Pavilion dv5000t customizable Notebook PC

* • Genuine Windows XP Professional Windows 7 Pro 32-bit
* • Intel(R) Core(TM) Duo processor T2600 (2.16 GHz)
* • 15.4" WXGA Widescreen (1280x800)
* • 128MB NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) Go 7400
* • 1.0GB DDR2 SDRAM (2x512MB)!! 2GB of ram(2x1GB)
* • 80 GB 5400 RPM hard drive
* • DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive
* • Intel(R) PRO/Wireless 3945ABG Network w/Bluetooth
* • 6 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

is there any other info that i can supply? ill re-post,

One thing im looking to change for sure is the hard drive. any suggestions?

thanks in advance!

 

I would definitely start with upgrading the HDD. I would personally recommend to you to await the new generation SSDs so that the old one becomes cheaper OR buy a 7200 rpm HDD. Both ways there will be a noticeable difference!

Once you do that you can think about upgrading the CPU, not sure what choice you would have though, I skipped your generation CPUs so have absolutely no clue.

But the HDD must be with highest priority.

 

I think it's still worth upgrading, especially if you are fond of the computer. As Gracy123 stated, going to a 7200 rpm SATA drive would greatly benefit your machine. Also I would take a look at CPU-Z at the chipset, you might be able to go to 4 GB RAM.

 

The hard drive upgrade is an easy and good suggestion, but one of the other most important pieces of information we need to know is what you plan to do with, or regularly do with your machine. There will, for example, be different suggestion if you plan to run games on it, than if you plan to just surf the web, or watch movies, or do office work.

 

i plan on using the machine for basically everything but gaming. im not a huge fan. i like photo editing, surfing the web, downloading music/movies, e-mail, and other stuff. i dont edit movies however.

thanks for the input.

 

This is what I would suggest:

2x2GB RAM (then sell your existing RAM to compensate some of the cost)
7200rpm 7K500 or Scorpio Blck

This should keep your total cost around 100 bucks. You may want to switch 32 bit to 64 bit but I have a mix bag feeling about that. It gives you 600-800MB more RAM at the expense of potential issues when using some programs(rare though I have to say).

edit:
ah, your is like mine which is core duo so forget about the 64 bit suggestion.

 

In that case, as chimpanzee suggested, I'd upgrade the hard drive and RAM and be about done with it. Your processor should be good enough for most of the tasks you've listed with the possible exception of photo editing, and even then it'll work, it'll just be a little on the slower side is all (well, depending on what kind of photos you edit, of course).

 

Most 945GM/PM will see 3.5 GB RAM when you install 4 GB. I mean Windows 7 runs fine with 2 GB RAM, he also has discreet video..

 

my usable memory(as seen by the BIOS) is 3.2GB. So if cost is a real concern, may be 1x2GB stick is enough as that is only 200-500MB difference

 

You need ram for photo editing and so programs can run smoothly.

You need hard drive space to keep all the good things you find.

Both of these go without saying. A nice snappy 7200rpm drive would be good for you or a really big 5400rpm drive. Double the memory you have will make a big difference in snappiness of your computer too.

 

Remember DDR2 memory on the older machine. With 4 GB you will only be able to access 3GB in 32 bit address space but should have synch dual channel. 3 GB will give you asynch dual channel. not that you will notice a difference.

Since you are SATA your options are open. You originally only have 80GB and haven't stated that you have felt cramped by that so a 120GB SSD would transform your system for most day to day usage. On the lower end of drive upgrade a XT or other 7200 RPM 500 GB drive would be of great value. If you go the 500GB route make the primary partition out as 120GB and use the rest as a storage partition. This will reduce average seek times and increase transfer rates for day to day usage further making for an even better system.

Supposedly your system can support some C2D's. This may be of bennefit too. Since computationally you haven't said you feel limited though only consider this if you plan on 4GB and upgrading the OS to 64bit. Honestly unless you are being limited by CPU power this is alot more to upgrade and only limited results.

 

the system wont support the win 7 64, as chimpanzee stated:
Intel® Core? Duo Processor T2600 (2M Cache, 2.16 GHz, 667 MHz FSB)with SPEC Code(s)SL8VN, SL8VS, SL9JN, SL9K3

( I Have a lenovo with a T2500, and I must say that the difference in performance from this chip to the P7350 that I have now is noticeable ).

Go for the cheaper ram that you can find, try to up it towards 3g ( I have tested the 4g upgrade in a T5500 equipped dv5, and I must say it works)

The HDD as everyone stated is going to bring you the most benefits, Im leaning towards a relative cheap SSD (at least in my country, Brazil) the kingston SSD V+100 with 128gb it will ''only'' cost me U$345 (in US the price for a good 120g SSD is around 170~200), but a good 7200rpm drive would be great for you.