hardware upgrade suggestions?

[ericalejandrocasas]

hello
i want to upgrade my computer, but i really don't know what to do with it this is what i currently have

eric-desktop
description: Desktop Computer
product: P4M900T-M
vendor: ECS
version: 1.0
serial: 00000000
width: 32 bits
capabilities: smbios-2.5 dmi-2.5 smp-1.4 smp
configuration: boot=normal chassis=desktop cpus=2 uuid=00020003-0004-0005-0006-000700080009
*-core
description: Motherboard
product: P4M900T-M
vendor: ECS
physical id: 0
version: 1.0
serial: 00000000
slot: To Be Filled By O.E.M.
*-firmware
description: BIOS
vendor: American Megatrends Inc.
physical id: 0
version: 080014 (03/17/2007)
size: 64KiB
capacity: 448KiB
capabilities: isa pci pnp apm upgrade shadowing escd cdboot bootselect socketedrom edd int13floppy1200 int13floppy720 int13floppy2880 int5printscreen int9keyboard int14serial int17printer int10video acpi usb ls120boot zipboot biosbootspecification
*-cpu:0
description: CPU
product: Intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2160 @ 1.80GHz
vendor: Intel Corp.
physical id: 4
bus info: cpu@0
version: 6.15.13
serial: 0000-06FD-0000-0000-0000-0000
slot: CPU 1
size: 1200MHz
capacity: 1800MHz
width: 64 bits
clock: 200MHz
capabilities: boot fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe x86-64 constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm lahf_lm cpufreq
configuration: id=1
*-cache:0
description: L1 cache
physical id: 5
slot: L1-Cache
size: 64KiB
capacity: 64KiB
capabilities: internal write-back data
*-cache:1
description: L2 cache
physical id: 6
slot: L2-Cache
size: 1MiB
capacity: 1MiB
capabilities: internal write-back instruction
*-cache:2 DISABLED
description: L3 cache
physical id: 7
slot: L3-Cache
capabilities: internal
*-logicalcpu:0
description: Logical CPU
physical id: 1.1
width: 64 bits
capabilities: logical
*-logicalcpu:1
description: Logical CPU
physical id: 1.2
width: 64 bits
capabilities: logical
*-memory
description: System Memory
physical id: 27
slot: System board or motherboard
size: 1GiB
*-bank:0
description: DIMM Synchronous
product: PartNum0
vendor: Manufacturer0
physical id: 0
serial: SerNum0
slot: DIMM0
size: 1GiB
width: 64 bits
*-bank:1
description: DIMM [empty]
product: PartNum1
vendor: Manufacturer1
physical id: 1
serial: SerNum1
slot: DIMM1
*-cpu:1
physical id: 2
bus info: cpu@1
version: 6.15.13
serial: 0000-06FD-0000-0000-0000-0000
size: 1200MHz
capacity: 1200MHz
capabilities: ht cpufreq
configuration: id=1
*-logicalcpu:0
description: Logical CPU
physical id: 1.1
capabilities: logical
*-logicalcpu:1
description: Logical CPU
physical id: 1.2
capabilities: logical
*-pci:0
description: Host bridge
product: CN896/VN896/P4M900 Host Bridge
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 100
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.0
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: driver=agpgart-via latency=8 module=via_agp
*-system UNCLAIMED
description: PIC
product: CN896/VN896/P4M900 I/O APIC Interrupt Controller
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 0.5
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.5
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: bus_master
configuration: latency=0
*-pci:0
description: PCI bridge
product: VT8237/VX700 PCI Bridge
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 1
bus info: pci@0000:00:01.0
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 66MHz
capabilities: pci pm bus_master cap_list
*-display UNCLAIMED
description: VGA compatible controller
product: CN896/VN896/P4M900 [Chrome 9 HC]
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 0
bus info: pci@0000:01:00.0
version: 01
width: 32 bits
clock: 66MHz
capabilities: pm agp agp-3.0 bus_master cap_list
configuration: latency=64 mingnt=2
*-pci:1
description: PCI bridge
product: CN896/VN896/P4M900 PCI to PCI Bridge Controller
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 2
bus info: pci@0000:00:02.0
version: 80
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci pciexpress pm msi ht bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
*-pci:2
description: PCI bridge
product: CN896/VN896/P4M900 PCI to PCI Bridge Controller
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 3
bus info: pci@0000:00:03.0
version: 80
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pci pciexpress pm msi ht bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pcieport-driver
*-ide:0
description: IDE interface
product: VIA Technologies, Inc.
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: f
bus info: pci@0000:00:0f.0
logical name: scsi0
logical name: scsi1
version: 80
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: ide pm bus_master cap_list emulated
configuration: driver=sata_via latency=64
*-disk
description: ATA Disk
product: Hitachi HDS72161
vendor: Hitachi
physical id: 0
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0
logical name: /dev/sda
version: P22O
serial: PVF904Z5S7X72N
size: 149GiB (160GB)
capabilities: partitioned partitioned:dos
configuration: ansiversion=5 signature=00550055
*-volume:0
description: EXT3 volume
vendor: Linux
physical id: 1
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,1
logical name: /dev/sda1
logical name: /
version: 1.0
serial: 89f27d52-ec15-4040-8d14-a8ecb4788a08
size: 146GiB
capacity: 146GiB
capabilities: primary bootable journaled extended_attributes large_files ext3 ext2 initialized
configuration: created=2009-04-26 01:52:47 filesystem=ext3 modified=2009-05-20 11:39:16 mount.fstype=ext3 mount.options=rw,relatime,errors=remount-ro,data=ordered mounted=2009-05-20 11:36:06 state=mounted
*-volume:1
description: Extended partition
physical id: 2
bus info: scsi@0:0.0.0,2
logical name: /dev/sda2
size: 2580MiB
capacity: 2580MiB
capabilities: primary extended partitioned partitioned:extended
*-logicalvolume
description: Linux swap / Solaris partition
physical id: 5
logical name: /dev/sda5
capacity: 2580MiB
capabilities: nofs
*-cdrom
description: DVD-RAM writer
product: DVDRAM GSA-H62N
vendor: HL-DT-ST
physical id: 1
bus info: scsi@1:0.0.0
logical name: /dev/cdrom
logical name: /dev/cdrw
logical name: /dev/dvd
logical name: /dev/dvdrw
logical name: /dev/scd0
logical name: /dev/sr0
version: CL00
capabilities: removable audio cd-r cd-rw dvd dvd-r dvd-ram
configuration: ansiversion=5 status=nodisc
*-ide:1
description: IDE interface
product: VT82C586A/B/VT82C686/A/B/VT823x/A/C PIPC Bus Master IDE
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: f.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:0f.1
version: 07
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: ide pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=pata_via latency=32
*-usb:0
description: USB Controller
product: VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 10
bus info: pci@0000:00:10.0
version: a0
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=64 module=uhci_hcd
*-usb:1
description: USB Controller
product: VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 10.1
bus info: pci@0000:00:10.1
version: a0
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=64 module=uhci_hcd
*-usb:2
description: USB Controller
product: VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 10.2
bus info: pci@0000:00:10.2
version: a0
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=64 module=uhci_hcd
*-usb:3
description: USB Controller
product: VT82xxxxx UHCI USB 1.1 Controller
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 10.3
bus info: pci@0000:00:10.3
version: a0
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=uhci_hcd latency=64 module=uhci_hcd
*-usb:4
description: USB Controller
product: USB 2.0
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 10.4
bus info: pci@0000:00:10.4
version: 86
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=ehci_hcd latency=64 module=ehci_hcd
*-isa
description: ISA bridge
product: VT8237A PCI to ISA Bridge
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 11
bus info: pci@0000:00:11.0
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: isa pm cap_list
configuration: latency=0
*-network
description: Ethernet interface
product: VT6102 [Rhine-II]
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 12
bus info: pci@0000:00:12.0
logical name: eth0
version: 7c
serial: 00:19:21:99:04:50
size: 100MB/s
capacity: 100MB/s
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list ethernet physical tp mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd autonegotiation
configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=via-rhine driverversion=1.4.3 duplex=full ip=189.183.22.39 latency=64 link=yes maxlatency=8 mingnt=3 module=via_rhine multicast=yes port=MII speed=100MB/s
*-pci:1
description: Host bridge
product: CN896/VN896/P4M900 Host Bridge
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 101
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.1
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
*-pci:2
description: Host bridge
product: CN896/VN896/P4M900 Host Bridge
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 102
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.2
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
*-pci:3
description: Host bridge
product: CN896/VN896/P4M900 Host Bridge
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 103
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.3
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
*-pci:4
description: Host bridge
product: CN896/VN896/P4M900 Host Bridge
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 104
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.4
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
*-pci:5
description: Host bridge
product: CN896/VN896/P4M900 Security Device
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 105
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.6
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
*-pci:6
description: Host bridge
product: CN896/VN896/P4M900 Host Bridge
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 106
bus info: pci@0000:00:00.7
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
*-pci:7
description: Host bridge
product: VT8251 Ultra VLINK Controller
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 107
bus info: pci@0000:00:11.7
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
configuration: latency=128
*-pci:8
description: Host bridge
product: VT8237A Host Bridge
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 108
bus info: pci@0000:00:13.0
version: 00
width: 32 bits
clock: 33MHz
*-multimedia
description: Audio device
product: VT1708/A [Azalia HDAC] (VIA High Definition Audio Controller)
vendor: VIA Technologies, Inc.
physical id: 1
bus info: pci@0000:80:01.0
version: 10
width: 64 bits
clock: 33MHz
capabilities: pm msi pciexpress bus_master cap_list
configuration: driver=HDA Intel latency=0 module=snd_hda_intel
*-scsi
physical id: 3
bus info: usb@5:2
logical name: scsi4
capabilities: emulated scsi-host
configuration: driver=usb-storage
*-disk:0
description: SCSI Disk
physical id: 0.0.0
bus info: scsi@4:0.0.0
logical name: /dev/sdb
*-disk:1
description: SCSI Disk
physical id: 0.0.1
bus info: scsi@4:0.0.1
logical name: /dev/sdc
*-disk:2
description: SCSI Disk
physical id: 0.0.2
bus info: scsi@4:0.0.2
logical name: /dev/sdd
*-disk:3
description: SCSI Disk
physical id: 0.0.3
bus info: scsi@4:0.0.3
logical name: /dev/sde
*-network DISABLED
description: Ethernet interface
physical id: 1
logical name: pan0
serial: 46:66:d2:3c:e7:29
capabilities: ethernet physical
configuration: broadcast=yes driver=bridge driverversion=2.3 firmware=N/A link=yes multicast=yes


any suggestions?
thanks in advance!

[Psyphre]

whoa, information overload.
I think it would be more helpful to list your hardware parts, eg motherboard,how much ram you have, what graphics card , what CPU you have.

[DLG102282]

I agree a more simpler system specs would help greatly.

[khelben1979]

I agree a more simpler system specs would help greatly.

Indeed.

[ericalejandrocasas]

haha, sorry, i guess youre right..so i have this:
motherboard ECS P4M900T-M
disk space (available) 129gb
intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2160 @ 1.80 GHz
memory 1gb
DVD-RAM writer

and well thats pretty much it...yes...sad...i know

[Psyphre]

haha, sorry, i guess youre right..so i have this:
motherboard ECS P4M900T-M
disk space (available) 129gb
intel(R) Pentium(R) Dual CPU E2160 @ 1.80 GHz
memory 1gb
DVD-RAM writer

and well thats pretty much it...yes...sad...i know

Since you've got 129gb free that means youve got plenty of space left. No need to upgrade that.

What graphics card do you have?

Also what do you use your computer for, so that we can help suggest what you need to upgrade.

[ericalejandrocasas]

I don't think this has a graphics card, and well I just got this thing, but I wanna really upgrade it as much as I can, I just hope its not that expensive

[Psyphre]

Well you can upgrade lots of things, RAM, CPU, add a graphics card etc.

It depends what you want to do.If you let us know what you do with your computer it will be help us only upgrade what you need and not waste money on unnecessary things.

One thing that I would recommend you upgrade is RAM. Its always helpful to have more ram regardless of what you do. I'd have 2gb of RAM rather than just 1.

If you like to play games,the your defintely going to need a graphics card.

[ericalejandrocasas]

thanks!

but i do have a question, what graphics card should i get? i mean, I've never had one running under linux (ubuntu 9.04) would i have to install special software for a specific card? or what would you recomend i get, of course, nothing over 1 billion dollars

[Psyphre]

well if your not into playing games then you dont really need a great graphics card.You might only want it for fancy compiz effects. I'd recommend nVidia personally as its supposedly better supported in linux - at least from common opinion and my own personal experience.

I've got a 7900 which is hardly cutting edge, but its cheap and plays my counterstrike and CnC3 perfect. I'd suggest you look into the 8000 series range. Maybe get an nvidia 8600. My brother has a Gainward nVidia 8600 which is a fantastic card and relativelty cheap.

I would also look into replacing that CPU of yours as 1.8ghz would be a bit too slow for me personally. Did you say it was dual core? They're reasonably cheap these days, the one I'm using is a duo core 2.4ghz (E6600) which really is a good balance between performance and cost.

Finally look into upgrading your ram to 2gb. Infact this is probably the first thing I'd do as RAM is cheap nowadays.

But as I said, without you telling me what exactly you want to do with your pc (heavy gaming or mainly just browsing web/email etc) then its difficult to tell you what you need or dont need to upgrade.

edit: For the graphics card you'll need to install the drivers for it. For me it detected the card and gave me the option to install the drivers automatically. Pretty simple.