Speeding up an old Pentium 4 "Prescott" work computer.

T

Theultimateeye

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jan 29, 2012
Messages
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So here are the specs based on CPU-Z. My goal is to be able to watch videos to show presentations and/or watch Netflix when the boss is gone :). So basically looking for a video card (if possible) i could add. Unfortunately the computer is one of those slim flat workstations and not a tower computer. I have taken another 512mb memory stick from another one of our broken computers which sped the computer up a tiny bit but not much.

Specs:

CPU: Pentium 4 Prescott 3.0ghz , Socket 478 mPGA
Cache: L1 - 16 kbytes, L2 1024 kbytes (if this helps)
Chipset/Mainboard: Intel i865p/pe/g/i848p
Memory: DDR 1024 MBytes PC2700
Graphics: Intel Extreme Graphics 2 (Intel 82865G Graphics Controller)

Is there any small video card i can add to this computer? Unfortunately it's a slim workstation not a tower computer. Or any other advice. I've defragged, disk cleanup, etc etc. Everything you can do to speed up a computer without spending money. But i'm willing to pay for a smalll cheap video card if it'll allow me to watch videos without it hesitating every 4 seconds. Thanks for your time, Jeff.
 
I have an old eeePC that has a 900Mhz Celeron 512MB RAM that can play video fine. Unless I try to watch HD video. If I'm watching YouTube I will often lower the video to a lower rez like 480p to 360p. If lower resolution doesn't fix your streaming issues then it might be your net bandwidth.
 
Nah the bandwidth is fine, it's fast. Maybe i'll just put up a WTB ad in the classifieds for an AGP card. Like a Radeon 3650 or 3850.
 
It wouldn't help much since, due to the PCI-E to AGP bridge/chip, those cards wouldn't have the ability to decode HD content.
 
Buy a cheap core 2 duo laptop and bring it to work. The AGP card will probably be about $50-60. The laptop will be less than 200 and be usable for other tasks.
 
Your going to want to look up the model of your sff. The motherboard may not even have gfx slot in it. And you will be restricted to whatever low profile cards people are selling if it does. They aren't going to be cheap like mentioned above.

Since you don't want to spend money, or much of it. Have you tried lowering the resolution? Depending on the res your using, this can drastically change performance, obviously at a cost of clarity.

Outlaw
 
Thanks for the input guys. I basically changed the settings from "true color" to "high color". It did make a difference and speed up the computer. Doesn't look nearly as good but i guess it'll have to do.
 
That just seems goofy. Colour depth will matter in 3D gaming but should matter little in 2D. You never did explain with any clarity what you were trying to watch. Like I explained earlier my eeePC with 1/4 the power of your rig can watch video easily. So what content exactly are you trying to watch?
 
Just a follow up for prosperity sake.

Followed instructions and it works very well. My 900MHz eeePC is a fraction the power of the OP's P4, and HD video is no longer an issue. Not even any stuttering at all. Quite amazing actually.
Some notes. Video's have to be played on MPC (Media Player Classic), it is a free media player and included in the codec pack in the instructions. It is a very well supported open source player that has been around for nearly a decade.
Second the CoreAVC codec used is not free. It costs $12.95.
http://www.corecodec.com/products/coreavc
Well worth the price IMO seeing how dramatic of a performance/quality boost it gives a system. Far cheaper then a replacement GFX card anyways.
Any questions, feel free.
 
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