Windows XP and RAM

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ravi
  • Start date Start date
R

Ravi

Hi folks, not sure if this has been discussed already, but
I wasn't able to find it.

I've got an P3 450 mhz with 128 MB ram and using XP pro.
I've found this machine as is reasonalbely fast, often
wonder if it would be a little faster on login/bootup if I
had more RAM. But until now I haven't put any serious
thought into this.

Now I'm trying to use Norton Internet Security 2004 and
Norton Antivirus. With that installed, my system has
become very slow. However niether the CPU is at 100% nor
available real memory is < 5MB.

Could all my problem be solved if I add more RAM or do
need a faster CPU.

Is there any other fine tuning I should be doing that can
help.

Could someone with a similar CPU/RAM comment on there
experience with XP and Norton.

thx
ravi
 
The main source of slow loads in your case is your hard drive speed.
Sophisticated :) utilities and the like will slow down both the load time
and the rest of your P3 450MHz machine. More RAM will not make a noticeable
difference in your boot times, but will make a difference after that.
So, a faster HDD is what you need first, then at least 128MB more RAM and a
faster P3 (1.2MHz) - don't spend more than $140 on all.
To fine tune: disable unnecessary XP services, reduce to a minimum any 3rd
party utilities (go for free AVG antivirus and free ZoneAlarm).
Unless you are immortal (and time doesn't matter to you), prepare to
build/buy a faster system; depending on what hardware you already have, you
might need to buy only a motherboard/CPU combo and 512MB DDR1 (can cost as
low as $250 if you shop around) - add a HDD that you'd have to buy anyway :)
Michael
 
my machine is p3 500mhz and 128mb memory with xp pro, its fine with these
trick:
-set the theme to classic view, and adjust windows to best performance.
-add new, faster and bigger harddrive. make 2 partitions, set the first one
as virtual memory (pagefile) and second as ur data. make pagefile at least 1
to 1.5 times memory u have (in this case 128mb) and make sure it formatted
with NTFS
-set ur page file from main drive (assuming C:) to new partition (assuming D:)
-dont instal program that not important or used frequently. i used free
antivirus, as long i updated it regularly it works just as rough as
expensive ones.
-keep ur drive health by cleaning, checking and defraging at regular time.
- dont forget to pray
 
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