RAM or CPU

[EscapE]

I have Windows XP with a

1.53 ghz AMD XP 1800+ Athlon Proccessor
352 MB of RAM

When I have a lot of windows opened or just downloaded a big file my computer seems to go slow. When my computer starts up it is a little slow and takes about 3-4 min (sad isn't it). Also when it has been on for a long time it also goes slow. My question is is this due to not having a fast enough CPU or not enough RAM? If so how much would you recommend?

My Mother Board supports up to a 4.0 ghz processor and only 1 GIG of RAM.

Thanks

(For those people who have seen me ask questions that have already been answered: I tried the "search" button for this one and nothing came up)

[QuickSurfer]

First I'd siggest you scan your computer for a virus and any ad-ware/spyware/malware etc.. that may be there. Adware can really slow down your computer if you have alot of it installed

[Krell]

I'm in a hurry so I'm going to give you the short and sweet of it

First, thx for searching, tells me youre not a total slacker.

Second, you have toooo much crap running in the background, yes, yes you do.


I want you to first tackle un-needed Services, by going to blackviper.com and going thru his XP Services list thoroughly.


Next, clear the Start up items from the Start up folder

Then, use MSCONFIG to deselect start up items that are not 100% essential.

Then, but more RAM, EXACTLY the same, not close . .. not similar, EXACTLY.


Do it in this order, run free . . .run fast

[EscapE]

Then, but more RAM, EXACTLY the same, not close . .. not similar, EXACTLY.

What do you mean "EXACTLY"

So I should get

352+352=704 MB of RAM?? or should I get 512(2) MB of RAM?

I am confused, I do not think that is even possible...:mellow

[Krell]

your ram has specifications, like 32 x 64, pc133 . . . etc etc . . whatever you have, you get the same of, and when its time to make the purchase, we can address that


it also depends on what you have such as 128 + 256 . . . use the Aida32 util to tell you what you need to know

[DigitalJunkie]

He means the same kind of memory chips in your box (DRAM or SDRAM, etc.)!

[EscapE]

Thanks I got it.

Just bought 512(2) PC2100 MB of RAM (182 pin)

yippie!

[Munchables]

www.pricewatch.com . The faster your HD is the faster load times are. The speed of you computer is based on how fast your prosser can talk with your ram. Also more ram DOES NOT MAKE YOU COMPUTER FASTER. UNLESS you are using more than you have, (read: virtural memory). Check how much you are using when your comp is 'slow.'

still need speed? Than get a new prosser. 1.53 athon, eeh. I have a 2.66 p4 and i still need speed.

It never ends.
Grass is always greener on the other side.

Peace

[Krell]

Originally posted by EscapE
Thanks I got it.

Just bought 512(2) PC2100 MB of RAM (182 pin)

yippie!

Then if its the exact same, yea ! If not, you failed.


When you get in in, Use Aida32 anyways

[Lucian]

My question is is this due to not having a fast enough CPU or not enough RAM? If so how much would you recommend?


Your computer is only as fast as your slowest component. I suggest you upgrade your harddrive. Get SCSI RAID, the Seagate Cheetah series is good, you need 2 Seagate Cheetahs, you connect them to your SCSI raid card, you reinstall windowsXP onto your new harddrive and your computer will be fast as hell.

IF this still isnt fast enough, delete XP and give Linux a try.

[Krell]

Bullshit, he didnt say he wanted to spend a ton of money to benchmark this in to oblivion, he asked a simple question RAM or CPU.

Now if you want to buy this for him, that's different, but dont come behind me complicating his life, and emptying his pockets.

I gave him simple instructions on improving his situation, what planet are YOU from?

[DainBramaged]

Definately have to agree with Krell on this one. For quite some time, RAM has been the easiest, cheapest way to dramatically improve PC performance--relative to other components, if nothing else.

[hawkburn]

Originally posted by EscapE
I have Windows XP with a

1.53 ghz AMD XP 1800+ Athlon Proccessor
352 MB of RAM

When I have a lot of windows opened or just downloaded a big file my computer seems to go slow. When my computer starts up it is a little slow and takes about 3-4 min (sad isn't it). Also when it has been on for a long time it also goes slow. My question is is this due to not having a fast enough CPU or not enough RAM? If so how much would you recommend?

My Mother Board supports up to a 4.0 ghz processor and only 1 GIG of RAM.

Thanks

(For those people who have seen me ask questions that have already been answered: I tried the "search" button for this one and nothing came up)


Well several things, if its on a while and gets slow and theres no other explanation, it could be heat. I HATE HEAT.

Anyway, dont put your box next to anything that is flammable (obviously) or near a wall and put it somewhere where air flow is awesome.

Second, if you dl a large file and its slow, restarting the computer (flushing the RAM) should work if its a RAM problem.

I have 1.5 GB RAM personally and it takes me about 1 minute to startup after I logon. BUT, I have a firewall, Norton SystemWorks, PGPDisk, Windows and AIM messaging, and keylogger.

Depends on the sys config.

[Krell]

bahhhh just clean up the freakin startup and whats running . .

whats the point of going SCSI and then still have all that nonsense going ?

Even if he goes with small drives for his O/S which are more affordable, why go thru the headaches expense? Im sure he's bright enough, but if he has to ask this question, he doesnt need to be configuring SCSI.

http://www.pricewatch.com/1/44/283-25.htm

http://www.pricewatch.com/1/26/2150-1.htm


Whatever happened to K.I.S.S. and First things first?

[isus]

you have a mobo that can support a 4ghz cpu? did i lose a few months of my life or something? what mobo is this? especially one that only supports 1 gig of ram.

if it was a typo, that's cool, if not, i wanna see this thing :-P

Lucian: "Get SCSI RAID"
ooooo my gawwwwd...

[phalkon30]

Isus, 1 gig of ram would be nothing on a motherboard, mine supports up to 3 gig (1gig in each slot)

I ran XP Pro with all services on a 233mhz P2 with 192meg of ram, it booted in less than 2 minutes and wasn't too slow. Your system should be plenty fast.

I have a very similar setup (XP 1800, 512meg ram). I've recorded boot times of about 30-35 seconds with bootvis. That was after doing some tweaking (mainly dissabling services I didn't need, see www.blkviper.com ). I also removed most startup programs, I'm down to 4 things loading on boot, 2 are from AV. Just because its not in the startup shortcut on the start menu, doesn't mean it isn't starting with windows. Spybot has an easy to acess startup CP.

Anyway, try some of the other suggestions, past reloading windows, I think thats all you can do.

-Do a spyware scan
-Do an anti virus scan
-Dissable any uneeded services
-Remove startup entrys you do not need.
-Defragment your HD

After you do that, tell us how its working for you.

[EscapE]

Holy Shit, you guys are great. A forum where people actually resond and answer my questions!

Thanks, "Krell"

you have a mobo that can support a 4ghz cpu? did i lose a few months of my life or something? what mobo is this? especially one that only supports 1 gig of ram.

Bought my mother board (or mobo as you call it) off of eBay. You can get 1 stick of 512 MB of RAM off of eBay for as low as $29.99 factory sealed in box. (Probably stolen).

Anyway, dont put your box next to anything that is flammable (obviously) or near a wall and put it somewhere where air flow is awesome.

Right next to my AC vent =)

still need speed? Than get a new prosser. 1.53 athon, eeh. I have a 2.66 p4 and i still need speed.

I just got my computer from of course, eBay for $399.99 with all the crap.

Thanks for the great responses guys!

I give you all 4 flamming frogs!
:fire :fire :fire :fire

[isus]

ahh, ebay... ok...

phalkon: i don't know if we are agreeing or not? lol... *shrug*

[Lucian]

"Bullshit, he didnt say he wanted to spend a ton of money to benchmark this in to oblivion, he asked a simple question RAM or CPU.

Now if you want to buy this for him, that's different, but dont come behind me complicating his life, and emptying his pockets.

I gave him simple instructions on improving his situation, what planet are YOU from?"


You like to argue dont you?

Was that post REALLY required?

[Lucian]

isus considering the type of computer hes running it makes no sense for him to be using IDE. Sure ram might make things alittle it faster, but if my computer with its 400mhz CPU runs faster than his pumped up super computer, its only faster because I'm using SCSI raid, his computer is more powerful, but he asked about speed not power.

Ram increases power, unless he gets some expensive ram, and alot of it, I think he'd be better off upgrading his harddrive.

As far as the price goes, he didnt set any price limits, but if theres a price limit, he can just get a serial ATA drive which is still faster than what hes using, with ease of use and cheap price.

[EscapE]

As far as the price goes, he didnt set any price limits, but if theres a price limit, he can just get a serial ATA drive which is still faster than what hes using, with ease of use and cheap price.

Money is no problem for me........

So I should upgrade my harddrive?

Can I still keep the other one in there?

Where are the best places to buy them?

[Lucian]

You want to get either serial ATA or SCSI RAID.

SCSI RAID is more expensive but its lightyears better. You need a RAID card, you need to buy two SCSI harddrives, although you can buy 3 if you really wanted to, 2 is all you need and you can actually have good speed with just one, the ideal is to get 2.

Seagate makes the best drive, the cheetah series is the best.


2 seagate cheetahs, 1 SCSI raid card, and some SCSI connector cables, you should be set.

[Krell]

Originally posted by Lucian
You like to argue dont you?

Was that post REALLY required?


Argue, not particulary, but I do enjoy being right, so yes, I thought it was required.


Youre not the first person to show up with extravagent work arounds to compensate for basic problems. Utra fast drives are NOT needed for file sharing, the only benefit to really fast driives is for launching an application, or intense apps that need a long time to process one operation, such as huge Photoshop or Premiere projects.

P2P does NOT benefit from SCSI. Or Ultra ATA for that matter.

I'm trying to save this person headeaches, such as compatibility problems with their RAM, and your trying to pursuade them to spend money frivalously. Stop taking advantage of naive people for your ego.


Also stop to think, there are a lot of hardware people here, so if anyone agreed with you, they would have already been helping this guy shop.

[Lucian]

I didnt really ask him why he wanted speed, you are right P2P wont really benefit from this at all unless he has a fibreoptic connection.

By the way heres links where you can buy harddrives, I was on my way out to see Terminator 3 earlier and didnt get a chance to fully reply

Heres the URL
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/Category/category_hdd.asp

Ok the configuration you'd need if you want to keep your current harddrive in place, you need 2 SCSI drives, you'd want to install or move your OS to the two SCSI drives, and store your files on your normal drive.

This would make your OS load faster, (thats how I do it) if you want your programs to load faster you keep your OS on your current drive, and you store your programs on the SCSI raid drives.

You can always just get a serial ATA drive, I think that might be fast enough for you if you just want to use it for P2P, if you are a gamer, or if you seriously want to take advantage of your CPU, go SCSI.

Escape, do not upgrade your harddrive until after you've upgraded your ram.

Krell I'm not trying to cause this guys any problems, its not about my ego, he did ask me for help, but I'll let him make the decision himself, I gave him the information, my suggestion is he tries using more/better quality ram, if he likes the speed he gets from this, he will be set, if he wants to take it to the extreme I gave him the information to do so.

I'll let him decide, its his money and his computer.

[CCSDUDE]

I swear...you people bicker more then a cunt wife and a drunk hubby....

He DOESN'T NEED a fucking SCSI drive...

The only reason to spend a shitload on some 10k RPM drive is if your capturing uncompressed Huffy video at straight up 640x480 and don't want a single frame dropped. And yes I know what I'm talking about as Krell and many others will tell you... I have a load of 10k drives and they ain't meant for long term p2p use....not by a long shot. They get hot....they're not very friendly when it comes to installing for newbies. And the price is insane for the space you get.

Now....Escape...lemmie ask you a few questions..

1 - What have you bought so far (since you posted this)?
2 - What was the outcome up Krell/Phalkon's info with spyware?
3 - Whats your boot time now?
4 - Whats the size of your current HD? RPM on said HD? 5400/7200/10k?
5 - How much cash do you have on hand to spend?
6 - What ATA does your motherboard support? (If you don't know...use AD like Krell said to give us detailed specs)

If your system is up to snuff in most areas then spending a bit here or there and cleaning house may get your system nice an perky. Cleaning house is a MAJOR plus...makes a world of difference just like it did on old p1's and p2's with 64mb of ram...(back when that was a shit load..lol)

Phalkon, a 160gb drive w/ 8mb cache (ATA 133) on one of my p3's (800mhz) boots up XP Pro just shy of 20 seconds...usually its around 23-25 cuz of the firewall's stupid ass splash screen. I tossed a 1gig of PC133 in so that may be the difference...but your running DDR, correct? I guess you have more services running then I do? Needed for your LAN and such...

[EscapE]

Krell I'm not trying to cause this guys any problems, its not about my ego, he did ask me for help, but I'll let him make the decision himself, I gave him the information, my suggestion is he tries using more/better quality ram, if he likes the speed he gets from this, he will be set, if he wants to take it to the extreme I gave him the information to do so.

Your NOT causing me any problems! Any tip is appreciated.

1 - What have you bought so far (since you posted this)?
2 - What was the outcome up Krell/Phalkon's info with spyware?
3 - Whats your boot time now?
4 - Whats the size of your current HD? RPM on said HD? 5400/7200/10k?
5 - How much cash do you have on hand to spend?
6 - What ATA does your motherboard support? (If you don't know...use AD like Krell said to give us detailed specs)

1) I bought some more RAM (DDR)-(1 GIG worth, hasn't came yet)
2) No Spyware (I think), I lot of "data miner cookies" [Are these bad?]
3)I opened up "msconfig" turned off about 15 things....boot time is about 15-20 seconds now =)
4)My harddrive is 40 GIG
5)$200.00-$500.00 is my limit
6)WTF is ATA and AD?

(I just bought my computer not too long ago, that is why I am updating it and changing stuff around)

(I have windows XP) one more thing when I hit [ctrl]-[alt]-[del] in t he "Performance Tab" and under "CPU Usage" it shows something called

"PF Usage" what is this?

My PF Usage is at {165 MB} is this normal?

Thanks,

--------------------------------
:shoot RIAA

[CCSDUDE]

Originally posted by EscapE
Your NOT causing me any problems! Any tip is appreciated.



1) I bought some more RAM (DDR)-(1 GIG worth, hasn't came yet)
2) No Spyware (I think), I lot of "data miner cookies" [Are these bad?]
3)I opened up "msconfig" turned off about 15 things....boot time is about 15-20 seconds now =)
4)My harddrive is 40 GIG
5)$200.00-$500.00 is my limit
6)WTF is ATA and AD?

(I just bought my computer not too long ago, that is why I am updating it and changing stuff around)

(I have windows XP) one more thing when I hit [ctrl]-[alt]-[del] in t he "Performance Tab" and under "CPU Usage" it shows something called

"PF Usage" what is this?

My PF Usage is at {165 MB} is this normal?

Thanks,

--------------------------------
:shoot RIAA


AD - Go look at one of Krell's posts it's a system details tool that will allow you to paste a load of system info into a post fast...no need to guess.

ATA is part of the IDE controller specs...ATA 33 would mean it's max output is 33mbs... Standard specs are as follows..

33
66
100
133

That's it I think..lol

Dataminer cookies aren't that bad...just cookies not spyware in the raw sense...IE exe files on your HD that load up and 'watch' what you do on line...all the time rather then a quick cookie read.

The specs look fine on your system...all I'd suggest is...

Get a new HD if you intend to download stuff off p2p like crazy...something in the range of 80-160gb should do you fine. 160gb WD special edition drive I picked up was only 150 bucks...so I bought 2. They're friggin great for the price...so I'd suggest one of 'em as to not break the bank.

As for the RAM...your system may use PC133 spec ram..in which case the ram you bought is worthless in the current system. Not a big deal though as whatever system you buy down the line that uses an AMD mobo will probably have DDR ram rather then the older PC133.

And last...lol

PF Means Page File it's basically space on your HD that acts as 'ram' when you run outta real memory. XP trades off between real ram and temp space on the HD so 165mb isn't much...if the ram you get works with your mobo then you should see that PF drop into the 20-40mb range when you have the system on for days.

Hope that answers most of your questions.