Hardware

Ok so currently i have a Dell Inspiron E1505 Laptop/Notebook which is really slow and even slower when playing games.

My thinking was that maybe i don't need a brand spanking new pc to play games but maybe a old graphics card (i.e last year) that is still good for todays standards?

So can any of you tell me if this is a good idea or not because atm my computer is struggling to play Heroes Of Newerth and that is hardly a high spec game.

Maybe i just need to get a new pc, idk.

Btw i really dont want to spend over £100

Also is it worth spending money on 2 1gb memory upgrades?

http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/views...651DEB331D926C3 this what this site suggested.

Thanks

Laptop graphics card upgrades is not a straightforward affair. Most laptops can't be upgraded at all (even if you're willing to open it up and fiddle with the electronics - soldering etc.)
There are external graphics card options such as this:
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/vidock...phics,1933.html

But they are usualyl overpriced and I your case I dont think it will offer a big enough performance boost to justify getting it.

You're better off saving up for a cheap gaming desktop. Even a cheap one will outperform some of the top and very price laptops (e.g. a £400 desktop will beat some of the top £2000 laptops in gaming quality/performance).


If you're interested in pursuing the desktop option you should check out the latest spec Me here: http://www.gamereplays.org/hardware/portal...me=specme_oct09

And/or head over to the PC Build Consulting forum to get advice there:
http://www.gamereplays.org/community/index...?showforum=1151

As Crab said, most laptops can not upgrade graphics cards and even if they can it is only the high end systems and it is not exactly cheap. If you are looking to get a better system for gaming, it would be in your best interest to invest in a desktop pc.

Wow thanks, thats totally helped.

Also because i'm a PC noob Building a PC seems like a hella alot of work, is it as hard as it sounds?

Well it's still up to you. You certainly can't build a low-budget gaming rig for £100, but if you're willing to spend about £400-£500 you can get a decent one. Upgrading the laptop for gaming is just not something I can recommend. However, I am not familiar with Heroes of New Earth. Perhaps someone who plays it can recommend a cheap upgrade purely to handle that game for your Laptop (but I doubt it is possible). However, most of the time, upgrading a laptop GPU can be trickier than building a new desktop or upgrading a new desktop. If the GPU is soldered in place, it is likely a Surface Mount Device (using Surface Mount Technology) which is very difficult to solder for an amateur without specialised equipment. Even harder is removing an SMT device in the first place. Not that it can't be done, but you'll have to mess around with lead, and suckers and a bunch of complicated stuff that requires a degree of practise and manual dexterity to pull off.

With desktops it's basically like this. If it fits, then fit it in .. kinda like playing with building blocks. I think the hardest part of Desktop PC building is getting the right advice for what parts go with what. As long as you got the components down right then actually putting it together is a youtube video or two away.

The various parts come with all the cables and connectors necessary so its just a matter of fixing them together piece by piece. If you've wired a surround sound/video system together then it will be easy. The difference is that computer components have all their electronics exposed which makes the task appear more formidable than it actually is.

Now, as for picking the right parts, it is probably the hardest part as it requires a bit of knowledge on the right components not just so they work together but also so that you are not wasting your money with parts not tuned right for each other. The good news is this is the part where you can get ALL the help for online: http://www.gamereplays.org/community/index...?showforum=1151 If you're interested in exploring this option head over to the Computer build Help forum here and look up some of the
spec me! posts or ask for help and you'll get it.

You had mentioned you don't want to spend more than £100. Perhaps it will at least help get some perspective on the type of prices to expect by asking for a tentative build.

Finally, you also have the option of getting it build by a custom PC builder ( a store near you, or perhaps online). While these options are much better than pricey branded PCs (Dell, Alienware, HP, Compaq, IBM, etc), it will be a little more expensive than building it yourself. With a company like PcSpecialist.co.uk you can even spec and order your system but they won't use all the top end parts (hard disks, RAM, etc) and they will charge you a little more than you can expect to get on your own.

Good luck

Ohh hard choices, well thanks for the advice, i'll bear it in mind.

Its like lego blocks. You just plug all the peices in.