Upgrading RAM

[Mighty]

Hello All,

I was running XP on 512 mb Ram and I have just purchased a 1 gig stick
and added that to the computer making it 1.5 gig..... My question is -
what should I be noticing a difference on because like a sad numpty I
timed the machine to boot up (2m16 before 2m9now for everything incl.
antivirus) and then little things like how long to open ITunes (25secs
before 25secsnow) etc. etc.

I expected my machine to run faster than linford christie in his day
but now am a little confused as to the difference it has made - When I
go to desktop and system it shows that the pc has 1.5 gig memory ?

I am not all that computer literate so any advice will be kindly
recieved -

Thanks

 

[Bob I]

Unless you have enough programs open to be hitting the swapfile you
wasted your money buying more RAM.

 

[Dave Cohen]

Unless you have enough programs open to be hitting the swapfile you
wasted your money buying more RAM.

You listened to all those NG posts, many of which are the one copying
the other, telling you more memory never hurts and can only improve
performance.
The first statement is true, the slightly longer start up time is
because the bios is kind enough to make a quick check on installed
memory amongst other things and more memory will take a little longer to
check. Other than that it certainly won't do any harm except to your wallet.
The second statement CAN be true. Certain applications including photo
editing software working with raw files, huge spreadsheets etc can
benefit by more memory. The need for more memory is evident when the
machine starts swapping stuff in and out of page file.
But fear not, Microsoft right now is busy figuring out how to make even
more bloated software that will need ever more computer power including
memory, so eventually your investment will pay off.
Dave Cohe

 

[Guest]

for the result you were looking for, maybe it would have been better to get a
new processor.

 

[Yves Leclerc]

Depending on how you use your system, 512MB is the optimal size for RAM. If
you are "multi-tasking" , running extensive graphical programs (CAD or movie
editing) or 3D games, then you may not see a "vast" speed improvement.

Boot-up is NOT usually affected by adding RAM.

 

[Jerry]

Go back and re-read the motherboard manual. You might have been better off
installing another 512Mb stick if your mobo allows for hyperthreading- which
requires memory sticks to be in 'pairs'.

Then, with more memory and hyperthreading invoked your subjective 'speed'
would havbe probably been 'faster'.

 

[RJK]

House Keeping ! How much "not really" needed junk is being loaded at
startup ? This is probably what's helping to prolong your boot-up time.
..have you ever offline chkdsk'd your boot drive and defragmented your
swapfile, and other files normally locked into position, in Windows Normal
Mode, using something like DiskKeeper or PerfectDisk ? ...and then
defragmented your drives in Windows Normal Mode as well ?

(...of course you would have a FULL backup {one that's been proved to work
btw} ready to hand in case your Windows collapses under such a procedure
! )

You may have an option in BIOS to switch off a full memory check.

regards, Richard

 

[RJK]

"Dual-channel memory" controllers require "pairs" of memory modules.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel

"Hyperthreading" is something else !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyper-threading

regards, Richard

 

[Ron Martell]

Hello All,

I was running XP on 512 mb Ram and I have just purchased a 1 gig stick
and added that to the computer making it 1.5 gig..... My question is -
what should I be noticing a difference on because like a sad numpty I
timed the machine to boot up (2m16 before 2m9now for everything incl.
antivirus) and then little things like how long to open ITunes (25secs
before 25secsnow) etc. etc.

I expected my machine to run faster than linford christie in his day
but now am a little confused as to the difference it has made - When I
go to desktop and system it shows that the pc has 1.5 gig memory ?

I am not all that computer literate so any advice will be kindly
recieved -

Adding more memory can noticeably improve performance only if the
added memory results in reduced usage of the virtual memory paging
file. Therefore if the paging file is not currently being used to any
significant extent then adding more memory will not provide a
significant improvement.

Unfortunately there is no ready way of determing actual paging file
usage provided with Windows XP - it does not have an equivalent to the
'Memory Manager - Swap File In Use" reporting provided by the System
Monitor utility in Windows 95/98/Me.

There is a free utility that you can download and run which will
provide this information for you. It was written by MVP Bill James and
you can get if from
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_pagefilemon.htm or from
http://billsway.com/notes_public/WinXP_Tweaks/

If that utility shows actual page file usage of 50 mb or more on a
regular basis then that is indicative of fairly significant paging
file activity. Adding more RAM will reduce or even eliminate entirely
this activity thereby improving performance.

This apples regardless of how much or how little RAM is currently
installed in the computer, at least up to the 4 gb RAM maximum for
Windows XP.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca
Syberfix Remote Computer Repair

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Rock]

Hello All,

I was running XP on 512 mb Ram and I have just purchased a 1 gig stick
and added that to the computer making it 1.5 gig..... My question is -
what should I be noticing a difference on because like a sad numpty I
timed the machine to boot up (2m16 before 2m9now for everything incl.
antivirus) and then little things like how long to open ITunes (25secs
before 25secsnow) etc. etc.

I expected my machine to run faster than linford christie in his day
but now am a little confused as to the difference it has made - When I
go to desktop and system it shows that the pc has 1.5 gig memory ?

I am not all that computer literate so any advice will be kindly
recieved -

Thanks

Adding RAM will boost performance if in the current state the page file is
being used extensively. This depends on how much memory is installed and
what programs you run. For many people 512 MB is sufficient. Go to this
link and read this article on Virtual Memory in XP and setting the page
file. There is a link there to a utility that you can use to monitor how
much the page file is actually being used. Try it with just the 512 MB of
memory and then with the extra memory stick.

Virtual Memory in Windows XP
http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/xpvm.htm

More memory will not speed up boot time. The slow boot time, and is due to
the large number of applications that startup when the computer starts.
What is the malware status of the computer? Make sure the computer is clean
of malware. I have included some links for that. Do some research on
what's starting up and decide which apps you don't need. Look in task
manager to see what's running. Here are some research sites to find out
what these apps are.

Research sites
www.google.com
http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm
http://castlecops.com/StartupList.html
http://www.theeldergeek.com/services_guide.htm

Note: Be cautious in stopping services. Make sure you know the impact
before doing that. To stop an app from starting when windows boots the
first step should be to check in the options for the program you don't want
to start and see if there is a setting to tell it not to run at startup.
The next step is to remove any entries you don't want from the two startup
folders:

C:\Documents and Settings\<username>\Start Menu\Programs\Startup
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Programs\Startup

For anything else uncheck their entries in the startup tab of msconfig:
Start | Run | Msconfig | Ok

Another option is to remove the reference to them from one of these keys in
the registry:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce

Make sure you have a backup of the registry using a program like ERUNT
before making any changes to the registry.

ERUNT
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/
http://www.larshederer.homepage.t-online.de/erunt/erunt.txt

Installing and Using ERUNT
http://www.silentrunners.org/sr_eruntuse.html
http://www.winxptutor.com/regback.htm

Malware Removal

THE PARASITE FIGHT
Finding, Removing & Protecting Yourself From Scumware
http://aumha.org/a/parasite.htm

Richard Harper's Guide to Cleaning Pests
http://rgharper.mvps.org/cleanit.htm

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

PC Hell Spyware and Adware Removal Help
http://www.pchell.com/support/spyware.shtml

http://mvps.org/winhelp2002/unwanted.htm

Lastly here is a link with tips on dealing with a slow computer
http://www3.telus.net/dandemar/slowcom.htm

 

[Alias~-]

But fear not, Microsoft right now is busy figuring out how to make even
more bloated software that will need ever more computer power including
memory, so eventually your investment will pay off.
Dave Cohe

Whew, what a relief!

Alias

 

[Alias~-]

Hello All,

I was running XP on 512 mb Ram and I have just purchased a 1 gig stick
and added that to the computer making it 1.5 gig..... My question is -
what should I be noticing a difference on because like a sad numpty I
timed the machine to boot up (2m16 before 2m9now for everything incl.
antivirus) and then little things like how long to open ITunes (25secs
before 25secsnow) etc. etc.

I expected my machine to run faster than linford christie in his day
but now am a little confused as to the difference it has made - When I
go to desktop and system it shows that the pc has 1.5 gig memory ?

I am not all that computer literate so any advice will be kindly
recieved -

Thanks

Get a faster processor if you want things to go faster, more memory if
you want the computer to do more simultaneous tasks. For example, an AMD
64 will run circles around an AMD Duron, both with 1 gig of memory.

Alias

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I was running XP on 512 mb Ram and I have just purchased a 1 gig stick
and added that to the computer making it 1.5 gig..... My question is -
what should I be noticing a difference on because like a sad numpty I
timed the machine to boot up (2m16 before 2m9now for everything incl.
antivirus) and then little things like how long to open ITunes (25secs
before 25secsnow) etc. etc.

I expected my machine to run faster than linford christie in his day
but now am a little confused as to the difference it has made - When I
go to desktop and system it shows that the pc has 1.5 gig memory ?

Unfortunately there are many well-meaning but misinformed people who will
tell you that more memory is better and the more you have, the faster the
computer will run. This is *not* true.

The issue is with the page file. If Windows doesn't have enough memory to
run the apps you run, it uses the page file, which is simulated memory on
the hard drive. Because using the hard drive is mechanical, not electronic,
it is many times slower than RAM and using it hurts your performance.

If you have 128MB of RAM you will be using the page file significantly if
you do much more than play solitaire. So adding enough memory to get you to
256MB or 512MB will greatly speed things up. But once you have 512
(sometimes even less) most people will hardly use the page file at all, and
more memory does *nothing* for them.

So you get good performance if the amount of RAM you have keeps you from
using the page file, and that depends on what apps you run. Most people
running a typical range of business applications find that somewhere around
256-384MB works well, others need 512MB. Almost anyone will see poor
performance with less than 256MB. Some people, particularly those doing
things like editing large photographic images, can see a performance boost
by adding even more than 512MB--sometimes much more.

It would appear that with the apps you run, 512MB is enough to keep you from
using the page file and the extra memory is a waste for you.

 

[RJK]

128kb L2 cpu on-die cache = HIDEOU = NEVER try to do more than one thing at
a time. (even with enough RAM fitted!)
256kb L2 cpu on-die cache = ...one can just about scrape along running more
than one app.
512kb L2 cpu on-die cache = heaven ...personally, ...couldn't make do
with anything less.
....more than 512 L2 cpu on-die cache = much better.

....that's assuming that all the above have 512mb system memory fitted.

....well, that's my opinion !

regards, Richard

 

[RJK]

128kb L2 cpu on-die cache = HIDEOU"S" = NEVER try to do more than one
thing at a time. (even with enough RAM fitted!)
256kb L2 cpu on-die cache = ...one can just about scrape along running
more than one app.
512kb L2 cpu on-die cache = heaven ...personally, ...couldn't make do
with anything less.
...more than 512 L2 cpu on-die cache = much better.

...that's assuming that all the above have 512mb system memory fitted.

...well, that's my opinion !

regards, Richard

 

[Mighty]

Guys -

Thanks for all your advice - I will do all the bits and pieces people
have said and I have also e-mailed the place I bought my pc asking what
processors I can get - I will probably be posting again soon asking how
to replace the processor lol

Cheers

 

[Mighty]

OK All....

£80 down and no speed increase I have now decided to (maybe) upgrade
the Processor - I currently have AMD ATHLON 64 3000+ 1.8GHZ S939 512KB
FSB1000 Venice.....

.....My question is would I notice the difference I have been looking
for by upgrading this to a AMD Athlon 64 3700+ 2.2GHZ S939 1024KB SAN
DIEGO ?

I just want a pc that is very responsive - Also is upgrading the
processor an easy job like upgrading the memory ?