Updating RAM?

Question

I want to update my ram as my pc so slow currently using 254mb ram which is not good!!! When burning dvds or even using firefox my pc will be running at 100% which I know it never should! Ive no viruses ive checked and am using Nod32 and anti spyware progs.. My question is will updating to 1G make a big diffrrence my manual says using DDR PC3200 so do i Need to but similer but oviously more RAM.... Oh and my fan makes quiet a bit a noise will fixing RAM fix this to ??????

Answer 1

Go to crucial ram

http://www.crucial.com/

Allow the website to scan your PC and it will make recommendations on how to upgrade your RAM. 1GB from 256Mb will make LOTS of difference to your cpu's performance.

Your Fan speed has nothing to do with your RAM, if you can access the BIOS system settings, you should be able to adjust the idle speed of your cooling fans.

Your fans may be working overtime because of a poorly performing PSU, I'd look into getting some new fans, heat sinks and maybe a new PSU if its causing that much trouble.

Answer 2

Increasing your RAM to 1Gig will make a HUGE difference. Windows, along with other programs that are probably running all the time on your computer are probably using up as much (or more) than 3/4 of the memory you have now, leaving only a small amount for "other stuff". Increasing your ram to 1gig will actually mean increasing your free memory by a factor of dozens, not just 3. (Purely for demonstrative purposes, assume your PC is using 200mb just being on - your FREE memory - available for other tasks - will increase from a little over 50mb to a little over 700mb - an obvious benefit)

As for fan noise - some fans are just noisy and there's nothing you can do about it without replacing them - there are some excellent 3rd party coolers out there which are inexpensive and will dramatically lower both temperatures and noise - I personally reccomend Arctic Cooling Freezers - they're available for most modern CPU's and work a treat. Not all PC's adjust fan speed with temperature so while some of the other answers COULD be correct about the fan slowing down, be aware that this MIGHT not be the case in your particular PC.

Don't worry about your PC working at 100% - it will do that regularly no matter how much memory you have - My PC has 3Gig of ram and the CPU still goes up to 100% regularly - all this is, is your computer using what it has to do what you want as quickly as possible.

Answer 3

RAM is not a reason to get 100% CPU utlisation. Check out
which processes are causing CPU to run at 100%.
Regarding the fan noise as the CPU goes to 100% utlisation
it heats up and hence fan speed increases as a response to
this heat. The noise should stop once the CPU is idle
if not lightly pat your cabinet (this works for me I call this manual booting) if the noise is still present check if the fans are installed correctly.

Answer 4

1Gb RAM is optimum when using Win XP. Processor running at 100% has little to do w/ RAM but more w/ the programs and processes in the background. RAM has nothing to do with fan noise. If your processor is always busy, it gets hot, so the fan speeds up. If case ventilation is poor, the fan will always be at full speed. Make sure the back of the case is not too close to the wall.

Answer 5

It is not the the fault of ram that ur system runs at 100%.
i am personally using 3.0Ghz at 1Gb Ram still using Firefox takes it to 100%.

it is a fault of Firefox and is going to be fixed in release 3.
Beta release 3 is available at firefox's website.

If u still want ur ram to be upgraded consult www.experts-exchange.com

Answer 6

upgrading a computer using 256mb of ram is not the best solution. yes it will go faster but buying a new computer that uses ddr2 ram will be better. it sounds like it needs to be replaced.

Answer 7

Check with Crucial.com to see if you can update RAM