I just starting using DSL and get good connection rates between 400kbps and1.5mbps.  But performance is still slow.  Using Rambooster when I monitor my CPU usage it jumps to 100% with any browsing and there is almost constant hard drive writing then.  I have a Dell Inspiron 7000 with PII RUNNING 300mHz and 256 RAM.  Windows ME is my OS.  Not all my RAM is being used when this happens so I don't think it's the swap file.  I've checked for viruses and shut down unneeded programs.  Still the same.  Is there anything I can do to speed up browsing?  or do I just need a faster processor?Marcodiwa.......Have you tried an actual download speed test to see exactly how fast you download .......
go to .... http://bandwidthplace.com/speedtest/  
this will tell the story ......


Let us know

dl65  I have the same computer, running Windows 2000.  Something else is "slowing you down".  Probably spyware or a trojan.

Do you have an up-to-date anti-virus and software firewall?I just measured my download speed on 2 different sites and got 413 and 416 kbps.  I've gotten as high as 1500 at times.  I've got a new Norton Antivirus with fresh definitions and found nothing.  The cpu runs anywhere from 20-60% and then jumps to 100% if I click on anything and that's when there is a lag time for something to happen.  I can see my screen loading slowly and opening programs is slow (not just browsing).  This all occured since I switch from dialup to dsl and added Norton Internet Security.Your computer is no speed demon, but I have a 400mhz PII here, and I fired it up and pointed it at www.dslreports.com, and it was able to crank out a 3800kbit/sec speed test.  Comcast gives us 4mbit connections, so it's using it all with no problem.  The computer runs XP and has 256mb of memory.What about Spyware? Do you have antispyware software installed?

[glb]Flame[/glb]I've been using Ad-Aware for spyware.  I sense that no one thinks the DSL connection is eating up my CPU time.  What else could cause it to jump to 100% every time the computer is doing something?  Are there any tests of the cpu I can run?If your DSL is on a USB connection, that could be the issue.  USB is programmed I/O, and uses processor cycles to do every byte of transfer.Well.... If you have a program or programs running, which take-up a lot of virtual memory, then that could be causing the problem... (ex. 5 Instant Messaging programs, Internet Browser, a photo editing program, etc...)

[glb]Flame[/glb]I've run 2 spyware programs.  I'm not using IM or any photo programs.  When dsl is running the whole computer runs slow sometimes freezing up for 10 or 20 SECONDS before it executes anything, waiting for the previous task to finish.  During this time the CPU runs at 100% and there is usually constant writing to the hard drive.  RAM drops from 80-100 megs free to 5 or so and sometimes to 0.    The dsl is hooked up by a plugged in ETHERNET card/cable.  Also the fan runs more than usual, I guess because the cpu is getting hotter.  Is it new computer time or reinstall time or what? Quote

...I sense that no one thinks the DSL connection is eating up my CPU time.  What else could cause it to jump to 100% every time the computer is doing something?  Are there any tests of the cpu I can run?