adding more RAM

I have a P-4 pc 1.8 Ghz with 256 MB Ram

If I add another 256 RAM will I note a significant speed increase in opening
software programs ? I have done all possible to clean up the PC but find it
is still slow.

thank you

 

ONLY if a shortage of RAM is causing the slowdown
in the first place. Take a look at my signature and
clean your system. Then check for spyware/malware.
Download, update and use ALL of the following -- even
if you already have them installed, UPDATE THEM NOW.
Malware changes by the day, even by the hour, so you MUST
have the latest version of removal tools:

Spybot Search & Destroy
http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html
SpyBot S&D guide
http://www.chem.wisc.edu/~network/spybot/

Ad-Aware SE
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/
Ad-Aware VX2 cleaner plug-in
http://www.lavasoftusa.com/software/addons/vx2cleaner.shtml
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
http://www.mvps.org/winhelp2002/hosts.htm#Attention

Spyware Blaster
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com/spywareblaster.html

CWShredder (CoolWebSearch remover)
http://cwshredder.net/cwshredder/cwschronicles.html
Now maintained by InterMute
http://www.intermute.com/spysubtract/cwshredder_download.html
http://cwshredder.net/bin/CWShredder.exe

 

Thanks

 

Again thanks

 

Depends on other factors as well such as what OS you are using and the
efficiency of the motherboard, what software you are using and how efficient
the software has been written to use memory. XP usually runs better with
512mb rather than 256mb

 

Or ignore Mike's good advise and use Linux. Mandrake is a good start. Then
you can use your computer for other things besides preventing attacks.

 

You're welcome.

<snip>

 

YAWWWWWWN!!!

 

512MB is certainly advantagous if you do any work with photos etc larger
files or graphic intensive programs. You will notice a big increase in
preformance if you use some of the cleaner adaware progs mentioned already
also
G

 

Yeah, I made my old computer into a big paper weight with Fedora. Of
course, it was underpowered for the task at hand. It allowed Linux to
install and I can even get to the desktop. But almost anything else I
want to do it freezes up and lays there just as dead as any Windows box.
So, I guess it depends, eh?

 

Thanks all I have lotsa info now

 

| Martik wrote:
|
| > | >
| >>ONLY if a shortage of RAM is causing the slowdown
| >>in the first place. Take a look at my signature and
| >>clean your system.

<snip>

| >
| > Or ignore Mike's good advise and use Linux. Mandrake is a good start.
Then
| > you can use your computer for other things besides preventing attacks.
|
| Yeah, I made my old computer into a big paper weight with Fedora. Of
| course, it was underpowered for the task at hand. It allowed Linux to
| install and I can even get to the desktop. But almost anything else I
| want to do it freezes up and lays there just as dead as any Windows box.
| So, I guess it depends, eh?

You got THAT right. Truth is, most of the 'full-blown' Linux installs
require pretty hefty hardware - often as much as Windows needs.

 

No performance or install issues with Mandrake on a Athlon 1700 + 256mb ram.
Maybe you should give it another chance. The Yoper distro is 'lightning
fast'.

 

Adding more memory can noticeably improve performance only if the
added memory results in reduced usage of the virtual memory swap file.
Therefore if the swap file is not currently being used to any
significant extent then adding more memory will not provide a
significant improvement.

If you are running Windows 98 or Windows Me use the System Monitor
utility that comes with Windows and use Edit - Add to set it to track
"Memory manager: Swap file in use" for several days of normal to heavy
usage. If "Swap file in use" regularly shows as 20 mb or more then
the swap file is being used extensively and more memory would result
in improved performance. Otherwise it is not likely to make any
noticeable difference.

If you are running Windows XP there is a free utility that you can
download and run which will provide this information for you. It was
written by MVP Bill James and you can get if from
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/xp_pagefilemon.htm or from
http://billsway.com/notes_public/WinXP_Tweaks/

If that utility shows actual page file usage of 50 mb or more on a
regular basis then that is indicative of fairly significant paging
file activity. Adding more RAM will reduce or even eliminate entirely
this activity thereby improving performance.

Good luck


Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"The reason computer chips are so small is computers don't eat much."

 

you may see some programs increase in starting up times but the most will be
visible when having multiple programs open and system stability.