Foo - Is my laptop worth upgrading?

I have a Dell Inspiron 2200 laptop. It has an Intel Celeron M 1.40 GHz processor and 760 MB ram. It can only be upgraded to 1280 MB of ram.

The computer is extremely slow, it takes it about 30 seconds to open up Internet Explorer. I restord the computer to it's original settings a couple of weeks ago. It helped but it is still lacking in the performance department.

I can upgrade to a new Dell for about $500 shipped thanks to one of their current specials. Should I just do that or would the memory upgrade perform miracles?

Just get the new computer, since that one is so obsolete, that it really isn't worth much more than hanging around as a backup.

Get yourself a new computer. Look for one that has a Core 2 Duo, NOT a Pentium Dual Core. Also, don't worry about finding that has a ton of ram. It's cheaper to buy a computer with, like, 1 gig, and then spend $20 on Newegg and get a 4 gig kit. Just make sure the motherboard can support it before you buy it.

RAM is probably the cheapest upgrade for a computer that actually gives it a noticeable performance boost. If you can get it cheap I'd try it out. But then, there's nothing like a new toy.

RAM is probably the cheapest upgrade for a computer that actually gives it a noticeable performance boost. If you can get it cheap I'd try it out. But then, there's nothing like a new toy.

RAM isn't going to help out that Celeron M. Is probably bottlenecking because of either the low cache or the extremely low Front Side Bus (the link between the RAM and the CPU). Getting more RAM isn't going to help because the data can't get to the processor fast enough.

Going from 760 to 1200mb RAM isn't going to give you the performance increase that you are looking for. If you have the $, get the new machine. Configure with the best processor, video, networking and screen that you can (or need). Hard drives and RAM are both cheap to upgrade down the road, and most companies like to charge big $$ for RAM especially compared to what you can get it for on Newegg.com and the like. Even the base HDD size is likely going to be bigger than what you have now unless you upgraded the old one either when purchased or since.

yeah get the new machine.

Reformat...

Reformat...

Already did.

How does this look for $589? Anyone know of any better deals out there?

Catalog Number: 29 DNDOZZ3
Module Description Description Product Code & SKU Product Code & SKU
INSPIRON 15 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T6400 (2.00GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache) MRT64HN [224-4527]
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1 32 Bit VHP31E [330-2240][420-6436][420-6576][420-7622][420-9100][420-9108][421-0323][421-0427][463-2282]
System Color Jet Black BLK [313-7316]
Memory 3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz 3G2D [311-9623]
LCD Panel Bright, glossy widescreen 15.6 WLED display (1366x768) XGALD [320-7445]
Video Card Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD INTAC [320-7990]
Hard Drive 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM) 320GB [341-8132]
Network Integrated 10/100 Network Card INTNIC [467-0019]
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0 ADOBER [410-1883]
Combo or DVD+RW Drive 8X CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive) 8XDVDRW [313-7112][420-8159][420-9170]
Sound High Definition Audio 2.0 IS [313-4783]
Wireless Networking Cards Intel WiFi Link 5100 802.11 Wireless-N Mini Card IP5100 [430-3272]
Integrated Web Cam No Webcam Option NCAM [320-7883]
Productivity Microsoft Works IWRK9 [420-8051]
Software - Antivirus McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 30-Days MC930D [410-1160]
Battery Options 6-cell battery 6BAT [312-0827]
Hardware Support Services 1 Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis S1OS [412-0360][950-3337][950-9797][960-2780][992-4050][993-3247]
Datasafe Dell Online Backup 2GB for 1 year DOB2GB [420-9518][988-0099][988-7707]
Dial-Up Internet Access No ISP requested NISP [412-0148]
PROCESSOR LABELS Intel® Centrino® Processor ICNSNB [330-0255]
OS LABELS Windows Vista™ Premium VPN [310-8628]
Dell Remote Access Dell Remote Access, free basic service DRAFB [420-9800][993-1919]


Sub Total $589.00

Already did.

Buy the new one :thumb:

Buy the new one...then send me the old one. :o

I have an Inspiron 4100 that was as basic as they come. A friend gave it to me in exchange for some work...and also because it was slow. 800MHz Celeron, 128MB RAM, 30GB HDD, no Wi-Fi, etc... I found a 1.2GHZ Pentium M for $35, added all the RAM it could handle, Wi-Fi card for $20, 160GB faster drive, then reformatted it with TinyXP (a chopped down version of XP, my version specifically for laptops) and hacked the BIOS to make it think it's a Latitude to interface with the docking station. It performs like a champ as long as you don't ask too much of it. The purpose is a small portable PC for all my bicycle files (manuals, catalogs and ebooks) without being so expensive I wouldn't want to use it in a shop environment. At that task, it works with aplomb.

If you want to upgrade, from what I've read it can take up to a 2.26GHz Pentium M (great processors and the true predecessor to the Core architecture), plus all the other bells and whistles.

If you're set on the new rig...I may be interested in the 2200. I'm a bit cash poor right now, but I may have something to barter. LMK.

How does this look for $589? Anyone know of any better deals out there?

Catalog Number: 29 DNDOZZ3
Module Description Description Product Code & SKU Product Code & SKU
INSPIRON 15 Intel® Core™ 2 Duo T6400 (2.00GHz/800Mhz FSB/2MB cache) MRT64HN [224-4527]
Operating System Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1 32 Bit VHP31E [330-2240][420-6436][420-6576][420-7622][420-9100][420-9108][421-0323][421-0427][463-2282]
System Color Jet Black BLK [313-7316]
Memory 3GB Shared Dual Channel DDR2 at 800MHz 3G2D [311-9623]
LCD Panel Bright, glossy widescreen 15.6 WLED display (1366x768) XGALD [320-7445]
Video Card Intel Graphics Media Accelerator X4500HD INTAC [320-7990]
Hard Drive 320GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM) 320GB [341-8132]
Network Integrated 10/100 Network Card INTNIC [467-0019]
Adobe Software Adobe® Acrobat® Reader 9.0 ADOBER [410-1883]
Combo or DVD+RW Drive 8X CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive) 8XDVDRW [313-7112][420-8159][420-9170]
Sound High Definition Audio 2.0 IS [313-4783]
Wireless Networking Cards Intel WiFi Link 5100 802.11 Wireless-N Mini Card IP5100 [430-3272]
Integrated Web Cam No Webcam Option NCAM [320-7883]
Productivity Microsoft Works IWRK9 [420-8051]
Software - Antivirus McAfee SecurityCenter with anti-virus, anti-spyware, firewall, 30-Days MC930D [410-1160]
Battery Options 6-cell battery 6BAT [312-0827]
Hardware Support Services 1 Yr Ltd Hardware Warranty, InHome Service after Remote Diagnosis S1OS [412-0360][950-3337][950-9797][960-2780][992-4050][993-3247]
Datasafe Dell Online Backup 2GB for 1 year DOB2GB [420-9518][988-0099][988-7707]
Dial-Up Internet Access No ISP requested NISP [412-0148]
PROCESSOR LABELS Intel® Centrino® Processor ICNSNB [330-0255]
OS LABELS Windows Vista™ Premium VPN [310-8628]
Dell Remote Access Dell Remote Access, free basic service DRAFB [420-9800][993-1919]


Sub Total $589.00

Looks good. First thing you want to do when you get the machine is borrow a Vista DVD and completely wipe the hard drive. Use the key code on the back of the laptop to activate it. This will ensure that all that software **** they pre-install is gone permanently.

I have a Dell Inspiron 2200 laptop. It has an Intel Celeron M 1.40 GHz processor and 760 MB ram. It can only be upgraded to 1280 MB of ram.

The computer is extremely slow, it takes it about 30 seconds to open up Internet Explorer. I restord the computer to it's original settings a couple of weeks ago. It helped but it is still lacking in the performance department.

I can upgrade to a new Dell for about $500 shipped thanks to one of their current specials. Should I just do that or would the memory upgrade perform miracles?

Sorry; I re-reread the post and saw what you did to optimize it.

When did it start to become slow? The Celeron M is not a quick processor, but it's also not that slow. Was it always slow to you?

Keep in mind that the factory settings provided by the machine can significantly slow things down, as well as a bulky background program, like an antivirus or a desktop search engine.

RAM isn't going to help out that Celeron M. Is probably bottlenecking because of either the low cache or the extremely low Front Side Bus (the link between the RAM and the CPU). Getting more RAM isn't going to help because the data can't get to the processor fast enough.

While that's true, considering programs/events that may have slowed down the computer over time is a good step in determining why it's slow in the first place. If it was slow from the beginning, then that would be a different matter. It could also be another hardware issue, such as the hard drive or memory beginning to fail, etc.

Having more memory always benefits an operating system, since it decreases the OS's dependence on the hard disk for swap space. Also, opening IE is not very processor-intensive, though browsing the web might be.

Not sure when it became slow. It probably had not been used over 100 hours since it was purchased a few years ago. I recently started using it when I was stuck at home after my surgery. I couldn't go upstairs to use my desktop so I played around on the laptop downstairs while I was stuck on the couch. It was pretty slow when I first started using it on a regular basis about a month ago.

Now that I have gotten used to the convenience of using the laptop I am hooked. However, I do not like having to constantly wait for a browser window to open. If I try multitasking it is hopeless. I spend more time waiting than I do working.

+1 on a new laptop. Yes, you can upgrade the old one, but why spend money on something that is already dated when you can buy a new one for a good price? Yes, memory will help, but you are still running on a rather old chip.

The advantage of a dual core is that the usual antivirus stuff can happily rail one core checking stuff while you have another core available for your applications, so your stuff is more responsive in general.

Is the "Bright, glossy widescreen LED upgrade" a good upgrade or unnecesary?

Is the "Bright, glossy widescreen LED upgrade" a good upgrade or unnecesary?

no

Thanks for all of the advice. I ended up not going with that laptop though. It was very tempting but I decided to save a little money. The new dell was going to be about $640 shipped. Considering that I will just be using it for surfing the web and a little photoshop I think I can get by with a cheaper one. I went with a scratch and dent dell laptop. From the reviews that I have found their scratch and dents are in very good condition. For about $450 shipped it seems like a pretty good deal.

I just have one question, can I upgrade the wireless card pretty easily?

Here is what I ordered.

Studio 15 - 1535
(System Identifier: Z2TEP6TF)
Studio 15 (1535) Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 (2.00GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
System Price : $429.00
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Operating System
Genuine Windows Vista Home Premium
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Memory
2 GB DDR2 SDRAM 677MHz (2 DIMMs)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hard Disk Drive
250 GB SATA Hard Drive (5400RPM)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Video
Intel Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator X3100
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scratch & Dent
Scratch & Dent
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Media Bay
8X Slot Load CD / DVD Burner (Dual Layer DVD+/-R Drive)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Base
Studio 15 (1535) Laptop: Intel Core 2 Duo T5800 (2.00GHz/667Mhz FSB/2MB cache)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Web Camera
Integrated 2.0 Mega Pixel Web Camera
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Network Interface Card
Dell 1397 802.11B/G Wireless Mini Card
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hardware Upgrade
6 Cell Primary Battery
No Fingerprint Reader
125V Power Cord
65W AC Adapter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
System Color
Jet Black
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Software Upgrade
Microsoft Works 9.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Laptop Screen
15.4 WXGA Laptop Screen Display with TrueLife

Put an SLC SSD in it and it will do wonders. The slowest component of any laptop is the hard disk. I have a Core2 Duo laptop at work and it is about as slow as yours is. You aren't going to see a noticeable improvement if you buy a new laptop. I just sold 3 laptops to one of my customers and was amazed at how slow these multi-core laptops are.

Two of them were dual-core intels and one was a single core AMD. All three ran Vista, and all three had nearly identical boot times.

I have a laptop with specs similar to yours, and I tossed around the idea of buying a new one. But, I'm cheap, and I've had my laptop for a long time (almost four years!), so I'm not ready to give up on her yet. ;) I reformatted it, added 1GB of memory, and it works great. The memory was definitely a bottleneck, as I was using programs like Adobe Photoshop on it. With that much more memory, Photoshop loads up much faster. The computer still isn't that fast, but I'd rather pay $30 than $500 minimum.

Just called Dell to check on memory. I usually buy from crucial but decided to give dell a chance. Crucial wanted $52 for 4 gig. Dell is selling it for $41 for 4 gig. Hard to believe, especially since to upgrade they charge $50 a gig. :)

Just called Dell to check on memory. I usually buy from crucial but decided to give dell a chance. Crucial wanted $52 for 4 gig. Dell is selling it for $41 for 4 gig. Hard to believe, especially since to upgrade they charge $50 a gig. :)

That is hard to believe. Still not the best price, but with shipping it may even out.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010260381%201309121116&bop=And&Order=PRICE

Actually Dell gave me free shipping on the memory.

How much did you buy the computer for? If you live in a major city, you can resell for most of its worth on Craig's list.

How much did you buy the computer for? If you live in a major city, you can resell for most of its worth on Craig's list.

How much did I buy what computer for? The new one or the old one?

Woohoo!!!! My laptop shipped already! I guess that is anothe benefit of buying from the refurbished / open box / scratch dent portion of their site. If I had ordered a new one I would be waiting another week or so for it to ship. :)

The new laptop is awesome!!! I have no idea why Dell calls it a scratch and dent. It is in absolutely perfect condition. I believe that I got one heck of a good deal on it.

How much did I buy what computer for? The new one or the old one?

Didn't notice you got a new computer. Enjoy it! You can flip the old one, if you really don't need it anymore...

The new laptop is awesome!!! I have no idea why Dell calls it a scratch and dent. It is in absolutely perfect condition. I believe that I got one heck of a good deal on it.

Pics or it didn't happen. (Man, we can do a "Post your laptop" thread...)

Nevermind, don't post it. I'll do a thread tomorrow. :thumb:

I second the SSD upgrade. My old laptop was getting long in the tooth and the HD was the major limitation. It benchmarked at something like 15MB/s reads and 17MB/s writes. Put in a 40gb Samsung SSD when they first came out (reviewed on Tom's Hardware). It maxed out the disk-controller at 40MB/s reads and writes and the machine was instantly faster than anything I've ever tried. :)

Is my laptop worth upgrading?

No. Computers haven't been worth upgrading since they've come down under $1000.