if it aint broke...do I fix it?

[mixmkr]

I am running Cooledit Pro and have a bunch of dx plugins on a 233mmx pentium with 128 mgs of ram and using Win 95 with the operating systems on my 2 gig 5400 WD hardrive and my audio files on a 6 gig 5400rpm WD drive. Everything works great....no crashes, nada. I get about 20 tracks with 3 or 4 stereo outputs on my Gina until things start to slow down.

My question:.....will I gain anything by upgrading to Win98se and replacing my D drive (audio files) to a 7200rpm drive (or even a 10000rpm)?

I have Win 98se already,(retail version from another computer I just got) and figured I would just upgrade my smallest drive (the C drive) with the newer faster drive, and switch functions of the drives I have now. (make my current D drive the C drive now and the new faster drive becoming the NEW D drive)

If the opinion is that I would not gain much ...I don't feel like spending the money for the new hardrive and the aspects of changing it out. If Win98 would help, I would switch to that, but my system has been working great now, so I live by the theory..."if it aint broke....."

opinions please?? thx

 

[Emeric]

Given that your processor is a bit on the dated side, switching to 98SE would be a downgrade in performance. A 7200RPM drive is always nice, and this is where 98 would be a tad easier to get DMA working properly. I'd suggest waiting till you need to overhaul the rest of your system, than pop in a 7200RPM drive along with your new PIII, and load up win98. Use your 6GB for your OS's, prog's etc, and your 7200rpm for audio data only.

If it's working for you now though, leave it. If 20 tracks is enough, 7200 won't give you many more because of the rest of your system spec's (bottlenecks). If you need more plug-in's, this is where a processor upgrade will help out.

 

[mixmkr]

thank Emeric. That was exactly the kind of detailed response I was looking to read.

my last remaining question now is WHEN to upgrade(since I am basically happy now) and if I should [canabalize my computer and] go basically newer, or upgrade the current setup. I am leaning towards building the newer system and pulling out the CDr's, Cdroms, my Gina, which I like, and whatever else might work in the new system. However,just adding the new motherboard/processor with the new drive is asubstantially cheaper route I would imagine....

Looking towards this spring, I would also imagine that there would be some pretty good deals on a 833+ PIII (or more) out there to be had.

 

[Emeric]

I guess upgrade when you need to. Your video card, soundcard, 6GB drive, floppy, cd-rom - are all still usable. You will need a new case, motherboard, processor and memory.

It gets close to being a new machine. Since your hard drive is fairly new, I'm assuming the rest is ok. It's a PCI video card, and not ISA etc.

If your monitor is still ok, than your essentially looking at a new box and the components contained. You may want to upgrade the video anyway, this way you could leave your old machine somewhat functional. Network them for Doom or something

 

[mixmkr]

"network them for Doom"....ha!! thanks again, Emeric.