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#1
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Need advice regarding CPU vs. RAM upgrade
I am needing advice on a upgrade in which obviously, I can only afford to do
one instead of both. Currently I have an Intel P4 2.26 533FSB, 512 cache. I am torn between upgrading to P4 3.06 533FSB or adding 1 gig of RAM DDR333 (PC2700). I already have 512MB, but would like to do either one. If you had a choice, which would you do and why? |
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#2
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Need advice regarding CPU vs. RAM upgrade
It seems to me that it depends on where you think the system is
bottlenecked. The 3.4GHz P4 waits at the same speed of the 2.0GHz. You might be disk bound or video bound so stepping up the CPU speed might not help at all. If you're running so many programs that you're swapping to disk then a faster hard disk would help, but more RAM would help more. What kind of programs are you running? Is the system bogged down running spamware/adware/spyware? If so, making the system faster just makes it easier for this crap (a technical term) to run faster. -- ____________________________________ William (Bill) Vaughn Author, Mentor, Consultant Microsoft MVP www.betav.com Please reply only to the newsgroup so that others can benefit. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. __________________________________ "ryan" wrote in message ... I am needing advice on a upgrade in which obviously, I can only afford to do one instead of both. Currently I have an Intel P4 2.26 533FSB, 512 cache. I am torn between upgrading to P4 3.06 533FSB or adding 1 gig of RAM DDR333 (PC2700). I already have 512MB, but would like to do either one. If you had a choice, which would you do and why? |
#3
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Need advice regarding CPU vs. RAM upgrade
The system is actually new (2 mos to be exact). I will be running Word,
Email, Web & Windows Media Player at the most. I'm just wondering if going up in processor or ram would benefit me in the long run. "William (Bill) Vaughn" wrote in message ... It seems to me that it depends on where you think the system is bottlenecked. The 3.4GHz P4 waits at the same speed of the 2.0GHz. You might be disk bound or video bound so stepping up the CPU speed might not help at all. If you're running so many programs that you're swapping to disk then a faster hard disk would help, but more RAM would help more. What kind of programs are you running? Is the system bogged down running spamware/adware/spyware? If so, making the system faster just makes it easier for this crap (a technical term) to run faster. -- ____________________________________ William (Bill) Vaughn Author, Mentor, Consultant Microsoft MVP www.betav.com Please reply only to the newsgroup so that others can benefit. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. __________________________________ "ryan" wrote in message ... I am needing advice on a upgrade in which obviously, I can only afford to do one instead of both. Currently I have an Intel P4 2.26 533FSB, 512 cache. I am torn between upgrading to P4 3.06 533FSB or adding 1 gig of RAM DDR333 (PC2700). I already have 512MB, but would like to do either one. If you had a choice, which would you do and why? |
#4
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Need advice regarding CPU vs. RAM upgrade
Your motherboard will need to support that DDR RAM, which you will purchase
in pairs of 512MB each, for you to see any help there. Otherwise just buy conventional RAM. Unless you can step up a whole gigahertz in processor speed, it really is not helpful. I would buy more RAM now, save my money and buy a 3.4 or 3.6 GHz processor later. "William (Bill) Vaughn" wrote in message ... It seems to me that it depends on where you think the system is bottlenecked. The 3.4GHz P4 waits at the same speed of the 2.0GHz. You might be disk bound or video bound so stepping up the CPU speed might not help at all. If you're running so many programs that you're swapping to disk then a faster hard disk would help, but more RAM would help more. What kind of programs are you running? Is the system bogged down running spamware/adware/spyware? If so, making the system faster just makes it easier for this crap (a technical term) to run faster. -- ____________________________________ William (Bill) Vaughn Author, Mentor, Consultant Microsoft MVP www.betav.com Please reply only to the newsgroup so that others can benefit. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. __________________________________ "ryan" wrote in message ... I am needing advice on a upgrade in which obviously, I can only afford to do one instead of both. Currently I have an Intel P4 2.26 533FSB, 512 cache. I am torn between upgrading to P4 3.06 533FSB or adding 1 gig of RAM DDR333 (PC2700). I already have 512MB, but would like to do either one. If you had a choice, which would you do and why? |
#5
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Need advice regarding CPU vs. RAM upgrade
None of these are particularly demanding. I would be suspect of the system
if you think it's slow. Make sure to check for adware and the remora programs that attach as you cruise the web. -- ____________________________________ William (Bill) Vaughn Author, Mentor, Consultant Microsoft MVP www.betav.com Please reply only to the newsgroup so that others can benefit. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. __________________________________ "ryan" wrote in message ... The system is actually new (2 mos to be exact). I will be running Word, Email, Web & Windows Media Player at the most. I'm just wondering if going up in processor or ram would benefit me in the long run. "William (Bill) Vaughn" wrote in message ... It seems to me that it depends on where you think the system is bottlenecked. The 3.4GHz P4 waits at the same speed of the 2.0GHz. You might be disk bound or video bound so stepping up the CPU speed might not help at all. If you're running so many programs that you're swapping to disk then a faster hard disk would help, but more RAM would help more. What kind of programs are you running? Is the system bogged down running spamware/adware/spyware? If so, making the system faster just makes it easier for this crap (a technical term) to run faster. -- ____________________________________ William (Bill) Vaughn Author, Mentor, Consultant Microsoft MVP www.betav.com Please reply only to the newsgroup so that others can benefit. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. __________________________________ "ryan" wrote in message ... I am needing advice on a upgrade in which obviously, I can only afford to do one instead of both. Currently I have an Intel P4 2.26 533FSB, 512 cache. I am torn between upgrading to P4 3.06 533FSB or adding 1 gig of RAM DDR333 (PC2700). I already have 512MB, but would like to do either one. If you had a choice, which would you do and why? |
#6
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Need advice regarding CPU vs. RAM upgrade
In article ,
ryan wrote: I am needing advice on a upgrade in which obviously, I can only afford to do one instead of both. Currently I have an Intel P4 2.26 533FSB, 512 cache. I am torn between upgrading to P4 3.06 533FSB or adding 1 gig of RAM DDR333 (PC2700). I already have 512MB, but would like to do either one. If you had a choice, which would you do and why? If your application isn't hitting the pagefile with 512MB then adding memory won't speed you up. task manager will give you a rough idea how much memory your applications are suning rignt now. -- a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m Don't blame me. I voted for Gore. |
#7
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Need advice regarding CPU vs. RAM upgrade
I don't think you're going to see a significant difference with any upgrade.
"ryan" wrote in message ... The system is actually new (2 mos to be exact). I will be running Word, Email, Web & Windows Media Player at the most. I'm just wondering if going up in processor or ram would benefit me in the long run. "William (Bill) Vaughn" wrote in message ... It seems to me that it depends on where you think the system is bottlenecked. The 3.4GHz P4 waits at the same speed of the 2.0GHz. You might be disk bound or video bound so stepping up the CPU speed might not help at all. If you're running so many programs that you're swapping to disk then a faster hard disk would help, but more RAM would help more. What kind of programs are you running? Is the system bogged down running spamware/adware/spyware? If so, making the system faster just makes it easier for this crap (a technical term) to run faster. -- ____________________________________ William (Bill) Vaughn Author, Mentor, Consultant Microsoft MVP www.betav.com Please reply only to the newsgroup so that others can benefit. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. __________________________________ "ryan" wrote in message ... I am needing advice on a upgrade in which obviously, I can only afford to do one instead of both. Currently I have an Intel P4 2.26 533FSB, 512 cache. I am torn between upgrading to P4 3.06 533FSB or adding 1 gig of RAM DDR333 (PC2700). I already have 512MB, but would like to do either one. If you had a choice, which would you do and why? |
#8
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Need advice regarding CPU vs. RAM upgrade
"ryan" wrote...
The system is actually new (2 mos to be exact). I will be running Word, Email, Web & Windows Media Player at the most. I'm just wondering if going up in processor or ram would benefit me in the long run. For those uses, the CPU would probably help more. OTOH, neither will likely help your web and e-mail work, since they are more dependent on your Internet connection... |
#9
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Need advice regarding CPU vs. RAM upgrade
Ryan, if you are the same person who asked about the 512 MB RAM (I
installed (2) 256 modules DDR of ram into my Intel board. When I boot up, it shows only 496 MB. Where did the 16MB go?) on the 6th, you should invest in a better video card than the onboard one you have now. With this type of system you should have at least a 4X AGP slot on the motherboard. Purchase a decent video card with at least 128 MB RAM. This will have two effects. 1, it will free up all RAM currently installed and 2, it will give a great video pathway with the best possible chips for speed. "ryan" wrote in message ... I am needing advice on a upgrade in which obviously, I can only afford to do one instead of both. Currently I have an Intel P4 2.26 533FSB, 512 cache. I am torn between upgrading to P4 3.06 533FSB or adding 1 gig of RAM DDR333 (PC2700). I already have 512MB, but would like to do either one. If you had a choice, which would you do and why? |
#10
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Need advice regarding CPU vs. RAM upgrade
Building or tuning your PC and to optimise the hardware environment is like
tuning a motor car. If one buys a V6 engine and standard wheels and tyres, standard suspension how fast can it go in a straight line; and then how fast can it go round corners. Getting better wheels and tyres will improve cornering speeds, gettings sports suspension again gives cornering improvement. Hoever it is no faster in a straight line. By adding a V8 engine or bolting on a turbocharger, well striaght line speeds get better again. The thing is that one can't go fast in a straight line and forget about cornering [unless you're on a drag strip]. The same with the PC: tune it so that you get the best at every point. More powerful AGP cards with loads of on board memory take a load off the system memory and CPU. Benefitting screen refresh rates and colour depths - good for gamers, movie watchers etc. Additional on board memory [RAM] lowers the requirement for SWAP file access, less CPU load achieveing nothing at the user interface. Good again for Gamers, Video etc. It benefits a user with XP and running Word + Excel not a bit! So tune up and 'harmonise' the PC to your needs and not the 'rev' heads of the PC world's idea as to how a fast PC should be made up. "LVTravel" wrote: Ryan, if you are the same person who asked about the 512 MB RAM (I installed (2) 256 modules DDR of ram into my Intel board. When I boot up, it shows only 496 MB. Where did the 16MB go?) on the 6th, you should invest in a better video card than the onboard one you have now. With this type of system you should have at least a 4X AGP slot on the motherboard. Purchase a decent video card with at least 128 MB RAM. This will have two effects. 1, it will free up all RAM currently installed and 2, it will give a great video pathway with the best possible chips for speed. "ryan" wrote in message ... I am needing advice on a upgrade in which obviously, I can only afford to do one instead of both. Currently I have an Intel P4 2.26 533FSB, 512 cache. I am torn between upgrading to P4 3.06 533FSB or adding 1 gig of RAM DDR333 (PC2700). I already have 512MB, but would like to do either one. If you had a choice, which would you do and why? |
#11
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Need advice regarding CPU vs. RAM upgrade
At this point in time, either purchase would be a waste of money. You
are not really using either sections of the hardware to the point of "needing" an upgrade to realize a benefit from the expenditure. You mention "in the long run", but with out knowing future purchases of software, no one knows. You are better off saving the money and wait till a "need arises", then you will "know what to spend it on". ryan wrote: The system is actually new (2 mos to be exact). I will be running Word, Email, Web & Windows Media Player at the most. I'm just wondering if going up in processor or ram would benefit me in the long run. "William (Bill) Vaughn" wrote in message ... It seems to me that it depends on where you think the system is bottlenecked. The 3.4GHz P4 waits at the same speed of the 2.0GHz. You might be disk bound or video bound so stepping up the CPU speed might not help at all. If you're running so many programs that you're swapping to disk then a faster hard disk would help, but more RAM would help more. What kind of programs are you running? Is the system bogged down running spamware/adware/spyware? If so, making the system faster just makes it easier for this crap (a technical term) to run faster. -- ____________________________________ William (Bill) Vaughn Author, Mentor, Consultant Microsoft MVP www.betav.com Please reply only to the newsgroup so that others can benefit. This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights. __________________________________ "ryan" wrote in message ... I am needing advice on a upgrade in which obviously, I can only afford to do one instead of both. Currently I have an Intel P4 2.26 533FSB, 512 cache. I am torn between upgrading to P4 3.06 533FSB or adding 1 gig of RAM DDR333 (PC2700). I already have 512MB, but would like to do either one. If you had a choice, which would you do and why? |
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