Worth upgrading and if so what?

itwasntme001

I have just checked the PC and found out the following:


- the RAM installed at the moment are 1066MHz DDR3 4x 1GB DIMM modules. All 4 banks appear to be used up. So kind of annoying since i would like to upgrade to at least 8GB. What do you guys suggest, Removing two 1GB modules and installing 2 x 3GB modules or maybe even 2 x 4GB?


- I am not sure why i would need to check about the RAID thing in bios? But i have and it says the SATA mode is RAID (as opposed to the other option which is ATA). There also appears to be 4 SATA ports and 1 eSATA ports, according to the BIOS. 3 of the SATA ports are used by 1x HDD and 2 x CD/DVD drives.


If i install a new SSD as primary drive and existing HDD as secondary drive (and keep the CD drives as it is), do i need to purchase any cables? I thought inside the case would have spare cables?


What do i need to do exactly with RAID settings in BIOS as i am confused by some of the suggestions with this?


Thank you!

EveryWhere

itwasntme001 wrote: »

I have just checked the PC and found out the following:


- the RAM installed at the moment are 1066MHz DDR3 4x 1GB DIMM modules. All 4 banks appear to be used up. So kind of annoying since i would like to upgrade to at least 8GB. What do you guys suggest, Removing two 1GB modules and installing 2 x 3GB modules or maybe even 2 x 4GB?


- I am not sure why i would need to check about the RAID thing in bios? But i have and it says the SATA mode is RAID (as opposed to the other option which is ATA). There also appears to be 4 SATA ports and 1 eSATA ports, according to the BIOS. 3 of the SATA ports are used by 1x HDD and 2 x CD/DVD drives.


If i install a new SSD as primary drive and existing HDD as secondary drive (and keep the CD drives as it is), do i need to purchase any cables? I thought inside the case would have spare cables?


What do i need to do exactly with RAID settings in BIOS as i am confused by some of the suggestions with this?


Thank you!

RAID Mode is the next best thing to use if you don't have AHCI. It's good that it is already set, as then hopefully you won't have a problem accessing the HDD once you have installed to the SSD
So you need do nothing there.

Why would you imagine there would be one of these;
dangling free in the PC

Power cable, yes. But you'll need a SATA cable. Though leave the HDD disconnected until after you have installed the OS to the SSD.

You can buy 4 x 2 GB for £22, as I demonstrated earlier; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Memory-Ram-Desktop-PC-DDR3-PC3-10600-U-1333-MHz-240-P-Non-ECC-Lot-2x2GB-4GB-8GB/222631057894 or 2 x 4GB for £21
If too rich for your blood, CEX have 4 GB modules for £8. or 2 GB modules for £2.

So, in theory, you can get 4 x 2 GB from them for £8. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Memory-Ram-Desktop-PC-DDR3-PC3-10600-U-1333-MHz-240-P-Non-ECC-Lot-2x2GB-4GB-8GB/222631057894
But in reality, it's not as simple as that.

itwasntme001

If i buy 2x 4GB sticks, can i still use 2 of the 1GB existing sticks or could there be compatibility problems? Say for example using 1333MHz and 1066MHz modules together?

EveryWhere

itwasntme001 wrote: »

If i buy 2x 4GB sticks, can i still use 2 of the 1GB existing sticks or could there be compatibility problems? Say for example using 1333MHz and 1066MHz modules together?

Perhaps you should actually read the posts that I have made, before asking the same questions again. Post #12. Also refer to the user manual for the Desktop.

itwasntme001

EveryWhere wrote: »

Perhaps you should actually read the posts that I have made, before asking the same questions again. Post #12. Also refer to the user manual for the Desktop.

Agreed and thanks. I will buy the 2x 4GB 1333 RAM and get rid of all the existing RAM.

Neil_Jones

googler wrote: »

(in response to; "Clearing [Recycle Bin] provided a noticeable increase in speed")

Why tell me that it "shouldn't make a difference" when I've just stated that it DID actually do this?

Only on the computer you reference. I dare say you could do that on other computers and it would make no difference to the overall speed. Hence it "should" change nothing.

that

Personally I would just buy the SSD and ssd cable with a latch, and possibly a ssd power cable converter too? Changing memory is a little trickier. I have know people to snap off bits, have memory mismatches, and buy the wrong memory, and kill them with static - ok rare, but does happen, and you can always purchase them later

Some older PC have a limited amount of ssd power connectors mixed up with traditional white molex ones, so you may need one of these or similar from ebay, and this one supports two drives. I do not know what is inside your box. sometime a 90 degree connector is better for tight layouts?
https://www.startech.com/Cables/Computer-Power/Internal/12in-LP4-to-2x-Latching-SATA-Power-Y-Cable-Splitter-Adapter-4-Pin-Molex-to-Dual-SATA~PYO2LP4LSATA
https://www.startech.com/Cables/Drive/SATA/18in-Latching-SATA-to-Right-Angle-SATA-Serial-ATA-Cable~LSATA18RA1

currently I have about 12 web pages open, running vpn software, bluetooth sw, a data synchronisation software plus all the usual bits and I am using 2.3GB ram. Your mileage will vary, but run malwarebytes AND AdwCleaner AND in Task Manager look in the StartUp tab for unwanted redundant software.

itwasntme001

Ive been looking around for SSD drives, but its confusing in that i do not know which ones are for desktops and which for laptops, the descriptions are not clear at all. Are SSD drives available for both in which case i would need a adapter for desktop? Or do i need to stick to 3.5" ones?

that

the 2.5 server SSD ones can be different, but the rest are all the same. However depending on the components can vary a bit in speed, but unless you have an up to spec system and bench test the disk, fairly sure you will not notice it.

There are at least two thicknesses of 2.5 drives, think a 9mm and a 7mm? The 7mm was for thinner laptops, some had a free spacer.

Last time I looked at mymemory had good ssd prices, All the basic 2.5 cheap (under £200) ones are I think to you all the same.

https://www.mymemory.co.uk/integral-240gb-p-series-5-sata-iii-ssd-drive-560mb-s.html
https://www.mymemory.co.uk/sandisk-480gb-ssd-plus-sata-iii-ssd-drive-530mb-s.html
Solid state, so would do not want to shake the connectors loose. You could even in theory install them with tie wraps and/or duct tape - no mechanical parts, though I like a bit of air flow around them.

Just get the right size. Personally the smallest I would buy is 240GB, but would prefer 400-ish or bigger. also look at https://skinflint.co.uk as they may have a better deal than mymemory

itwasntme001

Just ordered everything - 8gb ram, 250gb ssd (the crucial one), mount and SATA cable all for under £80 delivered. I thought i might as well get the RAM whilst i am upgrading since its the faster 1333MHz one plus doubling RAM which would mean there should be absolutely no issues from a memory perspective.