Upgrading memory

[JeeatTT]

Some time ago I upgraded a PC from 512MB to 1.5GB by adding a 1GB RAM chip.

However, the CPU is still struggling as my monitors show it working on "red alert" at the same times as the machine becomes very, very slow to respond to any commands - also when printing.

I want to replace the 512MB chip with a 1GB one - I may possibly have one in stock, but not all my chips are labelled with the memory size and speed. Is there any way of testing them to find out this info so I can re-use them in other PCs that are struggling with lack of RAM ??

I looked at the cost of new chips but they were coming up really expensive at £18 for a 1GB chip (many of my PCs are half that !) - they're 184 pin DIMM DDR 2700 for an older Pentium 4.

Is taking the memory up to 2GB likely to make a noticeable difference to the performance ?


Regards,
Julia

 

[wahnula]

The difference from 1.5 to 2GB will probably not be too apparent...but that's hard to say since you did not mention the PC's specs. We're really hardware-oriented in this forum, we want to know EVERYTHING about the PC in question, it helps to visualize the different performance parameters and why you're experiencing those particluar results.

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[wahnula]

Anyway, for testing purposes, you can simply load up the chips one at a time (in a compatible PC) and boot into Windows. Right-click "My Computer" and it will tell you the RAM amount. If you want more info, run the Belarc Advisor. Rinse and repeat with all sticks, use a small stick-on label or mark in pencil on the back of one of the chips.

BTW print spooling is CPU-intensive, if you want to reduce the load either get a print-server router or hook up an old low-spec PC to the printer and share it over the network. I use my wife's PC as our network print server, I say it's because I always want her printer to work, and have the printouts close to her reach...

Tony

Users helping Users...

 

[goombawaho]

I would work on other items (startup items, type of AV installed, malware) that might be slowing your system down. 1.5GB of RAM is plenty by far for most people so I would think the slowness is coming from somewhere else.

Try Safe Mode - if it's not as sluggish in Safe Mode, then you need to start troubleshooting what I mentioned above.

Use Process Explorer to see "what's running now". Use Autoruns to see "what's trying to run at startup" and also to manually disable your AV just to see if it's hogging your resources. Use MalwareByte's Anti-Malware to scan for the little nasties that might be bugging you.

Give more info on the machine and type of AV, firewall, etc. that you are running.