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 Acer computer help

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willis923
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matt-man
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PostSubject: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 9:12 pm

Okay so I know this is an all-terrain tractor forum but I need computer help. I have an Acer Aspire AST180 desktop computer. It's seen some better days. Came with Windows Vista but now has XP. I want to put Windows 7 64 bit on but I need to put bigger RAM in order to do so. Plus I want to add a bigger power supply. The one in it now is a 250W I would like a 500-600W. I also want to add an audio card and a blu-ray player. But now sure on which power supply, audio card, or player to get. Any thing that I am missing to upgrade to Windows 7?
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Lawren Wimberly
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 9:37 pm

yup... You Probably don't HAVE a 64 bit processor. Maybe, but probably not. Motherboard and processor time.
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matt-man
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 9:44 pm

Lawren Wimberly wrote:
yup... You Probably don't HAVE a 64 bit processor. Maybe, but probably not. Motherboard and processor time.
I'm pretty sure I have an AMD 64 processor. I think the original OP was 64 bit
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WellThatsSurprising
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 10:19 pm

That's more than likely an older Athlon so it is 64 bit. A higher wattage power supply is a total waste, most systems will never see over 400W. If you really are dead set on upgrading the power supply go for a better efficiency rating, 80+ silver and up. Audio card will also more than likely be useless unless you need more outputs than the onboard audio gives which is pretty unlikely. Asus makes a good Blu-Ray player, though you aren't going to see much of a difference between the cheapie ones and the expensive ones, this is a good model. As for RAM, considering that's an Athlon it's gonna be DDR2 so you can pick some 4Gb sticks up off ebay fairly cheap.
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 10:32 pm

WellThatsSurprising wrote:
That's more than likely an older Athlon so it is 64 bit. A higher wattage power supply is a total waste, most systems will never see over 400W. If you really are dead set on upgrading the power supply go for a better efficiency rating, 80+ silver and up. Audio card will also more than likely be useless unless you need more outputs than the onboard audio gives which is pretty unlikely. Asus makes a good Blu-Ray player, though you aren't going to see much of a difference between the cheapie ones and the expensive ones, this is a good model. As for RAM, considering that's an Athlon it's gonna be DDR2 so you can pick some 4Gb sticks up off ebay fairly cheap.
So I guess I will forget about the power supply. I want the audio card for better sound. I don't necessarily need extra outputs
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 10:33 pm

It is an AMD Athlon 64x2 processor
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 10:38 pm

Yup, 64bit. Can you take a picture of the motherboard so I can see what kind of expansion ports it has? Once I know that I can recommend a card.
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 10:43 pm

WellThatsSurprising wrote:
Yup, 64bit. Can you take a picture of the motherboard so I can see what kind of expansion ports it has? Once I know that I can recommend a card.
Acer computer help <a href=Acer computer help IMAG0165_zps45b7171b" /> Is that what you need?
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 10:50 pm

Yup, I'd go with something like a Asus Xonar DS, though you might not see that much a difference. You might want to upgrade your speakers first depending on what you already have.
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 10:52 pm

WellThatsSurprising wrote:
Yup, I'd go with something like a Asus Xonar DS, though you might not see that much a difference. You might want to upgrade your speakers first depending on what you already have.
90% of my audio I use headphones. But I would like to upgrade speakers. Right now I have a basic 2.1 system
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 10:57 pm

I would love to make this thing fast. I'm not talking about like a $1,000 gaming system I know I'll never see that kind of performance. So is there anything else to help make it perform better?
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 11:00 pm

Well most of my suggestions would be based on what you're willing to spend, I currently am using a set of Beyerdynamic Tesla T1's but those are pretty expensive, especially for the average person.
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 11:03 pm

WellThatsSurprising wrote:
Well most of my suggestions would be based on what you're willing to spend, I currently am using a set of Beyerdynamic Tesla T1's but those are pretty expensive, especially for the average person.
I would like to spend less than $250 for everything, including OP
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 11:12 pm

One last question before I start looking up parts, How much RAM does it have currently?
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 11:14 pm

WellThatsSurprising wrote:
One last question before I start looking up parts, How much RAM does it have currently?
Honestly I'm not sure. It says 1GB DDR2 and 320GB SATA hard drive
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 11:16 pm

If I remember correctly I need 1 terabite I think I have 500 GB
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 18th 2014, 11:39 pm

4Gb ram - $40

BluRay player - $60

Nicer headphones - $100

Save the $50 for a better motherboard and processor
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 19th 2014, 7:02 am

I wouldnt upgrade until you can do it properly, like save up some $ for it. And if you can use XP nothing is better than XP.
Tho 7 is ok also.
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 19th 2014, 7:55 am

Thunderdivine wrote:
I wouldnt upgrade until you can do it properly, like save up some $ for it. And if you can use XP nothing is better than XP.
Tho 7 is ok also.
I don't want to do a full on build. It's not worth it to me. I just want to get my machine to perform better and have it set up the way I want it
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 19th 2014, 7:57 am

WellThatsSurprising wrote:
4Gb ram  -  $40

BluRay player  -  $60

Nicer headphones  -  $100

Save the $50 for a better motherboard and processor
Thanks for the links! I will use the $100 to buy Windows 7 and not the headphones. There is nothing wrong with the ones I have now
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 19th 2014, 8:18 am

Thunderdivine wrote:
I wouldnt upgrade until you can do it properly, like save up some $ for it. And if you can use XP nothing is better than XP.
Tho 7 is ok also.

the problem with XP is that programs dont support it anymore, neither does microsoft.. so whenever you want or need a program, you cant..
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 19th 2014, 9:21 am

willis923 wrote:
Thunderdivine wrote:
I wouldnt upgrade until you can do it properly, like save up some $ for it. And if you can use XP nothing is better than XP.
Tho 7 is ok also.

the problem with XP is that programs dont support it anymore, neither does microsoft.. so whenever you want or need a program, you cant..

I just got a new pc at work with windows 7, we also had some issues with not supported software for XP. But I never had any programs at home not supporting it. Maybe that's mostly games?

windows 7 is good tho so go get it  Very Happy 
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 19th 2014, 11:29 am

windows 7 is my favorite, altho xp is alright
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 19th 2014, 11:33 am

I have vista  Neutral Dont like it but My parents gave me the computer so cant complain.
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PostSubject: Re: Acer computer help   Acer computer help Icon_minitimeMarch 19th 2014, 1:08 pm

i actually dont mind windows 8. i would rather have 7, no doubt, but windows 8 really isnt that bad
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