Computer Performance/Upgrade

Joshua312 · 06-14-06, 11:46

Well I just recieved the Studio 8 suite and with all the programs loaded on my computer is running a little slower...and when Im running dreamweaver or fireworks sometimes they lag behind. Should I upgrade my RAM or processor...something else? Today I went through my whole computer and cleaned it free of 2 gb.

- - Edit: Thanks to Memoryx.com I found the info needed for my specific computer..Just need to know should I purchase two 512mb cards (1 gb of memory) or two 1 gb cards (2 gb of memory) -- 1 gb should be enough dont you think?

2.5RS · 06-14-06, 02:32

I'm sure there are plenty out there with more knowledge than I, but I believe windows has a hard time using more than 2GB of total RAM. I would say upgrading to 1.5 (your existing plus the 1G purchase) total would be a pretty good step. Also, often when a computer slows down after software installation its because the setup process loads the program at startup and sort of holds it in the background so that when you click it it takes less time to load. I typically use spybot to check the system startup procedure and remove programs that I don't need wasting processer speed all of the time. You may also want to find a program that checks for dead registry links and cleans them up, that helps a bit as well.
Good Luck!

- Andrew

autobahn · 06-14-06, 02:59

what you SHOULD do is back up all your work files and wipe the drive and reinstall windows, then only install the programs you need.

then, if your computer is still running like ***, upgrade the memory.

1.7ghz should be good enough to run day-to-day without seeming slow.

also, laptops are inherently slow because they use slow hard drives.

Grouse · 06-14-06, 07:00

as a general rule you don't mix memory sizes and speeds. so if you have 1.5 gigs at ddr 3200 then you have 3 512 sticks, and you would want to pick up the same ram with the same ddr 3200 and same cas in a 512 meg size. that will give you two full gigs.

aside from that it is also not advisable to run 4 full banks of memory unless you NEED 4 full banks.

If it was me and i had to BUY something. i would buy a matched set of 2 1 gig sticks. As the gentleman above me said. buy a copy of xp, it is likely your sony just has a gaspumped xp.

back up all your data.

install xp, format the drive and start from scratch. Follow blackvipers xp guide or tweakguides xp install guide. then install only those things you need.

if it still seems slow then buy the ram.

Millermagic · 06-16-06, 06:29

Get the most memory that both your setup and motherboard can support. You won't regret it in the long run.

I have two computers running Windows XP Pro with 512mb of ram. One of them is my web/file/print server, which is okay and one is used as a regular pc. If you're using it for anything more than just internet browsing or word processing, 512 is really as low as you want - I'm always running out of memory (I use free ram xp pro to monitor memory usage). When you run out of RAM you using pagefile on the hard drive and then you run slow and heat up and wear out your hard drive.

SilverLexus · 06-16-06, 08:27

Buy a Mac and you won'y have to deal with all this instability in the OS.

Joshua312 · 06-17-06, 04:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilverLexus

Buy a Mac and you won'y have to deal with all this instability in the OS.

oooh trust me you dont know how bad I want one

I have to wait till August though when I go back to school so I can give this laptop to my mom and I can get the new MacBook Pro