Why can't I upgrade my Computer.?

Question

I took my compuer to a shop, and asked them to upgrade my compuer with more RAM and a Graphics card. They told me they couldn't because the slots to insert a Card or RAM were gone. They said the people who made it too them away to save money.

So I can't upgrade it. Well me and my friend opened it up ourselfs and found the slots. But why did he say they were gone? Could they disconect them? Is there anyway to upgrade it? By the way, my computer is a HP Pavillion Xp home edtion. I think they said it was made only for homework and internet, not for games.

Answer 1

I hate to say it but I think you have received some bad information. Not everyone who claims to be a computer technician actually is one. I spent about 25 years maintaining computers for the Government. As a sort of hobby, I've built about 35 systems for friends, family, neighbors etc. During that time I have never seen a motherboard manufactured as they described this one. There was a Compaq I upgraded once that only had one memory slot in it but that was about as bad as any I've seen. Now that doesn't mean it couldn't happen but I would have to see it to believe it. Those connectors as just too cheap not to install them. A particular manufacturing run for a motherboard could end up in computers with all sorts of different applications and consequently they would be configured in a number of different ways.

I suggest you get a second and/or even a third opinion.

Incidentally: If your system is over about a year to 18 months old it could make make more sense to spend a few extra dollars and just get a new computer. You don't necessarily have to replace the monitor, printer or other accessories but with a new box comes a bigger faster CPU, perhaps faster memory and so forth. It is just a thought and only you can decide if the gain justifies the cost.

Good Luck

Answer 2

The people at the shop were probably wrong - how old were you and did you ask your parents - next time bring one of your parents with you? I wonder if they did not want to do the work on it, and said those things because you are so young. It does not make sense to me and I build my own computers and did Desktop Support over 5 years.

Does the computer boot up - if so, they were SO WRONG as if there no slots for RAM, it would not boot up! I'm wondering if what they meant was that it could not be upgraded because there were no more slots - that could be - most of the HP Pavilions had 2 memory slots, but you could replace the 2 lower memory modules for 2 higher ones to max it out - depending on the technical specs. Generally speaking, yes, the HP Pavilions are upgradable.

You can play most computer games on any computer with the right graphics card and enough RAM and processsor speed, but the serious 3D games require a more robust gaming computer setup.

Here is the HP Support site - you can find upgrade information here for your particular model:
http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/support.html

Answer 3

The only problem I've ever had with upgrading memory was with an HP 510w. I had help from a qualified Microsoft Tech and former quality control executive of Western Digital and instructor at the school where I take computer courses. He also holds many U.S. patents on computer related items too complex for me to name here. We could not find a combination of memory types that would work in that HP. We tried everything under the sun, low density memory, and the such. The only thing that did work we tried some memory from an old Gateway and it did work, but it wasn't enough memory to boost the performance of the computer. We need 512Mb which was the max and that was only 128Mb..As far as no slots, phooy!

Answer 4

even if all the RAM slots are full you could still upgrade it if you wanted to. for example if you have only 2 slots for RAM and lets say you have 256mb in each slot for a total fo 512 and you wanted 1gb. all you would have to do is take out the two 256 chips and put in two 512 chips. it is true you may not have room for a new graphics card unless you have an available slot. i wouldnt know without looking, but based on what that person told you i would take it somewhere else. i dont think they know what they are talking about. good luck

Answer 5

First off... your mother boards chipset would only maybe be good up to 1 GB of ram. Anything bigger then a 128MB PCI video card would probly over clock the computer and shut it down. You need to get someone to build you a good quality gaming computer and then just take out your old HD and then put it into the new machine. BTW... If your are going to do any newer games... make it 2 GB of ram and atleast 3.0 GHz of prossesor. Make sure you chipset can handle this load. Just do searches with the chipsets name to learn more about them.

Answer 6

There are a lot of slots on a motherboard. The slots for RAM are separate, and then PCI slots, and short slots for other type cards. You could get larger memory cards, though.

Answer 7

i would say go to another shop and ask for a second opinion, dont be afraid to ask them to explain to u in simple words what they are saying, sales stuff can be very intimidating some time :) removed slots?? very strange, never heard of anything similar, perhaps they wanted to seel u something else or just didnt know how to do it. or they meant something very different from what u understood :) find someone who knows more about computers and ask him to accompany u to the next shop u will go :)

Answer 8

Maybe they didn't feel like messing with it.... If you want help with adding more ram IM* me at squirrelhunter88 on yahoo

Answer 9

Want a great upgrade? Get a Mac.
http://www.apple.com/getamac
You'll be amazed at how much better they are.

Answer 10

find the model no -
serial no-
call hp toll free