New PC time.......again.

Miroslav

macman wrote: »

Nothng wrong with your linespeed-over 5MBps.
A 3 year old PC should not stutter while playing back video. Make and model?
I'd start with a general clean up with CCleaner, get rid of some of the pointless toolbars (Bing etc).
XP will run OK on 1GB, but 2GB is always better. If you can use a screwdriver then you can add RAM modules-it's a 10 minute job.
You do not have a separate graphics card-you have onboard graphics. So an investment in a modest graphics card might be worthwhile. No doubt somebody can recommend one.

It's a Fujitsu Siemens Esprimo E5905 - It was a refurb so not technically brand new - in fact it's quite old. Pretty much this one but with adjustments made to the specs - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FUJITSU-SIEMENS-ESPRIMO-P4-3-2GHZ-80GB-WINXP-PRO-/150583663477?pt=UK_Computing_DesktopPCs&hash=item230f7c5b75

It sounds like it may be worth myself investing in RAM and a graphics card. How do I know how much RAM this PC will take? I've fitted RAM before on another PC - fitting the graphics card sounds more daunting.

Bing removed - No doubt someone else installed accidentally.

rmg1 wrote: »

Looks like the Nero indexing service is running as well. That takes a lot of processing power for not a lot of gain (IMO). I can't remember how I switched it off when I had XP but it did make a big difference when I did.

Will that be conflicting with the Windows indexing service?

If I turned it off (and knew how) would I be able to use Nero still without it?

alinwales

since upgrading my hdd to a ssd, I will never buy another computer ever again... at least until something physically breaks on mine and I don't know what part it is. But a good hdd clean up is always recommended if you don't have a spare £90.

macman

Just run the System Scanner on the Crucial site, it will tell you the RAM options and check what you already have installed:
http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/drammemory.aspx
Fitting a graphics card is no more challenging than fitting a RAM module, it's just a plug in operation.

Miroslav

alinwales wrote: »

since upgrading my hdd to a ssd, I will never buy another computer ever again... at least until something physically breaks on mine and I don't know what part it is. But a good hdd clean up is always recommended if you don't have a spare £90.

Had to google that. Sounds interesting.

macman wrote: »

Just run the System Scanner on the Crucial site, it will tell you the RAM options and check what you already have installed:
http://www.crucial.com/uk/store/drammemory.aspx
Fitting a graphics card is no more challenging than fitting a RAM module, it's just a plug in operation.

It says I have 4 banks - 512mb in 2 and 2 spare ones.

Memory:

DDR2 PC2-6400, DDR2 PC2-5300Memory Type: DDR2 PC2-6400, DDR2 PC2-5300, DDR2 (non-ECC)
Maximum Memory: 8GB
Currently Installed Memory: 1GB
Total Memory Slots: 4
Available Memory Slots: 2

512MB
DDR PC2-5200

512MB

EMPTY
EMPTY

Each memory slot can hold DDR2 PC2-6400, DDR2 PC2-5300 with a maximum of 4GB kit (2GBx2) per slot.*

How much difference will Ram make?

rmg1

If I turned it off (and knew how) would I be able to use Nero still without it?

Yes, Nero runs perfectly well without it.
And depending on what you use Nero for, there are proper better (and free) products out there that aren't as heavy on RAM.

TakeThis

Miroslav wrote: »

It's a Fujitsu Siemens Esprimo E5905 - It was a refurb so not technically brand new - in fact it's quite old. Pretty much this one but with adjustments made to the specs - http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FUJITSU-SIEMENS-ESPRIMO-P4-3-2GHZ-80GB-WINXP-PRO-/150583663477?pt=UK_Computing_DesktopPCs&hash=item230f7c5b75

It sounds like it may be worth myself investing in RAM and a graphics card. How do I know how much RAM this PC will take? I've fitted RAM before on another PC - fitting the graphics card sounds more daunting.

Bing removed - No doubt someone else installed accidentally.




If I turned it off (and knew how) would I be able to use Nero still without it?

Graphics Card. You won't need to add more RAM after the clean up and HD video should play more smoothly.

Miroslav

rmg1 wrote: »

Yes, Nero runs perfectly well without it.
And depending on what you use Nero for, there are proper better (and free) products out there that aren't as heavy on RAM.

Just burn the odd DVD here and there, not alot more than that.

TakeThis wrote: »

Graphics Card. You won't need to add more RAM after the clean up and HD video should play more smoothly.

Thanks - this one suits my machine and is better than I already have? Seems rather cheap. My worry will be the installing.

I've also just disabled all add ons in firefox and that seems to be moving faster.

gonzo127

Miroslav wrote: »

Just burn the odd DVD here and there, not alot more than that.



Thanks - this one suits my machine and is better than I already have? Seems rather cheap. My worry will be the installing.

I've also just disabled all add ons in firefox and that seems to be moving faster.

to be honest if you only burn the odd DVD then i see no need to get rid of Nero, just make sure it does not auto run on start up so that it only loads when its needed - this goes with a lot of programs, so use CCleaner to organise your start up programs

as to the graphics card, yes it is a order of magnitude better than your intergrated graphics chipset - also extra bonus is it includes its own ram so will not take any of your system ram

and fitting is a doddle, it will only fit in one slot on your motherboard and doesnt require a power cable so its literally a case of plug and play - although you might have a 'blanker' on the back of the case, this is basically a peice of metel or plastic covering the hole that the connectors from the card would go, this just needs removing

Miroslav

gonzo127 wrote: »

to be honest if you only burn the odd DVD then i see no need to get rid of Nero, just make sure it does not auto run on start up so that it only loads when its needed - this goes with a lot of programs, so use CCleaner to organise your start up programs

as to the graphics card, yes it is a order of magnitude better than your intergrated graphics chipset - also extra bonus is it includes its own ram so will not take any of your system ram

and fitting is a doddle, it will only fit in one slot on your motherboard and doesnt require a power cable so its literally a case of plug and play - although you might have a 'blanker' on the back of the case, this is basically a peice of metel or plastic covering the hole that the connectors from the card would go, this just needs removing

I've just gone into clceaner and the only things running on start up now are:

Yes HKLM:Run DSLSTATEXE C:\Program Files\BT Voyager 105 ADSL Modem\dslstat.exe icon
Yes HKLM:Run DSLAGENTEXE C:\Program Files\BT Voyager 105 ADSL Modem\dslagent.exe
Yes HKLM:Run %FP%Friendly fts.exe "C:\Program Files\VoyagerTest\fts.exe"
Yes HKLM:Run MSC "c:\Program Files\Microsoft Security Client\msseces.exe" -hide -runkey

Graphics card sounds great - will go ahead and order it then and when it arrives come back here when I start panicking

Thanks.

macman

Certainlky prioritise the graphics card, but I'd still be looking to bung in another 1GB of RAM while you've got the panel off. The cost is fairly minimal, as the Crucial scan will confirm.