PLEASE TAKE A MINUTE AND HELP ME, PLEASE!! What video upgrades can I do?

[sunsetMR]

TANK YOU FOR READING MY POST AND MAYBE RESPONDING, PRETTY PLEASE !! 🙂

I upgraded it by adding a 2 GB Ram chip which gives me a total of 4 GB of ram, I think it helped!!

What can I do about video buffering??

I am set up with a Belken wifi adater.

I am working on buying 25 feet of computer / iethernet cable to hard wire my computer to the modem as I think that will help.

I am maxed out on Ram.

My cd / dvd hard drive is stuck and will not open. I tried sticking a small hard wire in the hole by the cover of the HD and that used to work to open it.

But not now for some reason.

There are 2-3 slots that are open inside the computer and I would like to know what add-on features I can do to help this computer run better and get BETTER VIDEO!

Any help out there would be so great!!!

Thank and PLEASE RESPOND TO ME, PLEASE!!

[Huffer · Accepted solution]

Here's the specs:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/compaq-presario-cq4000-desktop-pc-series/4007479/model/4007483/...

The Sempron LE-1300 is a very very weak processor. The computer can be upgraded to an AM2+ Phenom Quad Core which would be night and day for you even though that is an older processor. AMD processors tend to be pretty cheap. 

You do have a video card PCI-e x16 slot:

See the longest black slot there at the top? 

You have a 220W power supply so I suggest something modest and cheap like this:

https://www.amazon.com/EVGA-GeForce-Express-Graphics-01G-P3-1312-LR/dp/B00498305G/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8...

Again, it is a low end video card but would be night and day for you and it is cheap. 

This might also help some. HP has not posted a hardware manual for that model. This is generic but helpful:

https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/compaq-presario-cq4000-desktop-pc-series/4007479/model/4007483/...

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[sunsetMR]

Hello and thank you as I read what I could and understand what I need to check out and then decide what processor upgrade I need to buy.

The problem is there was an error towards the end of your directives!!

Would you be kind enough to look at your posting towards the end and post what is missing please!

Also after I do the install and plug it in and boot it up, is there certain things that I need to do like update drivers or anything else as I will attempt this myself and I am far from a computer man but I can follow exact directives if given the chance. So please help me with the end of your beautiful communication!!

Also what is the difference between a processor and a video card?

Also should I buy a higher watt power supply? Maybe a 320 watt as mine I think is a 220 or is that power ok as I am going to buy a 32.5 inch Acer monitor as I am using a 21.5 Dell right now.

Please just be clear with how to do the work and any other pointers regarding the installation of the upgraded processor. ?

So should I consider upgrading the video card or is the processor all that I should be focussing on?

I do not have any recovery discs etc.

And from your directives I just need to find out which type to buy and install.

Is there a company like Crucible that I can talk to or type to that can help me with the purchase or do I just buy on Ebay or at Fry's electronics? Thank you very much, you have been a great help so far. Thank you, Mike R. SunSetMR ! 🙂

[Huffer]

All the links are working now I tried them. There was a brief outage of support pages on hp.com yesterday. 

The processor is the main engine of the computer. It determines how fast it can generally compute...render 0s and 1s. 

The video card determines how fast images can be rendered on the screen. In your case, that computer is woefully weak on both. 

Frys will have an inexpensive video card, but will not have the processor. It is an obsolete processor so the only place to buy it is going to be something like eBay. 

I can help you find a processor if you wish and since you mention Frys I assume you are in the USA likely the Western part. 

Since I have no Service Manual I am unable to say if the power supply is a generic unit easily replaced or something proprietary. Since it is a slimline form factor it likely does not use a standard type power supply so I am going to assume you are going to have to make this work on 220W. 

The last link has picture tutorials on processor upgrade. If you have seen the expansion slots I assume you know how to get the cover off. 

[sunsetMR]

Please help me find a processor!! I would appreciate your time and help!!!

Would we, you be looking for two different types based on my computer design??

Would I have to go to Frys for a video card and or Ebay with the part number and brand?

Would you know what inexpense card I should buy with just one good part number as I am sure there is more than one so the least expensive with power!

I would be buying from Fry's or ebay?

Can you tell me what I need to do to get it running properly after the processor is installed.

And what I need to do after the video card is installed?

Yes I am on the west coast!

Southern California.

Thank you very much!!

You have been a great help so far.

Also to use a bigger monitor is there any issues that I need to be aware of?

Mike R.    SunsetMR

[sunsetMR]

Hello and again thank you for your help!!!

Just another additional question !

As cheap as the processor and video cards are, is there a second request for a better processor and a video card that you might recommend that is still economical but even better for a little more power and better performance??

Information is power and your service is not only helpful but even gives me and other people more power!!

Information is a very powerful thing to have!!!  Thank you!!

Mike R. SunSetMR ! 🙂

[Huffer]

You need to curb your enthusiasm here. That is a very very weak computer and all we can do is make it somewhat better. For maybe $70 or so you can put a better processor and better video card in it. These will be plug and play upgrades. You need to read the manual I linked to you. it shows how to remove the processor and replace it with a different one. You just need to plug a video card into that slot I showed you on the motherboard. You will need to load a new video driver. Once you do that you will have a better, but still not really good computer. To get something real good you will have to buy a new computer and spend many times $70. 

This processor would work for you:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/AMD-CPU-PHENOM-II-X4-940-3-0GHz-SOCKET-AM2-USA-SELLER-/282505756514?hash=ite...

If this is "the Answer" please click "Accept as Solution" to help others find it. 

[sunsetMR]

Does the video card come with the driver installation install tools or do I need to find it somewhere else?

Also after the prosessor is installed, is there a chance that I might need to clean things and use thermal grease and maybe buy a new fan to keep the processor cool and maintain the correct temperature?

Last question, what have you missed to tell me when I get into this install as I do not want to get 80% and then have to take it in to Frys and lose my money based on something simple that I forgot to do?

Again. I am a novice/a layman so what can you re-iterate that will sink into my brain that maybe you forgot to say based om my zero knowledge.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!

[Huffer]

You can reuse the fan and heatsink. You will need thermal compound and they sell it at Frys for a couple dollars. Get one of the little syringe tubes with silver compound. You will by necessity have the chance to clean up around the processor and you will have to clean off the heatsink and apply new thermal compound when you put in the new processor.

If you buy the video card at Frys you will get a driver disk with it. 

Look, there is only so much we can do at a distance. 

I can perhaps find you a couple youtube videos but you can do that, too I think. 

[sunsetMR]

PLEASE CONFIRM THAT THESE TWO ITEMS ARE WHAT I SHOULD BUY IN YOUR OPINION.

I AM NOT HOLDING YOU TO THESE BUT THIS IS JUST YOUR ACCURATE SUGGESTION, CORRECT?

ALSO IF I NEED MORE SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE TWO ITEMS, PLEASE TELL ME NOW.

EVGA GeForce 210 1024 MB DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 DVI/HDMI/VGA Graphics Card, 01G...

AND .......

• 
• 

AMD CPU PHENOM II X4-940 3.0GHz SOCKET AM2 

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!!

ALSO ARE THERE LINKS TO THE INSTALLATION FOR THESE TWO ITEM UPGRADES?

i KNOW I WILL NEED SOME SILVER CONDUCTOR FOR THE PROCESSOR. IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE I WILL NEED BESIDES SOME INSTALLATION LINKS? PLEASE CONFIRM I HAVE THE TWO CORRECT ITEMS FOR MY,, COMPAQ CQ4010F, THANK YOU FOR YOUR WONDERFUL HELP! 

I HAVE BEEN USING YOUR HELP FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS NOW AND ALL RECCOMENDATIONS HAVE BEEN 100% ACCURATE. PLEASE CONFIRM THESE TWO ITEMS AND OR GIVE ME ANYMORE SPECIFIC DETAILS AND IMPORTANT INFORMATION!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH,

MIKE R. SUNSETMR !

YOUR LOYAL FRIEND! 🙂