Computer upgrade advice please!?

Question

I have a desktop Presario with: AMD Athlon 2.8Ghz
80GB Hard Drive and 512MB DDR SDRAM 333Mhz.
It has two memory slots each capable of taking 1GB memory.
The computer is very slow now. Would this upgrade improve its overall performance? Maybe the processor is two slow? Please help and THANK YOU!

Answer 1

Thats not a bad chip, but the memory is slow, I'd get as much memory in there as I could.
The problem is more likely to be that your Windows is full of crud, and thats why its slowed down. You just need to do a bit of housekeeping.
You could go for a complete re-format and clean install, its the fastest way. Or you could take a couple of days to clean it up.
Uninstall any programs you don't need, and delete any files you don't need.
Back up any files you want to keep off the pc.
Then defragment the hard drive from Start - Programs -accessories - system tools - disc defragmenter. Just leave it alone while it runs.
Then install and run Ccleaner. You need to use the Cleaner, and the Issues tool to remove unneeded registry entries - just remember to do them a few at a time not all at once,and back up the registry each time. That way if you do remove something you needed, you've only got a few things to re-install.
Update and run all your security software, preferably in Safe Mode; then defragment again.
Jobs a good 'un!

Before attempting to remove malware you must switch off System Restore as back up files will be hiding in there, and it will just restore itself. Go to Start - programs - accessories - system tools - system restore.
Run Avast and Ewido in Safe Mode. To get into Safe Mode repeatedly press the F8 key after the bios screen loads but before Windows loads. You'll know if you made it because the screen will be at 800 x 600 and your pc will be slow.

Then beef up your security. Its easier to prevent malware getting on to your sytem in the first place rather than trying to remove it.

The Windows firewall doesn't stop malware on your pc from dialling out. Either of these firewalls are free for personal use and stop unwanted incoming and outgoing traffic. You choose which programs are allowed to access the internet. They are both fairly easy to use and updated regularly.
http://www.zonelabs.com Zone Alarm firewall
http://www.kerio.com Kerio firewall

Shields Up security site, check your firewall works
https://www.grc.com

http://www.mozilla.com/ Firefox web browser
http://www.opera.com/ Opera web browser
Instal both these web browsers, turn off javascript on one and use that browser for vising unknown websites. They don't support Active X so thats one less way for problems to get on your pc.

Winpatrol is a handy utility that tracks cookies on your pc and stops unwanted changes to your startup folder.
http://www.winpatrol.com

Spywareblaster works with Internet Explorer and Firefox. It won't uninstall spyware that is already on your pc, but it will prevent hijacks and other malicious changes to your browser.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com

http://www.siteadvisor.com -Site Advisor warns about malware on sites you are about to visit.

http://www.avast.com - Avast Antivirus

http://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/ - Trend Micro online virus guide
http://housecall.trendmicro.com/ - Trend Micro PCillin online scan

http://www.ewido.net - Ewido anti trojan

Ad-Aware SE Personal anti adware
http://www.lavasoft.com

Spybot Search and Destroy anti spyware
http://www.safer-networking.org

http://spywarewarrior.com/rogue_anti-spyware.htm - The Spyware Warrior site identifies fake anti spyware programs.

http://www.bitdefender.com -BitDefender can be used as a second, on demand anti virus.

http://www.ccleaner.com Cr*pcleaner Registry cleaner and privacy tool

You can also download Microsofts free Windows Defender from the official Microsoft site, and the Malicious Software Removal Tool.

Remember to update and run all of you anti malware programs at least once a week.

Answer 2

Replacing the 512Mb with 2Gb will certainly give you a noticeable difference. But also consider investing in a larger hard drive (eg.200Gb) and partition half of it for the system swap files on their own...this will allow your hard drive to take some of the processing strain too.

Personally, my machine is only a 2.6GHz Athlon, but it runs at a good speed using a 200Gb hard drive (partitioned as mentioned above) and 1.5Gb of RAM.

I must say though that regular defragmenting will help as will general "good housekeeping" - ie clearing off unwanted files, virus checking, adware checking, emptying your recycle bin etc etc.

Also, using a freeware program such as TuneXP, downloadable here:

http://www.download.com/TuneXP/3000-2086_4-10290928.html?tag=lst-0-1

will help speed up and maximise your system performance too. Its free and its very easy to use (the help file steps you through the "tweaks") and you'll probably notice at least a 15-20% increase in speed by using it.

Hope that helps.

Answer 3

First off, it depends what you mean by slow. If you mean when you load programs and after you exit them, you feel a lag, then you need more ram. 512mb of ram is more then enough if all you do is use AOL Instant Messenger and browse the web. If you are playing games or loading big applications, then you need more ram. If you mean slow while playing games, you need a better video card. But I assume you are just browsing the web and loading some mid level applications, so you should buy another 512mb of ram to add to your current 512mb to get 1gb of ram. 1gb of ram is plenty even for games. Unless you play the top end games and max out all the graphics, then you should get more then 1gb of ram total. Right now I am browsing the web, using AOL Instant Messeger, listening to music, and playing counter-strike with only 1gb of ram(pc2-6400), but it is just enough for me. After loading all those stuff, I have about 200mb of ram left over out of the 1gb. I take it that your ram is pc2 - 5300/5400. In conclusion, I think it is your ram, and that you should upgrade to at least 1gb total.

Answer 4

Upgrade your ram, 1 GB 400MHz DDR2 ram will make a nice improvement. Also for a VERY nice proformance increase upgrade your motherboard. If your motherboard is the factory stock that came with your computer on purchase it is probably low end (they rip people off this way) not running at much more than 400MHz. Upgrading to a motherboard that has 800MHz FSB speed will nearly double a computer's performance that has a 400MHz or lower FSB speed (since every component on a computer has to go through the motherboard!).
GL :)

Answer 5

Too slow to do what? Your spec looks good enough to run applications like MS Word or Excel well, but not the latest games.

If it's slower than when you first bought it, it's very likely not your hardware.

These are a few things that it could be:
a) Spyware. Use a program like Spybot to remove these.
b) Fragmented harddrive. Use Windows Defragmenter
c) Buggy drivers. Did you notice the computer slow down after you installed something?

Answer 6

get a nvidia 7600gs agp and 2 512 sticks of 3200 ddr and put them in dual channel if ur board allows ... that should do it ... upgrading the memory alone will not play the latest games ... that 7000 card is probably choking on 3 year old games already .. u need a card to ..

Answer 7

I assumed you are running Microsoft XP, Is there overall system seems slow to you or any particular program is running slow? Have you defrag your hard disk recently ?

Answer 8

bfore attaching a ram you should go through the m/b manual to see that the m/b has capacity to handle the ram or not. simply by add ram may not always speed up your pc. try diskclean up utilities in windows (if you have).

Answer 9

Yes it would help. You need at least a gig of RAM now. Do your computer maintenance, too, and defrag and clean disk.

Answer 10

do the reformat
i will do you wonders
and talking abt speed
i have 1.8gz herz intel
40 gb hd 256mb ram
and my computer is cruszzzing