Help me pimp my laptop...

[john.med]

...Please.

I've got a chunky monkey Dell Vostro 1500 Intel Core 2 Duo 1.4Ghz, 2Gb of RAM and Win7 installation discs.

I'd love to throw it away and go and buy a shiny new MBP or MBA but with an expanding wife and baby on the way I've got to refrain.

I'm thinking faster CPU, renew the RAM sticks (get the odd recurring BSOD) and a bigger HD; it's only 100Gb currently.

I'm no stranger to a screwdriver, and don't mind ripping the big beast to bits,..

Just need a bit of advice about what to do, where to buy stuff...

I <3 CS Geeks.

 

[mantis946]

Hmm laptops are a little more tricky than desktop's with the micro form factor's. The CPU's are often not interchangeable but the RAM and HDD should come straight out, What's your budget for the build ? If it's low then I'd recommend a 7200 HDD upgrade (Assuming its 5400) or spend a little more and get a hybrid drive (Normal platter drive with about 4gb of SSD memory for frequently used apps) or go full haul and get a SSD.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-235-SE&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=1894 - Hybrid drive

Ram wise I'd recommend 2GBx2 of DDR800 of any Mainstream manufacturer (Kingston unit's are reliable in my experience)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-228-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=936

 

[mantis946]

Oh i found this link too which may be of some help:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/vos1500/en/sm/index.htm

 

[john.med]

Hmm laptops are a little more tricky than desktop's with the micro form factor's. The CPU's are often not interchangeable but the RAM and HDD should come straight out, What's your budget for the build ? If it's low then I'd recommend a 7200 HDD upgrade (Assuming its 5400) or spend a little more and get a hybrid drive (Normal platter drive with about 4gb of SSD memory for frequently used apps) or go full haul and get a SSD.

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-235-SE&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=1894 - Hybrid drive

Ram wise I'd recommend 2GBx2 of DDR800 of any Mainstream manufacturer (Kingston unit's are reliable in my experience)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=MY-228-CS&groupid=701&catid=8&subcat=936

Good links, ta.

£150 ish I reckon, can't justify spending more,.. I've heard faster dell CPU's would fit, and really can't see the point in sticking with a 1.4...

 

[john.med]

Oh i found this link too which may be of some help:

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/vos1500/en/sm/index.htm

That's the very same page I read yesterday!

 

[mantis946]

Small world A processor replacement will be dire expensive, defiantly past £150. For that I'd recommendatory one of the hybrid drives and 4gb of RAM. Should speed it up a fair bit

A 1.4 Dual core ain't so bad, Im using a samsung n130 which has a single 1.6 core with hyperthreading and It handles what I need it to

What ya going to be using the machine for may I ask

 

[john.med]

Maybe I'd be better just buying a used MacBook, when you do the sums I'm gonna be spending close to what I paid for the lappy a few years back. Shame.

Thanks for the help!

 

[Padso]

Buy a proper SSD hard drive and upgrade the memory. You wont believe the difference.

 

[john.med]

Buy a proper SSD hard drive and upgrade the memory. You wont believe the difference.

They're a bit pricey tho eh?

 

[mantis946]

Replacing the unit with something new will likely be more cost effective for you, but as paddmcc said SSD's make a dramatic difference to the way your OS boot's and the systems general response time. Loading screens flicker by and you never have to defrag again (Mainly because you cant )