disk and memory upgrade for a 9 - 10 year old Hp desktop Pc

[ArnieM]

I am interested in replacing my original disk drive with a solid state for my 9 - 10 year old HP p2-1322 Desktop PC, H3L21AA.  Any recommendations for a 500Gb SSD and what might be needed for cloning from my original?  Also, what memory upgrade recommendations would be feasible?  Currently have 4Gb RAM.  Thanks.

[BeemerBiker]

According to the specifications here

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03532944

the P2-1322 

However, Crucial's memory finder app states that 32gb of higher speed ram is possible as shown here

https://www.crucial.com/compatible-upgrade-for/hp---compaq/hp-p2-1322

I think that is suspicious as they do not list a pair of 16gb => 32gb and go only as high as pair of 8gb.

My recommendation:

If you have a single 4gb then add an identical 4gb.  You can use the app CPU-z to get the part number from the existing ram to allow an identical one to be found on eBay.

OTOH:

if you have a pair of 2gb then you might consider buying the pair of 8gb as long as the seller allows a return.

I recall crucial sells through CDW and I have bought from CDW for my Area51.  If you buy a pair of 8gb make sure there are chips on both sides of the stick as the high density will not work.

[BeemerBiker]

Unaccountably, this was posted twice when I as asked to correct an HTML.  

Since I cannot delete it I can suggest that the 500gb SSD be replaced with a larger only if the disk is %75 full.

[edit]  Kingston also states that 32gb is possible

https://www.kingstonmemoryshop.co.uk/desktop/hp/pavilion-p2-series/hp-pavilion-p2-1322-desktop

[NonSequitur777]

Hi ArnieM,

Trust me, I am a dedicated hobbyist when it comes to all things upgrading legacy HP desktops, but in my opinion this system isn't worth spending any more money in.

For example, its processor is a misery AMD Fusion E1-1200 APU running at a snail's pace at 1.40 GHz.  You can't upgrade this CPU because it is soldered onto your motherboard.  Your graphics capability is powered (if we can call it that) by the Radeon HD 7310 which has one of the lowest graphics speeds I have seen in a long time: UserBenchMark [dot] com average bench speed of 0.64%, and your PSU provides just 65 watt of power.

Link: https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c03532944

Kind Regards,

NonSequitur777

[Prométhée]

hi @ArnieM  @NonSequitur777  @BeemerBiker  

Sorry for the inlay, but for the user

I  agree a little more with @NonSequitur777 
Already 32 gb, don't think about it, it will most certainly be absolutely useless
unnecessary expense because certainly not reusable with another computer
The minimum of 8 gb, for windows, 10!

Add RAM

here I am divided, because adding a single 4 gb , good idea, but in a few cases, two different modules, it does not pass
If the sites are not wrong, depending on the price, I would test an 8 gb

If not enough, just buy the same one, I work with 16gb without any problem
If you can keep the HDD
500 gd SSD, crucial MX500 , or western digital blue , slightly more efficient;
pretty good value for money for both
the sata of the motherboard, may be 3gb, but it would work better than a HDD normally
you can reuse the SSD!

Upgrading Desktop or Laptop to a SSD

so proceed in stages, it does indeed have a significant cost

[itsmyname]

@ArnieM -- a few points:

1. any "9-to-10 year-old" disk-drive should be proactively replaced, before it suddenly fails. So, yes, upgrading to a "small" SSD (256 GB or 512 GB) is affordable, and will help performance.
2. for a computer of that vintage, 4 GB of RAM is a "sweet spot". Use the "Performance" tab of Windows "Task Manager" to determine how much of that 4 GB is being used. If 1/3, or more, of the RAM is not being used, do not waste your money adding more RAM.
3. the "sunset" for Windows 10 will be October 2025. So, after upgrading to a SSD, save the rest of your money toward the purchase of a replacement computer, running Windows 11.

I hope this helps.