Dell Dimension 3000 Upgrade?

Upgrading this computer will help a ton... as long as you don't expect much from it. It's not going to be a super-fast, high-end gaming rig, but with a few tweaks (read dollars) this could be just fine for surfing the web, doing some homework, and playing some tunes and movies.

For starters, add more RAM. That is the easiest way to speed up any older system. The 768 MB you have right now could stand to be a little higher. Also, the mismatched speeds of the RAM is limiting your computer's potential. The Intel 865GV chipset supports dual-channel memory, but only with matched pairs of RAM. This set:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...

is only 1 GB (barely more than the 768 MB you have now), but will speed things up by being dual-channel. And it's only $38 US.

As to the nVIDIA GeForce FX5xxx graphics card, it will be WAY faster than the Intel Extreme Graphics 2 even in PCI configuration. Of course, that isn't a difficult thing to do. The Intel Extreme Graphics 2 was not a very good graphics solution even when it was new. The FX5200 you are looking at will be just fine. Not only is the FX5200 just a better all around graphics solution, it will also help speed things up overall just by putting it in.

The Intel Extreme Graphics 2 uses part of your system RAM - up to 64 MB - for graphics rendering. This takes that block of RAM away from the CPU. Adding the FX5200 graphics card, which will have its own dedicated graphics RAM, will free that system RAM up for the CPU. An older CPU like the Celeron D320 could sure use that extra RAM.

Lastly, and I only recommend this as an 'if you really feel like it' kind of thing, 40 GB is a bit small these days for a hard drive. Something like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N8...

is only $45 US. With all the music, movies, and pictures that are part of using a computer these days, 40 GB will fill up quickly. A full hard drive can really slow a system down.

The motherboard you are looking at on ebay will not work in the case you have. Looking at the layout of the motherboard in your system (as shown on the Dell support website below), the form factors don't match up. It looks like the Dell motherboard may be a mini-ATX, or more likely a proprietary form factor. The Abit board you are looking at is full ATX. That's just what I can see from the pictures and a knowledge that Dell loves using parts you can't replace from anyone else. Buying the ebay item just to get the graphics card might be a good idea, but only if you can't find an FX5200 cheaper by itself.

With some searching around the web, perhaps on ebay, you may be able to find some of the parts I've suggested (or something similar) for less money than the site I include. Finding a lower price is more likely if you aren't afraid of purchasing used parts (something I have done myself). Even buying new parts from the site I provide, the upgrades to this old system are just over $100. That is kind of in my range of 'eh, why not," but that's me. If you don't mind used parts, the upgrades make total sense, especially at the lower price.

I hope this helps. If you need more information, please add more details to this question, or feel free to email me through my Yahoo! Answers profile.

Good luck.

Dell Dimension 3000 Power Supply

It depends because you have to check out the type of ram you're getting. I'd have to say it would be good but, you may need to get a new CPU case and a power supply units too because the power supply unit doesn't fit it the dell cases. I had a problems with installing the motherboard to the dell case so I had to buy a new CPU case which came with a Power supply unit. You may want to buy a CPU case w/ a Power Supply unit installed in it already. (Oh yeah, and I recommend a PCI-E motherboard because it gives better graphics w/ PCI-E) PCI isn't any good either. AGP is all right but finding it is hard. Check tigerdirect.com because they got the best deals on the video cards and motherboards.

RAM depends on your motherboard. If you are using DDR memory right now, then you may purchase any DDR memory from any manufacturer and it will run. Another aspect is the bus speed. Most OEM mobos support 667MHz/800MHz so you might want to check up there. Go to the Dell website, under motherboard check the expansion options. The part which says 2xDIMM or nxDIMM should have the max. supported bus speed of your RAM. You should then purchase 'DDR' Memory of a compatible bus speed.

Don't spend a penny!!! The mediocre CPU and (mismatched) RAM severely limit what Games he can play.

This PC should be just fine for a 10 year old as it is.