hard drives

"Stewart" <> wrote:

>Thanks for that, maybe I would be just as well buying a completely new
>desktop however my one has 2 dvd drive bays, additional sound cards, tv in
>card, firewire, quiet fan and more. That is why I thought I could upgrade
>it, especially as I already have a windows7 32 bit software disk.


You can. Even if your video card doesn't run Aero (or run it well),
7 will run without Aero, just fine.

--
Joel Crump

Sorry to laboiur this but another question arises:-
I know I can add 1 gb RAM and maybe even 2 GB. 3 is the max thaat the
computer will take.
If I put in this extra RAM then is that likely to reduce the need for a new
graphics card - doing it this way I can take it one stage at a time.


"John McGaw" <> wrote in message
news:Fzvkn.21437$...
> On 3/5/2010 11:04 AM, Stewart wrote:
>> I have a desk top running XP at present and intend to upgrade to Windows
>> 7
>> fairly soon.
>> I shall buy an extra 1gb of DDR1 ram giving me total of 2gb.
>> My present maxtor hard drive is only 160gb and I want to change it to a
>> 500gb hard drive.
>> My power unit is a Hiper 425watt and is very quiet running.
>> Should I remove the exisitng hard drive and replace or could I keep both,
>> running the new one with Windows7 and the old with XP.
>> I am just a bit doubtful if there is enough power in the hiper unit.
>> What I wish to know is, does a hard drive run whether it is being used or
>> not? If it does not then having both hard drives would probably be OK
>> Thank you
>>
>>
> If the system operates stably with the present 425W supply then I'd think
> it would work fine with 1gB of added RAM and an extra HD. Typically the
> RAM might consume 5W (at most) and the HD might consume 20W (at most). If
> the extra 25W of load causes problems then your PS is probably already
> underpowered.
>
> As for always running, you can set the power-saving function in the
> operating system to spin-down drives after some period of inactivity. I
> don't do it since I don't like the drives starting and stopping repeatedly
> but YMMV.

On Sat, 6 Mar 2010 21:02:17 -0000, "Stewart"
<> wrote:

> Sorry to laboiur this but another question arises:-
> I know I can add 1 gb RAM and maybe even 2 GB. 3 is the max thaat the
> computer will take.


If you say 3GB is the max, OK, but that's a pretty unusual number to
be a maximum.


> If I put in this extra RAM then is that likely to reduce the need for a new
> graphics card


No. One has nothing to do with the other.

Why do you think you have a need for a new graphics card?


> doing it this way I can take it one stage at a time.
>
>
> "John McGaw" <> wrote in message
> news:Fzvkn.21437$...
> > On 3/5/2010 11:04 AM, Stewart wrote:
> >> I have a desk top running XP at present and intend to upgrade to Windows
> >> 7
> >> fairly soon.
> >> I shall buy an extra 1gb of DDR1 ram giving me total of 2gb.
> >> My present maxtor hard drive is only 160gb and I want to change it to a
> >> 500gb hard drive.
> >> My power unit is a Hiper 425watt and is very quiet running.
> >> Should I remove the exisitng hard drive and replace or could I keep both,
> >> running the new one with Windows7 and the old with XP.
> >> I am just a bit doubtful if there is enough power in the hiper unit.
> >> What I wish to know is, does a hard drive run whether it is being used or
> >> not? If it does not then having both hard drives would probably be OK
> >> Thank you
> >>
> >>
> > If the system operates stably with the present 425W supply then I'd think
> > it would work fine with 1gB of added RAM and an extra HD. Typically the
> > RAM might consume 5W (at most) and the HD might consume 20W (at most). If
> > the extra 25W of load causes problems then your PS is probably already
> > underpowered.
> >
> > As for always running, you can set the power-saving function in the
> > operating system to spin-down drives after some period of inactivity. I
> > don't do it since I don't like the drives starting and stopping repeatedly
> > but YMMV.
>

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

On Sat, 06 Mar 2010 15:10:00 -0700, "Ken Blake, MVP"
<> wrote:

>On Sat, 6 Mar 2010 21:02:17 -0000, "Stewart"
><> wrote:
>
>> Sorry to laboiur this but another question arises:-
>> I know I can add 1 gb RAM and maybe even 2 GB. 3 is the max thaat the
>> computer will take.
>
>If you say 3GB is the max, OK, but that's a pretty unusual number to
>be a maximum.

It wasn't uncommon for awhile to see motherboards with 3 DIMM slots. I
don't see them much anymore.

>> If I put in this extra RAM then is that likely to reduce the need for a new
>> graphics card
>
>No. One has nothing to do with the other.
>
>Why do you think you have a need for a new graphics card?

Alias floated that idea a bit earlier in the thread, but I see nothing
to indicate that a new graphics card is needed.

There are 4 slots but when I look at Belerac advisor it lists 2 in use (each
512 MB) and one empty. If I run the Crucial test then it likewise seems to
indicate that I can only have 3GB in total. I am not bothered about 3 or 4,
I know there are 4 slots and can try using them all if needed.
Someone suggested that I would need a better graphics card to run Window7
aero and then that brought up the question of my power unit - only 420 watts
but it is a good one and very quiet.
I am in the fortunate position that I can "play" around and if things don't
work then I shall just buy a new desktop. My new laptop works Windows7
great and can operate all my ancillaries including my Epson Perfection Photo
scanner.

"Ken Blake, MVP" <> wrote in message
news...
> On Sat, 6 Mar 2010 21:02:17 -0000, "Stewart"
> <> wrote:
>
>> Sorry to laboiur this but another question arises:-
>> I know I can add 1 gb RAM and maybe even 2 GB. 3 is the max thaat the
>> computer will take.
>
>
> If you say 3GB is the max, OK, but that's a pretty unusual number to
> be a maximum.
>
>
>> If I put in this extra RAM then is that likely to reduce the need for a
>> new
>> graphics card
>
>
> No. One has nothing to do with the other.
>
> Why do you think you have a need for a new graphics card?
>
>
>> doing it this way I can take it one stage at a time.
>>
>>
>> "John McGaw" <> wrote in message
>> news:Fzvkn.21437$...
>> > On 3/5/2010 11:04 AM, Stewart wrote:
>> >> I have a desk top running XP at present and intend to upgrade to
>> >> Windows
>> >> 7
>> >> fairly soon.
>> >> I shall buy an extra 1gb of DDR1 ram giving me total of 2gb.
>> >> My present maxtor hard drive is only 160gb and I want to change it to
>> >> a
>> >> 500gb hard drive.
>> >> My power unit is a Hiper 425watt and is very quiet running.
>> >> Should I remove the exisitng hard drive and replace or could I keep
>> >> both,
>> >> running the new one with Windows7 and the old with XP.
>> >> I am just a bit doubtful if there is enough power in the hiper unit.
>> >> What I wish to know is, does a hard drive run whether it is being used
>> >> or
>> >> not? If it does not then having both hard drives would probably be OK
>> >> Thank you
>> >>
>> >>
>> > If the system operates stably with the present 425W supply then I'd
>> > think
>> > it would work fine with 1gB of added RAM and an extra HD. Typically the
>> > RAM might consume 5W (at most) and the HD might consume 20W (at most).
>> > If
>> > the extra 25W of load causes problems then your PS is probably already
>> > underpowered.
>> >
>> > As for always running, you can set the power-saving function in the
>> > operating system to spin-down drives after some period of inactivity. I
>> > don't do it since I don't like the drives starting and stopping
>> > repeatedly
>> > but YMMV.
>>
>
> --
> Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
> Please Reply to the Newsgroup

On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 08:33:05 -0000, "Stewart"
<> wrote:

> There are 4 slots but when I look at Belerac advisor it lists 2 in use (each
> 512 MB) and one empty. If I run the Crucial test then it likewise seems to
> indicate that I can only have 3GB in total. I am not bothered about 3 or 4,
> I know there are 4 slots and can try using them all if needed.


Bear two things in mind:

1. Even 3GB is more than most people need for their applications, and
going above that may not provide any discernable performance
improvement.

2. Even if you had 4GB, you couldn't use much more than 3GB of it.
Here's the scoop:

All 32-bit client versions of Windows (not just Vista/XP/7) have a 4GB
address space (64-bit versions can use much more). That's the
theoretical upper limit beyond which you can not go.

But you can't use the entire 4GB of address space. Even though you
have a 4GB address space, you can only use *around* 3.1GB of RAM.
That's because some of that space is used by hardware and is not
available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can
use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but can
range from as little as 2GB to as much as 3.5GB. It's usually around
3.1GB.

Note that the hardware is using the address *space*, not the actual
RAM itself. If you have a greater amount of RAM, the rest of the RAM
goes unused because there is no address space to map it to.


> Someone suggested that I would need a better graphics card to run Window7
> aero


I don't know what your graphics card is, but even if the above is true
(and my guess is that it's not true), aero is essentially just window
dressing. I wouldn't worry about it a whole lot.


> and then that brought up the question of my power unit - only 420 watts
> but it is a good one and very quiet.


You say "*only* 420 watts," but that's more power than most people
have or need. As I think I said earlier, it's highly unlikely that you
need any more.



> I am in the fortunate position that I can "play" around and if things don't
> work then I shall just buy a new desktop. My new laptop works Windows7
> great and can operate all my ancillaries including my Epson Perfection Photo
> scanner.


You say you're going to Windows 7. I don't know whether a Windows 7
driver exists for your scanner, but you should check at the Epson web
site and find out.



> "Ken Blake, MVP" <> wrote in message
> news...
> > On Sat, 6 Mar 2010 21:02:17 -0000, "Stewart"
> > <> wrote:
> >
> >> Sorry to laboiur this but another question arises:-
> >> I know I can add 1 gb RAM and maybe even 2 GB. 3 is the max thaat the
> >> computer will take.
> >
> >
> > If you say 3GB is the max, OK, but that's a pretty unusual number to
> > be a maximum.
> >
> >
> >> If I put in this extra RAM then is that likely to reduce the need for a
> >> new
> >> graphics card
> >
> >
> > No. One has nothing to do with the other.
> >
> > Why do you think you have a need for a new graphics card?
> >
> >
> >> doing it this way I can take it one stage at a time.
> >>
> >>
> >> "John McGaw" <> wrote in message
> >> news:Fzvkn.21437$...
> >> > On 3/5/2010 11:04 AM, Stewart wrote:
> >> >> I have a desk top running XP at present and intend to upgrade to
> >> >> Windows
> >> >> 7
> >> >> fairly soon.
> >> >> I shall buy an extra 1gb of DDR1 ram giving me total of 2gb.
> >> >> My present maxtor hard drive is only 160gb and I want to change it to
> >> >> a
> >> >> 500gb hard drive.
> >> >> My power unit is a Hiper 425watt and is very quiet running.
> >> >> Should I remove the exisitng hard drive and replace or could I keep
> >> >> both,
> >> >> running the new one with Windows7 and the old with XP.
> >> >> I am just a bit doubtful if there is enough power in the hiper unit.
> >> >> What I wish to know is, does a hard drive run whether it is being used
> >> >> or
> >> >> not? If it does not then having both hard drives would probably be OK
> >> >> Thank you
> >> >>
> >> >>
> >> > If the system operates stably with the present 425W supply then I'd
> >> > think
> >> > it would work fine with 1gB of added RAM and an extra HD. Typically the
> >> > RAM might consume 5W (at most) and the HD might consume 20W (at most).
> >> > If
> >> > the extra 25W of load causes problems then your PS is probably already
> >> > underpowered.
> >> >
> >> > As for always running, you can set the power-saving function in the
> >> > operating system to spin-down drives after some period of inactivity. I
> >> > don't do it since I don't like the drives starting and stopping
> >> > repeatedly
> >> > but YMMV.
> >>
> >
> > --
> > Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
> > Please Reply to the Newsgroup
>

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

Thanks for all the advice.
I had been waiting to get my new laptop with Windows7 before deciding what
to do with the desktop. I now have the laptop and it runs everything I need
so I know that I shall be able to run both my Epson scanner and printer with
the desktop.
The only problem the upgrade examination from Microsoft found was with my
sound card but that will probably just need a new driver.
I am going to Edinburgh to-morrow to buy the bits I need.
Thanks again.


"Ken Blake, MVP" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Sun, 7 Mar 2010 08:33:05 -0000, "Stewart"
> <> wrote:
>
<snip>
<snip>

AAhh yes and there goes Numbnuts with his same old BULLSHIT!!!

"Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.com.invalido> wrote in message
news:hmrbq3$3bq$...
> Slap wrote:
>
>>
>> Oh dear. Win 7 isn't even close to XP. It's the stuff you can't see
>> (many of course can) that counts. Best to toss the old antique XP op
>> system or maybe keep it around for those 'older' programs you like to
>> run. That's about all it's good for now. Had it's day a long, long time
>> ago.
>>
>> Time for a modern op system.
>> --
>>
>>
>>
>>
> I agree and it can be found at http://www.ubuntu.com/
>
> --
> Alias

John McGaw <> wrote in
news:Fzvkn.21437$:

> On 3/5/2010 11:04 AM, Stewart wrote:
>> I have a desk top running XP at present and intend to upgrade to
>> Windows 7 fairly soon.
>> I shall buy an extra 1gb of DDR1 ram giving me total of 2gb.
>> My present maxtor hard drive is only 160gb and I want to change it to
>> a 500gb hard drive.
>> My power unit is a Hiper 425watt and is very quiet running.
>> Should I remove the exisitng hard drive and replace or could I keep
>> both, running the new one with Windows7 and the old with XP.
>> I am just a bit doubtful if there is enough power in the hiper unit.
>> What I wish to know is, does a hard drive run whether it is being
>> used or not? If it does not then having both hard drives would
>> probably be OK Thank you
>>
>>
> If the system operates stably with the present 425W supply then I'd
> think it would work fine with 1gB of added RAM and an extra HD.
> Typically the RAM might consume 5W (at most) and the HD might consume
> 20W (at most). If the extra 25W of load causes problems then your PS
> is probably already underpowered.


Here's some actual numbers for a HD......

(http://www.gamingshogun.com/Article/..._Caviar_Black_
1TB_Hard_Drive_Review.html)

"The Caviar Black draws approximately 8.4 watts of power when performing
read and write operations while pulling 7.8 watts while idling. In
contrast, the Caviar Green line pulls 7.4 watts during read and write
operations and only 4 watts while idling. In terms of standby and sleep
modes, each drive is about 1 watt, with the Caviar Green taking a slight
lead drawing 0.98 watts. This is still better than Segate's Barracuda
7200.11, which requires 11.6 watts while performing reading and writing
operations and a not so eco-friendly 8 watts while simply idling.

A note I'd like to add though, there is a significant inrush of current
when the HD is first turned on, and when it needs to spin up from a
'sleep' state. Far above 8 watts.

"Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.com.invalido> wrote in message
news:hn83to$fv1$...
> Drew wrote:
>> AAhh yes and there goes Numbnuts with his same old BULLSHIT!!!
>>
>> "Alias" <aka@masked&anonymous.com.invalido> wrote in message
>> news:hmrbq3$3bq$...
>>> Slap wrote:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> Oh dear. Win 7 isn't even close to XP. It's the stuff you can't see
>>>> (many of course can) that counts. Best to toss the old antique XP op
>>>> system or maybe keep it around for those 'older' programs you like to
>>>> run. That's about all it's good for now. Had it's day a long, long
>>>> time ago.
>>>>
>>>> Time for a modern op system.
>>>> --
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> I agree and it can be found at http://www.ubuntu.com/
>>>
>>> --
>>> Alias
>>
>
> And the top posting fanboi just has to spew insults instead of addressing
> the issues. Everyone act surprised.
>
> --
> Alias

Here ya go Numbnuts!! Is this better?