Upgrading my HP Pavilion DV5 - What can I do?

[azz1844]

Hi all,

I have an HP Pavilion DV5 1110em, a decent notebook when I got it some years ago, with the benefit of a Blu-Ray drive built in. I was looking to get a replacement, but most of the notebooks within my budget aren't SO much better that I can warrant spending several hundred quid, so I was wondering what I can do to upgrade my current unit, or more specifically, what about it is WORTH upgrading?

Current Specs:

PROCESSOR: AMD Turion X2 Dual-Core Mobile RM-72 2.10GHz
RAM: 3GB DDR2 PC2-6400 -- 3072 MB (1 x 1024 MB + 1 x 2048 MB) (max 8GB)
STORAGE: 250GB SATA HDD (5400rpm)

So, is it worth me upgrading any of these?:
CPU is apparently "upgradeable". This isn't something I'm willing to do myself, as a video I have watched involves taking the thing to absolute pieces to change the CPU and I'm not confident enough in my hardware skills to do that. However, if I WAS to get a pro (or a good friend willing to do it for me if I buy him dinner) to do it, what are my limitations in what I can upgrade it to? How much better a CPU could I get, and would it be worth it?
RAM is upgradeable to 8GB, but at what point will I not notice any difference? Bearing in mind the current processor, is it worth going higher than the current 3GB?
STORAGE Probably the simplest one - upgrade the SSD. I am ASSUMING this unit has SATA-2 (3GB/s), which I've read will still give a SSD a significant advantage over a HDD, but how do I check what SATA version it is, and are there any other compatibility issues I need to look out for?

My main uses for this machine are work (which involves a lot of software multitasking, but nothing too graphic intensive) retro games and videos (including HD video / Blu-Ray via the HDMI).

Many thanks in advance for any help or advice given!

Azz

 

[boosted1g]

If it is a 32 bit OS you wont be able to handle more then 4GB of ram period.
I think you would notice a jump to 6gb, but DDR2 ram is expensive, i think a 4GB dimm is $100.

SSD would bring some new life into your PC, and you can always use that for any other PC. This to me is the best upgrade canidate.

CPU, there might be a faster clock version availible for your laptop but not a improved product line (like going form a pentium D to an i5), and you wont see enough bennifit from getting a faster speed cpu to justify the cost and time to replace it (assuming it is not soldered directly to motherboard).

 

[azz1844]

If it is a 32 bit OS you wont be able to handle more then 4GB of ram period.
I think you would notice a jump to 6gb, but DDR2 ram is expensive, i think a 4GB dimm is $100.

SSD would bring some new life into your PC, and you can always use that for any other PC. This to me is the best upgrade canidate.

CPU, there might be a faster clock version availible for your laptop but not a improved product line (like going form a pentium D to an i5), and you wont see enough bennifit from getting a faster speed cpu to justify the cost and time to replace it (assuming it is not soldered directly to motherboard).

Thanks boosted1g. I didn't know that about DDR2 RAM, just had a look and you're right. A 4GB stick is minimum £75, which really isn't worth it. I think probably just getting a SSD is the way to go - as you suggested, I can then use that in another machine later if I do decide to replace my current machine.

 

[murrayotl]

I just did a little work on a dv5 1235dx. I put in a Crucial SSD and maxed out memory at 8GB. The biggest problem is the Wireless. I couldn't find an upgrade for the network adapter card. I did put a Linksys WUSB wireless adapter in that help some.I really liked the laptop all around but, HP whitelisted certain parts and the wireless upload/download speeds has passed it by.I still use it though and found upgrade hardware cheap by waiting and watching for deals. I used refurbished parts from Linksys, Crucial had sales on last year's model SSD and Memory came from Amazon. It was from a supplier that purchased bulk for a government job and had to sell leftovers at their cost.
If I had to do it again I might just buy a new laptop.