RAM - How Do I know What Type To Buy?

Chippy_Minton

Miroslav wrote: »

The programs are slow to load up and if more than 1, slow to go from 1 to another.

Windows loads up very slowly - I had a message just now 'you have just recovered from a serious system error' - No idea what it is, it was some Dir files in temp folder?

Some things to try, in order:

Start - Run - type chkdisk c: /r - OK. Respond Y to the prompt and reboot.

Once it's checked the disks and rebooted into Windows, Start - Run - type sfc /scannow - OK. Have your XP CD available.

In Ccleaner, click Issues and then Scan for Issues and then Fix all. Repeat this until no issues are found.

Try disabling Rambooster to see if that makes any difference.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up Task Manager and see which process is using the most CPU.

Miroslav

Donnie wrote: »

Your graphics card seems puny. Can you confirm the specification?

Some details of your system specification can be arrived at by using this program; http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

Download it and run the .exe file.

Go to the about tab and click on html or register dump. That should produce an output with your system details. There nothing identifiable or sensitive.
You can post it here.

Here you go

CPU-Z 1.40 report file
Processor(s) Number of processors1Number of cores1 per processorNumber of threads1 (max 1) per processorNameAMD AthlonCode NameThunderbirdSpecificationAMD Athlon(tm) processorPackageSocket A (462)Family/Model/Stepping6.4.2Extended Family/Model7.4Core SteppingA4Technology0.18 umCore Speed851.8 MHzMultiplier x Bus speed8.5 x 100.2 MHzRated Bus speed200.4 MHzInstruction setsMMX (+), 3DNow! (+)L1 Data cache64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64-byte line sizeL1 Instruction cache64 KBytes, 2-way set associative, 64-byte line sizeL2 cache256 KBytes, 16-way set associative, 64-byte line sizeChipset & Memory NorthbridgeVIA KT133 rev. 02SouthbridgeVIA VT82C686 rev. 22Graphic InterfaceAGPAGP Revision2.0AGP Transfer Rate4xAGP Side Band Addressingnot supported, not enabledMemory TypeSDRAMMemory Size512 MBytesMemory Frequency133.5 MHz (FSB + 33 MHz)DRAM Interleave4-wayCAS# Latency (tCL)3.0 clocksRAS# to CAS# (tRDC)3 clocksRAS# Precharge (tRP)3 clocksCycle Time (tRAS)6 clocksSystem System ManufacturerPackard Bell NECSystem Name00000000000000000000000System S/N006554820314Mainboard VendorMICRO-STAR INTERNATIONAL CO., LTDMainboard ModelMS-6340(VT8363)BIOS VendorAward Software International, Inc.BIOS Version6.00 PGBIOS Date01/14/2002Memory SPD Module 1SDRAM, PC133 (133 MHz), 256 MBytes, unknown brandModule 2SDRAM, PC133 (133 MHz), 256 MBytes, unknown brandSoftware Windows VersionMicrosoft Windows XP Professional Service Pack 2 (Build 2600) DirectX Version9.0c

Miroslav

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

Some things to try, in order:

Start - Run - type chkdisk c: /r - OK. Respond Y to the prompt and reboot.

Once it's checked the disks and rebooted into Windows, Start - Run - type sfc /scannow - OK. Have your XP CD available.

In Ccleaner, click Issues and then Scan for Issues and then Fix all. Repeat this until no issues are found.

Try disabling Rambooster to see if that makes any difference.

Press Ctrl+Alt+Del to bring up Task Manager and see which process is using the most CPU.

Right, will try those.

I done the chkdisk earlier and have done CCleaner and done until nothing left earlier too.

RAmbooster I only ever use occasionally - it's never usually on

Tried Task manager - processes using most:

MRT.exe - varying from 38-42k
IExplorer 34k
SVChost.exe - 20k

Nothing near that - next is Windows Explorer 14k.

It is working a bit faster now.....I burnt some things onto CD to free some more space and I got rid of lots of shortcuts to programs etc and the page thngy to 768 may have helped.

Thanks for all the help

Donnie

How much free space on your HDD?

Donnie

Wanted to check what BIOS updates had in store.

Couldn't determine if these; http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=bios&maincat_no=1&prod_no=284 applied to your mainboard.
Either way, I don't think that they address the problem.

Interested to hear about your HDD.

Chippy_Minton

Miroslav wrote: »

RAmbooster I only ever use occasionally - it's never usually on

Start - Run - msconfig - OK. Make sure it's disabled and disable any other unnecessary programs

Miroslav wrote: »

Tried Task manager - processes using most:

MRT.exe - varying from 38-42k
IExplorer 34k
SVChost.exe - 20k

Nothing near that - next is Windows Explorer 14k.

Negligible RAM then. What's using the most CPU? Investigate any process more than 50% CPU for more than a few seconds (except System Idle Process).

Miroslav

Donnie wrote: »

How much free space on your HDD?

3.49 GB of a 19.4 GB HD

Miroslav

Donnie wrote: »

Wanted to check what BIOS updates had in store.

Couldn't determine if these; http://global.msi.com.tw/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=bios&maincat_no=1&prod_no=284 applied to your mainboard.
Either way, I don't think that they address the problem.

Interested to hear about your HDD.

That looks a more updated BIOS to me.

It's running a bit faster now that i've started deleting shortcuts off the desktop, burning files that I didn't need, or at least didn't need to be left on the PC, onto CD and run various scans and got rid of all the bits of spyware, however small.

Miroslav

Chippy_Minton wrote: »

Start - Run - msconfig - OK. Make sure it's disabled and disable any other unnecessary programs

Negligible RAM then. What's using the most CPU? Investigate any process more than 50% CPU for more than a few seconds (except System Idle Process).

msconfig I do all the time, just to make sure, although it seems to add things all the time and i'm unchecking boxes all the time.

Something called 'ctfmon' keeps starting, from the Windows/system folder. It says it's a HKCU Software?

What is the 'Services' tab in MSCONFIG? I have antivir/AVG items 'running' yet as far as I know, they aren't actually loaded?

How do I disable? I have 2 antiviruses on the PC - antivir and AVG but I thought they were both disabled as none appear in running processes or taskbar by the clock.

Nothing is running at the moment that is taking up much RAM - just the small processes and 2 IE windows and the Sys Config tool.

Flatmate says it's been running quicker than it was, this evening, so it has made a difference it seems...maybe I was hoping for too much and expecting super speeds!

Chippy_Minton

Miroslav wrote: »

Something called 'ctfmon' keeps starting, from the Windows/system folder. It says it's a HKCU Software?

See Frequently asked questions about Ctfmon.exe.

Miroslav wrote: »

What is the 'Services' tab in MSCONFIG? I have antivir/AVG items 'running' yet as far as I know, they aren't actually loaded?

How do I disable? I have 2 antiviruses on the PC - antivir and AVG but I thought they were both disabled as none appear in running processes or taskbar by the clock.

Services are processes running in the background (can see them in Task Manager). You shouldn't have 2 anti-viruses running (slows down the computer), but don't use msconfig services tab to disable them. Use Start - Run - services.msc and set Startup type of one of them to Disabled to see the effect. Even better, uninstall one of them via Add/Remove Programs to free up a bit more disk space too.

Miroslav wrote: »

Flatmate says it's been running quicker than it was, this evening, so it has made a difference it seems...maybe I was hoping for too much and expecting super speeds!

It won't need to use virtual memory as much so will be a bit quicker. Disabling unnecessary Startup programs and uninstalling one of the AVs will also help.