Computer Upgrade

[dkn1997]

Hey all. I have a pretty old computer here.  It's an HP pavilion a305w.  Celeron R 2.70Ghz , 1gig of RAM.  It works about as good as I can get it at this moment.  I running windows XP with SP2 updates, Spyware Dr. antivirus/antispyware. I run the updates as often as I can and I just did a disk cleanup and defrag.   

I store all docs/pics and such on an external hard drive so space isn't in issue.  I know this motherboard won't take any more RAM.  It had 1/2 gig and I upgraded it.  

Money is tight and I'd like it to work faster.  I use the computer for;

-email
-web browsing
-itunes music storage
-basic MS office stuff for personal info..not for a business or anyting like that.


I know the standard answer is buy a new one but could I upgrade this one cheaply?  I can take apart the computer and I'm decent at solving problems as they come up or finding the information i need anyway.  

seems like a shame to toss it all.  It's got multiple usb ports, cd burner, flat screen, wireless router, wireless mouse, etc..  

Just want to know if it's a complete waste of time to try an upgrade it.  doesn't  even have to be anything spectacular.  maybe 3gig of RAM and a faster processor and the abilty to play dvd's.  

[Troy]

To change the processor you have to change the motherboard and (likely) your RAM. A newer processor and assorted gizmos may require a stronger power supply. That leaves you with a CD burner, an old hard drive, and a case (other than the monitor, wireless card and keyboard which are reusable). Most people these days would upgrade to a DVD burner and a snazzy new hard drive that's faster and has a lot more space so what's that leave you? In my opinion, hardware is so cheap these days for the power you get I'd just buy a new "box" and keep the old peripherals.

Troy

[jb666]

To change the processor you have to change the motherboard and (likely) your RAM. A newer processor and assorted gizmos may require a stronger power supply. That leaves you with a CD burner, an old hard drive, and a case (other than the monitor, wireless card and keyboard which are reusable). Most people these days would upgrade to a DVD burner and a snazzy new hard drive that's faster and has a lot more space so what's that leave you? In my opinion, hardware is so cheap these days for the power you get I'd just buy a new "box" and keep the old peripherals.

Troy

It's exactly what I just did... I bought a $599 HP that's nicely equipped.. I brought it home, installed my spare 1TB hard drive (cable select) , my dual monitor video card and some more memory and off I went... You can't beat the prices/warranties on the new boxes these days 

[stripedelete]

Norton antivirus is a bit of a pig.  Maybe back off the settings or switch to Macafee. I switched, and it was like getting a new computer.

[Silver R/T]

Get Malware bytes anti-malware, it's free and has saved my computer more than once.