Solve : Increasing memory doesn't increase computer speed?

1.	Solve : Increasing memory doesn't increase computer speed?
Answer» I increased my parents Dell(Windows XP home sp2, dimension 4550, intel R, pentium R 2.00 GHz) from 256 mb to 1 gb(Crucial 512mb x 2) hoping to give them an increase in speed. virus =mcaffe, firewall = none, 14.9gb free of 30gb used on harddrive. AOL. With the memory increase: 0% average cpu usage; Physical memory-total 1047556, available 764540, ssystem cache 304468. All they do is open a few documents/pictures, email, and browse the web. The computer was not necessarly slow, I just wanted to give them a good boost. I timed several different items like boot up, starting several different programs, copying a large amount of files, etc. All of the times were the same or slightly slower! Example: Copying a large amount of files-old 3 minutes 15 seconds, new(1 gb)-3 minutes 45 seconds. What gives? Everywhere I read is that memory will give you the best bang for the buck.Memory will increase speed only if you are in need of more memory, say if you are using 128MB in Windows XP and you upgrade to 1GB, you will see a difference. RAM is "Random Access Memory", which means that it will help you run multiple applications simultaneously. It is more CPU speed and the type of GPU, that will increase the performance. I REALLY don't think they needed 1GB of RAM, you shouldn't of went for just a 512MB stick, It would have been better for their usage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_access_memory 8-)fffreakAnd if 1 gig of RAM doesn't help,you probably have other issues. What are you using for spyware protection? Removed clutter on the drive and defragged lately?They're using McCaffee. The drive is defragged. AOL is a killer, but my Mom won't give it up. I could understand not speeding up, as for what they use it for the system was pretty MUCH MAXED out and 1 gig was overkill, but why would it slow down? The memory is the same speed. I'll have to run some more official tests on it next time I'm out there and compare.running AOL can be a drain but try A Squared from here:- http://www.emsisoft.com/en/ there is a trial as well as a Free to use privately version. MCaffee anti virus is not really good at removing this sort of pest there are hundreds of thousands that can INFECT a computer, often hundreds of the same one if you keep going back to the same site, this is there current list today Trojans 374400 Dialer 42601 Worms 72008 Spyware 23162 Traces 116202 the more you have in the slower it will get as each one tries to connect to the internet Quote running AOL can be a drain but try A Squared from here:- http://www.emsisoft.com/en/ there is a trial as well as a Free to use privately version. MCaffee anti virus is not really good at removing this sort of pest there are hundreds of thousands that can infect a computer, often hundreds of the same one if you keep going back to the same site, this is there current list today Trojans 374400 Dialer 42601 Worms 72008 Spyware 23162 Traces 116202 the more you have in the slower it will get as each one tries to connect to the internet I know AOL, viruses, malware, etc can be a drain, but that's not the point. Increasing memory slowed things downed. The only thing I can think of is that the orginal Dell memory is a better brand than Crucial and somehow faster, even thought the memory speeds were the same.Are you sure you got the right memory? Crucial lists difference part numbers for the 512MB modules for Dell Dimension 4550 (400MHz FSB) and Dell Dimension 4550 (533MHz FSB). Exactly which computer is this? I totally agree with your BASIC issue here. The slowdown makes no sense whatsoever, assuming you got the right memory. And, I must say Crucial is a good source of memory. They have a good reputation. You might want to here to discuss your issue, also: http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/?category.id=dimensionQuote I know AOL, viruses, malware, etc can be a drain, but that's not the point. Increasing memory slowed things downed. The only thing I can think of is that the orginal Dell memory is a better brand than Crucial and somehow faster, even thought the memory speeds were the same. I think Soybean's made an interesting point...what are the specs of the old memory vs. the new ? One thing that you could do would be to D/L, install and run Everest Free Edition from Lavalys. There are some simple benchmark tests included with that utility. You can compare the modules and the various module combinations. I confirmed it was the right FSB when I ordered it. I'll run Everest or one of the other available programs, but it'll be a couple weeks till I'm out there again. I'm such a bad son I was thinking about what jflan said about the specs. I ordered the memory with the correct FSB, but they might have shipped me the wrong memory, and I didn't check it I need to confirm it's the right memory.Everest can tell you that as well.I talked to Crucial online chat support. They said the 2 choices(400 and 533 FSB) are the same memory, which I find very strange because they are different part numbers. My receipt says I ordered the 533 FSB, but they said it's really only 400 FSB. Is it true that memory doesn't have a spec for FSB? It's only for the computer that has a spec for FSB? If running Everest really does show the increased memory slows it down, I'm going to return the memory. No point in paying money to slow things down.

Answer»

I increased my parents Dell(Windows XP home sp2, dimension 4550, intel R, pentium R 2.00 GHz) from 256 mb to 1 gb(Crucial 512mb x 2) hoping to give them an increase in speed. virus =mcaffe, firewall = none, 14.9gb free of 30gb used on harddrive. AOL.

With the memory increase: 0% average cpu usage; Physical memory-total 1047556, available 764540, ssystem cache 304468.

All they do is open a few documents/pictures, email, and browse the web. The computer was not necessarly slow, I just wanted to give them a good boost.

I timed several different items like boot up, starting several different programs, copying a large amount of files, etc. All of the times were the same or slightly slower! Example: Copying a large amount of files-old 3 minutes 15 seconds, new(1 gb)-3 minutes 45 seconds.

What gives? Everywhere I read is that memory will give you the best bang for the buck.Memory will increase speed only if you are in need of more memory, say if you are using 128MB in Windows XP and you upgrade to 1GB, you will see a difference. RAM is "Random Access Memory", which means that it will help you run multiple applications simultaneously. It is more CPU speed and the type of GPU, that will increase the performance. I REALLY don't think they needed 1GB of RAM, you shouldn't of went for just a 512MB stick, It would have been better for their usage. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Random_access_memory

8-)fffreakAnd if 1 gig of RAM doesn't help,you probably have other issues. What are you using for spyware protection? Removed clutter on the drive and defragged lately?They're using McCaffee. The drive is defragged. AOL is a killer, but my Mom won't give it up.

I could understand not speeding up, as for what they use it for the system was pretty MUCH MAXED out and 1 gig was overkill, but why would it slow down? The memory is the same speed.

I'll have to run some more official tests on it next time I'm out there and compare.running AOL can be a drain but try A Squared from here:- http://www.emsisoft.com/en/

there is a trial as well as a Free to use privately version.
MCaffee anti virus is not really good at removing this sort of pest there are hundreds of thousands that can INFECT a computer, often hundreds of the same one if you keep going back to the same site, this is there current list today
Trojans 374400
Dialer 42601
Worms 72008
Spyware 23162
Traces 116202
the more you have in the slower it will get as each one tries to connect to the internet
Quote

running AOL can be a drain but try A Squared from here:- http://www.emsisoft.com/en/

there is a trial as well as a Free to use privately version.
MCaffee anti virus is not really good at removing this sort of pest there are hundreds of thousands that can infect a computer, often hundreds of the same one if you keep going back to the same site, this is there current list today
Trojans 374400
Dialer 42601
Worms 72008
Spyware 23162
Traces 116202
the more you have in the slower it will get as each one tries to connect to the internet

I know AOL, viruses, malware, etc can be a drain, but that's not the point. Increasing memory slowed things downed. The only thing I can think of is that the orginal Dell memory is a better brand than Crucial and somehow faster, even thought the memory speeds were the same.Are you sure you got the right memory? Crucial lists difference part numbers for the 512MB modules for Dell Dimension 4550 (400MHz FSB) and Dell Dimension 4550 (533MHz FSB). Exactly which computer is this?

I totally agree with your BASIC issue here. The slowdown makes no sense whatsoever, assuming you got the right memory. And, I must say Crucial is a good source of memory. They have a good reputation.

You might want to here to discuss your issue, also: http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/?category.id=dimensionQuote

I know AOL, viruses, malware, etc can be a drain, but that's not the point. Increasing memory slowed things downed. The only thing I can think of is that the orginal Dell memory is a better brand than Crucial and somehow faster, even thought the memory speeds were the same.

I think Soybean's made an interesting point...what are the specs of the old memory vs. the new ?

One thing that you could do would be to D/L, install and run Everest Free Edition from Lavalys.
There are some simple benchmark tests included with that utility.
You can compare the modules and the various module combinations.
I confirmed it was the right FSB when I ordered it. I'll run Everest or one of the other available programs, but it'll be a couple weeks till I'm out there again. I'm such a bad son I was thinking about what jflan said about the specs. I ordered the memory with the correct FSB, but they might have shipped me the wrong memory, and I didn't check it I need to confirm it's the right memory.Everest can tell you that as well.I talked to Crucial online chat support. They said the 2 choices(400 and 533 FSB) are the same memory, which I find very strange because they are different part numbers. My receipt says I ordered the 533 FSB, but they said it's really only 400 FSB.

Is it true that memory doesn't have a spec for FSB? It's only for the computer that has a spec for FSB?

If running Everest really does show the increased memory slows it down, I'm going to return the memory. No point in paying money to slow things down.

Solve : Increasing memory doesn't increase computer speed?

Discussion

No Comment Found

Related InterviewSolutions

Reply to Comment