Resolved Hardware compatibility with Dell Dimension peripherals

I am planning on updating my PC but would like to keep some of my peripherals as well as my 4G of memory. Is there anything out there that is faster than my old P4 stuff but will use my hard drives, DVD Drives, memory, NEC cards, port cards. I will also need to be able to run xp programs and stay with my file handling so that I can communicate with with my xp plotter driver. I know that is a lot but if I jump too far ahead, $20,000.00 worth of plotter equipment will become boat anchors over night. I am semi retired & on a fixed income so I can't afford to update the plotters as well as the main computer now.
Thanks for helping me out with this one.

 

Hi DPI Graphics, You say you want to retain your 4GB memory = RAM??

The specs for your Dell state a maximum of 2GB RAM which is the best spec upgrade you can do with that Dell 4550.

It might pay Google for upgrade drivers for your Plotter first or just run with what you've got.

To really speed up you will need to invest in a new comp as your unit is 2003 vintage? Neil.

 

That's what I would like to do. I would like to buy something that is stripped down(for the mother board) then put my stuff in it. Most of my peripherals & my memory is new.

 

Are you into CAD and CAM? AutoCAD?

 

I had a m/b ATX connector fry on me recently and I had to bite the bullet and upgrade. Have a look at my System Details.
PSU, M/B, CPU, RAM, HDD's and new DVD drive units.

My son gave me a Tower case he had and I'm now W7/8 capable. Around $600.00NZD which was under half the price of a new comp of comparable ability.

What creates the problem is that most of the new m/b's are SATA and PC1e slots. CPU's are 2,4,6 and 8 core and new socket connectors. Same for RAM.

I couldn't find any similar boards to my original Albatron which was 8 years old. So trying to utilize your existing hardware/peripherals is going to be a major search problem.

I had hoped that my original comp which I had built in 2004 would last me out. But I have out-lived it so far, hence the spend to upgrade. I, too must watch the old pennies and I'm really chuffed I have managed to upgrade.

It's the cost of the OS's that hurt the most. Neil.

 

My plotters are used for vinyl cutting & print plotting by pen. I used to have a racecar design & sign shop. I use the Corel suite for design work & winplot to drive them.

 

I hear ya. The motherboard shorted out & exploded in my old machine so I got this stripped down Dell P4 machine & have been adding what I needed but it is is pretty much maxed out so I would like to get something a little newer(faster) & still use the stuff I bought in it. I know I have lead but sure would like gold!!!

 

Don't have a budget yet but the next ? is if I go to 7 or 8 can I write files to this old xp machine on my lan? I guess the biggest thing would be NTFS on this machine. Anything else?

 

What do you think of this for quick fix in replacement for my dimension?
My son-in-law will sell me this tower only for less than $100. Is it worth it?
Dell Precision Workstation T7400 2 Xeon X5482 3.2GHz CPUs
4GB RAM
1TB Hard Drive
Nvidia Quadro FX 1400 video card
USB 2.0 Expansion PCI card
CD/DVD R/W writer
Windows 7 Ultimate

 

If that is a case ONLY what was it worth new?
As you are no doubt aware, Tower cases can be purchased with or without PSU's. The newer system boards will require a decent output (watts) PSU than your older system.

Or is it complete with the parts you've itemized?
I see Evan has summed up your predicament more succinctly than I. Neil.

 

With parts.

I'm not sure that if I buy it, will I then have to turn around shortly & update again. The ? is, will it suffice for a while?

 

That's the big question, I know it is already out dated but if I can buy myself a couple of yrs. usage with it, will I be getting my $100 bucks worth out of it?

 

Only you can make that call.

 

I hear ya. It's been a great discussion. Thanks for your help.

 

I found a Dell Windows 7 machine for 350.00.

It's possible there may still be some Windows 7 desktop units available at reduced cost. Windows 7 can get you through until 2020 if I remember correctly.

Newer hardware alone is a pleasure to operate with compared to my old XP equipment.