RAM question.. please help if you can

  • Thread starter Thread starter www.ttdown.com
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www.ttdown.com

Im not sure if this is the right forum for this, but I think you all
know alot about this stuff so hoepfully someone can help me out..

My computer Processing time is really starting to slow down. I have an
Intel celeron computer 2.4Ghz. 80Gb HD, and up until yesterday 256Mb
of RAM. My HD was nearly full, so I cleaned up stuff I didnt need, and
dot it down to about 60% full.. ( I have 35gb if free space on my HD
now).. that didnt seem to speed anything up. So I went out today and
bought a stick of RAM, another 512 Mb.. for a total now of 768Mb of
RAM.. and still running/processing stuff at the same speed as it was
before.

It is just opening things not terribly slow, but fairly slow for I
think how fast it SHOULD be going..

I have Defragged the system, and used the disk clean up function.. and
still nothing.. Im at a loss here, and was hoping I could get some
suggestions of how to maybe speed up my computer..

Thanks
 
So, you have a stick of 256MB ram and another stick of 512MB ram? That's
weird. You need to have two sticks of the same amount.
 
Fidelis K said:
So, you have a stick of 256MB ram and another stick of 512MB ram? That's
weird. You need to have two sticks of the same amount.
Click to expand...

As far as I know, that's only true if you're using dual channel.
 
www.ttdown.com said:
Im not sure if this is the right forum for this, but I think you all
know alot about this stuff so hoepfully someone can help me out..

My computer Processing time is really starting to slow down. I have an
Intel celeron computer 2.4Ghz. 80Gb HD, and up until yesterday 256Mb
of RAM. My HD was nearly full, so I cleaned up stuff I didnt need, and
dot it down to about 60% full.. ( I have 35gb if free space on my HD
now).. that didnt seem to speed anything up. So I went out today and
bought a stick of RAM, another 512 Mb.. for a total now of 768Mb of
RAM.. and still running/processing stuff at the same speed as it was
before.

It is just opening things not terribly slow, but fairly slow for I
think how fast it SHOULD be going..

I have Defragged the system, and used the disk clean up function.. and
still nothing.. Im at a loss here, and was hoping I could get some
suggestions of how to maybe speed up my computer..

Thanks
Click to expand...

Sounds like you've done all the right things. You may also check which
applications are running at startup. If you've already eliminated all
unnecessary startup apps, then you'll probably want to reinstall Windows.
 
***IF*** your motherboard & chipset support dual channel memory (big
if), then you made a mistake by configuring the system with any memory
configuration other than in matched pairs of modules properly installed
for dual-channel memory operation.

Also, a 2.4GHz Celeron is not a fast CPU.

You need to review the tasks loading at startup. Use MSCONFIG (start /
run / msconfig), then look at the statup tab. Also, start / run /
accessories / system tools / system information, then software
environment / startup programs.
 
Barry said:
***IF*** your motherboard & chipset support dual channel memory (big
if), then you made a mistake by configuring the system with any memory
configuration other than in matched pairs of modules properly installed
for dual-channel memory operation.

Also, a 2.4GHz Celeron is not a fast CPU.

You need to review the tasks loading at startup. Use MSCONFIG (start /
run / msconfig), then look at the statup tab. Also, start / run /
accessories / system tools / system information, then software
environment / startup programs.
Click to expand...

You should also perhaps consider spyware and malware. Try downloading
and running Lavasofts Adaware and Spybot Search & Destroy.
 
I run adaware, and registry mechanic on a regluar basis..

Its starting to sound like I just do not have a fast computer :) But
the thing I dont get is that high speed internet, why pages load all
choppy still.. and they didnt use to.. which is why I thought I could
improve my speed with more ram maybe.

As for the dual channel thing, I have no idea what that means really
:) My chipset, is from VIA, and I have 2 sockets for Ram.. thats about
all I know :)
 
Re: "Its starting to sound like I just do not have a fast computer"

A 2.4GHz Celeron? No question about that. By modern standards, it's an
antique.

Some chipsets support using pairs of ARCHITECTURALLY IDENTICAL memory
modules to DOUBLE the memory access speed. It's called dual channel
operation. You have to know the exact chipset and it's capabilities to
determine if it's available or not. The chips that do support it will
still work without a proper memory configuration, but if you do that
(and installing two different size memory modules, or even two same size
modules that are not architecturally identical, or even two identical
modules but in the wrong sockets) you cut the memory speed in half.
This is a fairly new development (about the past 2 years), and it's more
likely than not that your chipset / motherboard doesn't support it anyway.
 
Its starting to sound like I just do not have a fast computer :) But
the thing I dont get is that high speed internet, why pages load all
choppy still.. and they didnt use to.. which is why I thought I could
improve my speed with more ram maybe.
Click to expand...

A 2.4GHz Celeron is more than enough for Internet browsing. My 3rd PC is P3
800Mhz w/ 256MB ram and all graphic intensive Internet pages load very fast.
That being said, I suspect something's wrong w/ your graphic card driver.
Uninstall it and install the latest one.
 
just installed a ATi x1600 video card the other day.. so I dont think
its the graphics :)

I must just have too much junk on my computer.. but I will try runing
the system on only the 512 .. and see if it is faster.

In the system files it says I have 768MB of Ram.. so that mean that
all of my Ram is functioning? Or does that just mean that thats my
possible maximum if everything was working properly.
 
www.ttdown.com said:
just installed a ATi x1600 video card the other day.. so I dont think
its the graphics :)
Click to expand...

Hmm... which graphics card did you have before this recent upgrade?
 
All of your ram is being seen and used.


www.ttdown.com said:
just installed a ATi x1600 video card the other day.. so I dont think
its the graphics :)

I must just have too much junk on my computer.. but I will try runing
the system on only the 512 .. and see if it is faster.

In the system files it says I have 768MB of Ram.. so that mean that
all of my Ram is functioning? Or does that just mean that thats my
possible maximum if everything was working properly.
Click to expand...
 
Try updating/reloading the latest VIA chipset drivers.
VIA recommends reloading their motherboard chipset drivers after any changes
in the computer.
 
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