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June 10, 2011 2:11 p.m. integraguy Dork

I would appreciate some help/advice on a computer memory upgrade.

Sorry this is so long and involved/detailed?

My current computer is an 7-8 year old HP running a Pentium 4. This computer is currently using a dial-up connection, as I am at a loss for available cash at the moment and will be for awhile yet. For what I use it for (mostly just web surfing), it's been okay. However, about a year or so ago I noticed I was occasionally getting warnings that I was about to exceed available memory. I'm guessing that that isn't the REAL/only problem, but instead there is the possibility of a virus that has taken up residence. But either way, perhaps 4 MB of RAM isn't enough anymore. If so, a check of the motherboard shows slots for what I believe is 4 memory cards, but that there are currently only 2 "in residence". This is somewhat confirmed by a sticker that is on the side of each of the 2 cards: 256 MB DDR PC2700U, 333MHZ. IF, if, I go ahead and update/add to the RAM, I'm guessing that 333MHZ memory is no longer available. WHY? I have noticed in recent sale flyers for places like Best Buy and COMP USA that they don't have this speed of memory on sale, but the cheapest memory cards on sale are always faster.

Questions are:

1.) Can I successfully add more memory?

2.) To double the memory, can I still add 2 more cards like those already present, or are they close to being/ already obsolete?

3.) Will the cost of doubling memory be better spent on a partial downpayment on a newer pc?
June 10, 2011 3:10 p.m. MCarp22 HalfDork

Obsolete stuff is much easier to find on the internet than a retail big box sort of store:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007611+600006083&QksAutoSuggestion=&ShowDeactivatedMark=False&Configurator=&IsNodeId=1&Subcategory=147&description=&Ntk=&CFG=&SpeTabStoreType=&AdvancedSearch=1&srchInDesc=
June 10, 2011 3:18 p.m. donalson SuperDork

$30 for a gig stick is the way to go... (and i'd use newegg like posted above)

if you are still using dial up I doubt the computer is going to hold you back to much.... my grandma-in-law has a similar computer and now that she's got cable internet she notices how slow it is... the next major issue she has with it i'll make her buy a new computer (I replaced the HDD last year)

for under $300 you get a HUGE upgrade... but thats also A LOT more than $30...
June 10, 2011 3:21 p.m. BoxheadTim SuperDork

Newer memory modules will not really fit that machine, it's not necessarily (only) a speed issue but there are additional issues with physical and electrical fit.

A good way to find which modules work in your machine is to go over to http://www.crucial.com/ and use their "Memory Advisor Tool". That one will normally also tell you how much RAM you can put into the machine in total which IMHO is very useful for older machines.
June 10, 2011 3:47 p.m. Xceler8x SuperDork

The motherboard will only support so much memory. So MCarp has found your RAM chips. BoxheadTim has identified that you may have a limitation on the amount of mem you can run. I'm guessing you're using WinXP which means you have a 3-4GB limit anyway.

Can you pull together $300? I know that can be a lot especially if you're pinching pennies. But go here and see what right about 300 bones will get you. You might be surprised. I see a Compaq lappie right there for that amount. A few others for 10 - 20 bucks more. Decent surfing pc's, or laptops, ain't for Trumps anymore!
June 10, 2011 4:14 p.m. fromeast2west New Reader
If the computer was running fine when new, and you're just getting memory warnings now, then your problem is probably software/operating system related.

Some virii and malware will eat up memory, and over time registry issues could slow your machine down.

There are a few easy, and free things you can do:
1. Run CCleaner. Click on the Registry tab, and have the program fix everything it finds. You can make a back up when it prompts you, but I've never needed to use that feature (and I've used it on 100s of PCs at work)
You can also use it to help clear up space on your hard drive, and uninstall any programs you don't need.
1. Run MalwareBytes. Get the free/trial version, and run it once. You can uninstall once it's done a full scan and cleaned up anything it round
2. Install Microsoft Security Essentials. I've used other free anti-virus products in the past, from ESET to AVG. The others have all gotten bulky, but the MS Sec. Essentials has been doing very well.
3. Now that you've done all that, run the CCleaner registry option again.
4. Install and run Ultimate Defrag Free version (v. 2.x I think).
If you still end up with problems you can try either a repair install of XP, or a complete format/reinstall.
June 10, 2011 6:07 p.m. integraguy Dork

This computer is running XP, and I have run several different software programs to clean up any infected operating system.

My father, when he still did property appraisals, had high speed internet, so I know what I'm missing on that count.

It's strange, this is my second computer in about 15 years and I act more attached to them than my cars. I guess because on some level my computer is like a very detailed prop driven airplane, while on some levels my cars have affected me like gliders that could be easily replaced. Or even better? My computer is like my house, while my cars have been like rental properties.

The biggest systom of my problem is that in the last few years it has become necessary to re-start my computer every so often because after downloading a reasonably large file (like a series of photos here on GRM) it gets to the point that the computer is almost at a standstill. And occasionally, a picture will nearly download....then suddenly the photo is replaced with a "box" with a red X in the middle.
June 11, 2011 4:53 a.m. Jay SuperDork

Defragment your hard drive if you haven't yet. That can make a huge difference, especially if it's nearly full.
June 11, 2011 2:57 p.m. integraguy Dork

The hard drive is defragmented on a fairly regular basis.

Another (same?) problem I have is that when I've downloaded a fair amount of information, the computer starts getting slower as I continue.

It's gotten so that if I want to look at/get caught on this message board, I can NOT hit CL first, as all that info slows down my computer by the time I get here.