Upgrade old computer

I have an older HP Slim Line, Desk Top, compute that apparently does not have some capability to run Windows 8.

HP s3607c. 32 bit, AD 64x2 dual core 4600, 2.4 GHz, 894 MB RAM, Vista Home Premium loaded, factory installed.

It apparently falls short of qualifying for W8 because it has all components except RAM which needs 2 GB.


So can I upgrade by more SIMM memory cards for the RAM ?

Is there anything that I can do to convert from 32 bit to 64 bit

Check crucial.com to see how much RAM you can run on the board. If the CPU is 64bit, I don't know what (if anything) would prevent you from loading the 64bit version of the OS on it. I have found that max'ing out the RAM and putting in a decent video card really helps! Does it support SATA? Does it have a slot for a video card? Slimlines are tough because you're stuck looking for half-height cards...

I tried to find that model on crucial.com, but this is the closest I could get. Are you sure you have the correct model number? Check on the motherboard itself, not just on the outer case...

Computer memory upgrades for HP - Compaq Pavilion Slimline s3610la Desktop/PC from Crucial.com

Thanks:

The label on the box enclosure says HP Pavilion s3637c TV PC.

Further it says 1024 MB system memory ! *( The "properties" screen says 894 MB RAM ) ???

It is a 32 bit system.

The memory discrepancy mean "usable" RAM.

The monitor is an HPw1907 1440 X 900 pixels. Seems OK. ??

I ran the Windows 8 program to evaluate the Slimline and it flunked ! Said it wasn't adequate.

That program seriously disrupted my network and changed lots of things apparently. It took quite some time to get everything back to normal.

The Windows 8 box says it takes 2 GB RAM but that's for the 64 bit. The 32 bit is supposed to run on 1 GB RAM which apparently I don't have.

The BIOS takes some of the RAM before Windows boots for video, BIOS shadowing, etc..., so Windows doesn't get 1GB of RAM. Did you check Crucial.com to see how much RAM you can put in and what type RAM it uses? I normally don't load Win7 or Win8 on a PC unless it has a minimum of 2GB of RAM. A decent video card is also important.

I went to crucial.com and looked for that model number and couldn't find it. This is the closest I could get:

Computer memory upgrades for HP - Compaq Pavilion Slimline s3637fr Desktop/PC from Crucial.com

Does your PC have DDR2 (PC2-6400) RAM? If so, this is very expensive RAM to buy. Will you PC support 4GB of RAM or only 2GB? I just worked on one of these older slimline HP/Compaq PC's for a friend and her system would only take 2GB of RAM and I was able to load Win7 on it and ir ran pretty well after I installed a video card in the PCI slot and disabled the onboard vodeo in the BIOS. Slim line cases make it tough because those video cards are harder to find...

Thank you again. Yes I did go to the website.

After checking it out it seems that the recommended upgrades are near or beyond 50% of the cost of a new computer. That violates my rule to buy new instead of fixing up old.

The Slimline is #3 in a home network. It is intended to be used as storage, backup. It presently is compatible with my network so I have decided to leave it alone and use "as is".

You were very helpful and I really appreciate your input.

I understand. What RAM do you need, I may have some that I could send to you (free)? Some of these old PC's , especially the "slimline" models are notoriously expensive to upgrade. Some cannot be upgraded at all. My policy is that if I have to upgrade more than 2 components (RAM, hard drive, video card, power supply or CPU), then it's time to scrap the PC or keep it "as is" instead of upgrading. I have lots of extra RAM at home, but it's all old DDR/DDR2 stuff. If I have what you need, I'll gladly send it to you. Let me know!

Thanks again:

My Slimline is either 2006 or more recent, not really ancient.

I'll refer you back to the link you posted and say that I will go with their recommendation on memory spec. Please take a peek at it to ascertain if you have the right one in your repertoire. I didn't phone HP on this as in the past they razzle dazzled me, tried to sell me a 1 year contract and told me there was a for pay fee for answers.

I opened up the Slimline and found only 1 *( one ) available slot.

Greatly appreciated.

Bill Tibbe

Bill,
I just checked and your PC takes the "dreaded" PC2-6400 DDR2 RAM. I say "dreaded" because it's expensive. It would cost $60 to get the 4GB kit, which would max your system out and should run Win7 or Win8 very well. Unfortunately, I also use the same RAM in 2 of my PC's and I don't have any spare. In fact, I'm looking for a good deal on 4GB sticks of PC2-6400 and can't find any at a good price. You could look on eBay for used RAM but it won't be much cheaper, as I said, DDR2 has not come down in price like DDR3 has. Heck, I can buy an 8GB stick of DDR3 for $45, where 4GB of DDR2 is $60, see what I mean? Let me know if you need any other parts and I'll help if I can. Do you have a video card slot in that PC? That's another part you would want to upgrade, but slim profile video cards are harder to find than regular height cards... I just gave my last one away to a friend...

AZ:

I noticed on the website a scan feature so I ran it on the Slimline. It found my computer s3037c.

It takes DDR2 PC2 5300. That's not the same as the fs model.

Where I'm confused: It says it will take 2 GB and I have 1 GB installed. I opened the computer and saw what appears to me to be an empty slot. However the scan says - no - slots available ??????? The slot looks like others memory slots that I have seen before and I have added memory myself to other computers. So is that a memory slot?

I got on the Crucial.Com chat line and asked some questions. He gave me some info and a recommendation 1 GB. That is apparently all that I can use.

1 GB kit ( 512 MB x 2 ) $27.99. Looks like two of them.

1 GB $18.99 Looks like only one.

So what do you think? Is that a memory slot ? It is safe to order the 1 GB $18.99 ?

As to a video card, I don't see any other slots available. It's pretty crowded in there. Why do I need to upgrade the video? My monitor meets the resolution criteria.

I'll phone Crucial on Monday and talk some more before I order.

I bought the Windows 8 boxed software at Costco. It came with a 64 bit and a 32 bit disc. I installed the 64 bit on computer #2. I don't know it the 32 bit will install on my Slimline. Microsoft gets tricky about one license one install.

The clock is ticking on Microsoft's $39.99 download promo which apparently ends January 31, 2013. Then it jumps to $199.

___________________________________________________________________________

Again thank you for your attentive advice. Most helpful. Your offer was also very kind and considerate.

Hi there
Strangely enough DDR2 Memory is more expensive than the more modern DDR3 - and it's quite hard to find 4GB modules -- so if your computer only has 2 slots 4GB will probably be the max you can get. (Note DDR2 and DDR3 memory have different slot connections so you can't swap them).

If the computer has any SATA connections -- then an SSD will pay HUGE dividends as the boot and OS device.
If it only has IDE connections you can get a SATA controller card.

An SSD is one of the best ways of making an old computer really fly always assuming you have more than the bare minimum of RAM.

Most home users barely use a fraction of the CPU power available in modern CPU's --the bottleneck is 95% poor disk I/O, 4% lack of RAM and less than 1% of lack of CPU power.

I'm assuming you aren't into heavy Video editing / photoshop type of apps.

If you can get a minimum of 2 GB then windows 8 with an SSD will run fine even on a really old laptop --but you will need a SATA controller card --cheap enough.

Cheers
jimbo

Hello, my name is John . How may I help you?
William Tibbe: Hi John>
John : Hello
William Tibbe: I have an HP Slimline Pavilion . I ran your scan and got a recommendation. Need help.
John : What did the scan show?
William Tibbe: It showed several selections of memory varying in size.
William Tibbe: The computer is an HP Slimline s33037c.
William Tibbe: There was a notation no slot available ??? Don't understand
John : s33037c that can't be right. could you verify?
William Tibbe: Made a typo its s3037c
John : So you have two slots and both are filled, in in order to max that out to 2GB you would remove what you have and purchase CT686497
John : If you already have 2GB installed your already at max
William Tibbe: I don't have 2 GB, only 1 GB. I opened it up and there is an empty slot ???
John : So a single 1GB? then a second 1GB would probably fix you up.
John : click on "show all and a non kit 1GB will be what you need
William Tibbe: Sorry please ?
William Tibbe: What show all?
John : This one
John : 1GB, 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-5300 upgrades for HP - Compaq Pavilion Slimline s3037c Desktop/PC, CT686495 from Crucial.com
John : Is there anything else I can assist you with?
William Tibbe: before I lose you am I all set ?
John : you are all set

The DDR2 you need is the same at PC2-6400, just at a slower speed (PC2-5300 is 667mhz versus PC2-6400 at 800mhz). I'm almost positive that you can install 2x2GB RAM modules for a total of 4GB of RAM, but I'm not familiar with HP models and I couldn't find your model on the crucial.com website. What can make things confusing is that a model may have several versions due to different revisions of the motherboard. The "real" answer is to find the model and Rev # on the motherboard and look those up to see how much RAM you can use. The chipset determines what the board will allow in terms of RAM and CPU. A dedicated video card will ALWAYS perform better than onboard video, but I don't believe you have a video card slot on that model.

I agree with jimbo45 that an SSD would bring a significant improvement in performance and if the old PC dies, you can reuse the SSD in any other PC, as long as the PC has SATA port(s) available. Good luck!!

wetibbe▬ here's specs for your computer HP Pavilion Slimline s3307c Desktop PC Product Specifications HP Pavilion Slimline s3307c Desktop PC | HP® Support

& GUIDES found them here
Manuals for HP Pavilion Slimline s3037c Desktop PC | HP® Support=&

Start Here Guide ›http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00843730.pdf
PC Troubleshooting and Maintenance Guide ›http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00829591.pdf
Getting Started Guide ›http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00839729.pdf
HP Pavilion Home PC - Setup Poster ›http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00839729.pdf
Upgrading and Servicing Guide ›http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c00877796.pdf

It's really not worth upgrading because of RAM limitation if nothing else. I'm not sure how it rates with an intel Core 2 Duo.
I've got several friends running these free computers. All were running XP on older computers and wanted 7.
Actually it costs $169.00 but my friends think of it as buying the Windows 7 PRO 64-bit disk for $139.00 + $30.00 labor to install it on a computer = FREE COMPUTER. Hard to argue with that logic!
A few swapped out the original 2 GB PC5300 RAM for 8 GB PC6400 RAM and no regrets. The removed RAM got passed along so they all have 4 GB PC5300 or 8 GB PC6400.
HP Compaq dc7800 Small Form Factor PC - Intel Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz, 2GB DDR2, 80GB HDD, Combo, Windows 7 Professional 64-Bit (Off-Lease) at TigerDirect.com

Great info !

Thank you all responders.

Very informative and helpful.

Friends:

I want to thank all again for the help. And to write the final sad chapter in the hope that it may be of some benefit.

Yesterday I received the 1 GB memory card *( Around $20 with tax ). It does not fit the open slot I can see. It is much too long.

As careful as I was evaluating and as much as everyone helped it didn't seem possible to understand until I physically had the DIMM in my hand.

* When I ran the evaluation/recommendation on Crucial.Com * ( Which was excellent ) I got the message no slot available. Yet it recommended the upgrades. Further the tech support rep that I chatted with recommended the 1GB 240-PIN DIMM 128Mx64 DDR@ and glossed over my question. He confirmed that I was "all set". I wasn't!

I cashed in and threw in the towel. The DIMM doesn't fit. I don't have the GB criteria.

I won't return the DIMM for credit. I will chalk it up to experience. I will return the Windows 8 Pro to Costco for credit and leave the Win Vista alone on # 3 computer.

What type of RAM is it? I may be able to buy it from you and save you a little aggravation! Is it PC2-6400 DDR2, by any chance?

It's 1GB 240 pin- DIMM 128Mx64 DDR2 PC2-5300 UNBUFFERED

Haven't as yet decided finally what to do.

I'll lay it on the shelf for the time being as a spare backup.

It isn't worth messing with any more.

That's really strange. Your motherboard:

Motherboard Specifications, M2NC51-AR (HematiteXL) | HP® Support

At the risk of giving insult: the RAM goes in the two blue slots. Even if it was the wrong type (DDR or DDR3, rather than the DDR2 you need), it would be about the right length. Wouldn't fit, but the length would be right.

I'm trying to think of how it could be too long, and drawing a blank. The old 72 pin SDRAM is shorter. I don't recall the length of Rambus memory, but that hardly matters, because Crucial has never sold it. (They are the retail arm of Micron, who never made Rambus RAM.) There are older memory types, but probably hard to get in the 21st century.

One thing to do would be to pop out the existing DIMM and compare it to the new one.