new pc or upgrade?

[Sweeper]

Here's the situation. Using a Gateway Pentium II 266 MHz system.
Win. NT
128 Megs. Sdram,
4 gig HD
19" monitor.
Current Resolution at 1024/768 60Hz.
Video card is an Accel Star 3D 8 meg.
The system is primarily used for Solid Modeling Software (SolidWorks). The PC runs fine outside of SolidWorks. Then it runs sluggish or will hang on extreme applications in SolidWorks. Should the PC be replaced or should it be upgraded.
Thanks

[jamis]

Figure out the minimum and recommended system requirements for the software package.. that'd be the best place to start.

Depending on the motherboard, you may be able to upgrade to a 333MHz cpu (or higher celeron).

A decent 3d accelerator could speed things up also... (I assume this is CAD type software).. though, again, check with the software people and see what they recommend.

[daveleau]

I would suggest an upgrade. You RAM and hdd are good enough. The RAM is porbably PC66 SDRAM, which by todays standards is slow compared to PC100 and PC133 and others, but it would work great on a celeron system. You could get a new motherboard and CPU for less than $200 and be set for a while. I would suggest an Abit BF6 and Celeron 600 or so (depending on prices now). This is a great processor and is basically a PIII 850 core made into a Celeron (it is a coppermine). 4GB is a fair amount of storage. Not too good if you want to DL loads of MP3s or Scour material, but good for uses you explained above. The PII 266 Gateway I had had an nVidia 4MB AGP video card, which could be used as well. I believe mine had an Ensoniq Audio PCI which would work great as well.
Good luck,
Dave

(PS you could also always sell your old mobo and CPU for about $75 or so online here and make up the diff as well)

PS the max that board supports is a 300MHz PII I believe and it will support the low end ppga celerons which are not worth it compared to paying slightly more for the BF6 and CeleronII.

[This message has been edited by daveleau (edited 11-08-2000).]

[Warthog]

I agree with everyone else - upgrade.

Warthog

[Sweeper]

So, would a basic Video Card upgrade work?
It's a company PC. Looking for the best upgrade for it. Options are New PC or upgrade : Video Card. The Gateway will accept a 300 Pentium II. Not much more than the 266 Pentium II. Ram is at 128Megs. Video card is only an 8 Meg Accel Star 3D.

[Rat]

Since it's a company pc, I would suggest replacing the motherboard and CPU with something that can be upgraded further than your current setup. You will need to replace the RAM in this case as well. An example of what you should do is as follows:
Get a MOBO that can run up to 1200+ mghz
Get a CPU 600 mghz or faster(the fastest you can afford0
Get a minimum of 256 mb of PC100 or PC133 RAM
Get a Vid card.
Get a 300W or stronger power supply

Get prices on this type of upgrade, then shop around to see prices on similar systems that are available. The up-side to upgrading is that you won't lose all the apps and data since you will be using your old HDD.

Rat...

[Richard_Cranium72]

Someone MUST be devils advocate here..

I say NEW PC ..

Too bad you didn't get in on the Dell deal with a Pentium III 800 @133mhz FSB
for $455

Bide you time,, several places offer complete machines for cheap.

Question is ,, just what are your expectations,, a surfer or a really hardcore gamer.

one is cheap the other is NOT..

my .02
DrVette

[Sweeper]

ok. it's a company pc. it's used for CAD / E-mails/ that's about it. The problem happens only while under CAD. Other then that it's fine. Nice monitor, keyboard, etc etc.
Not out to play games, surf the net. just get the CAD working as smooth as possible without spending $$$$$$$$$.

[Richard_Cranium72]

OK, thats different.

I didn't recognize the name of your "Computer Assisted Drafting" software.

I'd build another machine with dual processors, can't say for sure which, probably dual PIII's.

One we have at work has dual 400's, I think, and LOADS of ram, like 384 or some huge number like that.

A good fast drive and 133fsb mobo to speed up the swap file and you outta be in business.

Lots of folks in here run dual processors, so I'm sure if I've made any critical errors here I'll be corrected shortly http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

DrVette

[Dave2]

What's the fastest processor your computer supports. You can find that out at Gateway's web site.