Hey everyone...

I have a custom built computer that an old business associate built for me and I'm wondering how I can determine what type of memory I need to get in order to upgrade, and what other improvements I can make on my system. computer is about year and a half old and runnin a little slow. I dont know too much about what I have in my computer and how high quality the components are so any input would help.

Here is the results from the DAL scan I just did... thanks for your help

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OS Information:
PropertyValue
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Service Pack 2.0
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation



Processor:
PropertyValue
Current Clock Speed 2400
Description x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9
Manufacturer GenuineIntel
Name Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz

Current Clock Speed 2400
Description x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9
Manufacturer GenuineIntel
Name Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.40GHz


Memory (RAM):
PropertyValue
Bank Label RAS 0 & 1
Capacity 536870912

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~512 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 511MB

Disk Drives:
PropertyValue
Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Maxtor 6Y080M0
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 81956689920 (~76 GB)
Number of Partitions 1


Installed Printers:
PropertyValue
Name Microsoft Office Document Image Writer
Port Name Microsoft Document Imaging Writer Port:
Default False
Driver Name Microsoft Office Document Image Writer Driver

Name HP DeskJet 950C/952C/959C
Port Name LPT1:
Default True
Driver Name HP DeskJet 950C/952C/959C

Name Auto hp deskjet 845c on CUMCHOTKA
Port Name \\CUMCHOTKA\Printer
Default False
Driver Name hp deskjet 845c

Name Adobe PDF
Port Name My Documents\*.pdf
Default False
Driver Name Adobe PDF Converter


Motherboard:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer MICRO-STAR INC.
Model
Name Base Board
Part Number
Product MS-6758

Version 00C


BIOS:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer American Megatrends Inc.
Name Version 1.00
Release Date 20030423000000.000000+000
Version AMIINT - 10


Monitor:
PropertyValue
Description Plug and Play Monitor
Name Plug and Play Monitor
Screen Height 864
Screen Width 1152


Keyboard:
PropertyValue
Description Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard


Pointing Device:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Microsoft
Name Microsoft PS/2 Port Mouse (IntelliPoint)


Sound Card:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Microsoft
Description Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device


Manufacturer Analog Devices, Inc.
Description SoundMAX Integrated Digital Audio


Video Card:
PropertyValue
Adapter Compatibility NVIDIA
Adapter RAM 134217728
Description NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200
Installed Display Drivers nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.5216
Driver Date 10/6/2003 10:16:00 PM
Video Mode Description 1152 x 864 x 4294967296 colors


DirectX Installation:
PropertyValue
Version 6.03.01.0146


Modem:
PropertyValue
Model Agere Systems PCI Soft Modem
Name Agere Systems PCI Soft Modem

Model Motorola USB Modem
Name Motorola USB Modem


Network Adapters:
PropertyValue
Description Intel(R) PRO/1000 CT Network Connection - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport

External Ports:
PropertyValue
External Reference Designator Def
External Reference Designator Sanjoy

Expansion Slots:
PropertyValue
Slot Designation PCI1
Slot Designation PCI2
Slot Designation PCI3
Slot Designation PCI4
Slot Designation PCI5
Slot Designation AGP
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That seems like a nice system to me.

Here is the board:

MSI Part No: MS-6758

The RAM spec is:

Main Memory

Supports 4 unbuffered DIMM of 2.5 Volt DDR SDRAM
• Supports ECC memory
• Supports up to 4GB memory size
• Support Single or Dual Channel DDR 400*/333/266 MHz and up

As to speed have you noticed a slowing over time?
Did it used to run faster?
Do you Defrag & Cleanup etc.?

How much of your 80gig drive is used?

rt,click My Computer then Manage then Disk Managment

Yeah it definitely has slowed down a lot since I first got it....

my friends 1.7 is blazing compared to mine. I have defragged recently but it does seem to make many improvements....

Probably one of my problems is with file sharing network programs likes Shareaza etc... my computer seems to run really slow when those are running. What is the best way to clean up my system to maintain its performance? Perhaps a program I can buy/download to help out.

about 40 of 80 gigs is used

thanks a lot for your help

CCleaner is a basic free utility:

http://www.ccleaner.com/

There are alot of small free programs & alot of things you can pay for although I don't really think you need them if you keep your system in shape.

Run defrag every week; run CCleaner regularly;
be aware of what's running, what's starting, etc.

when your downloading files, other apps are always going to be effected.
maybe do your downloads when you step out for a bit

Have you ever run hijack this? that will at least give you an idea of what's running on your machine:

please follow owen's Instructions and then post your log in the Spyware, Adware, Viruses and HijackThis Logs section.

And adding more RAM will help.

Last question Jephree.... thanks so much for your help already

anyways, I go to the electronics store to pick up more RAM and they dont carry any "PC2100" Ram (I opened up my case and saw that I currently have 1 DIMM full of 512MB PC2100 266Mhz ram.

Now the not-so-knowledgeable electronics store guy told me that the 2700 would not work on my computer that I need the EXACT same RAM. when I looked at the box itself it said that it was compatible with 2100/266 systems so I believe he is wrong.

My final issue is that I would love to buy PC3200 512mb card because it is on sale now and a really good deal at the store, my question is whether it will be okay to run this with my current 2100 266? or am I going to really mess things up. A buddy of mine told me that it might work but will probably only run at 266HZ PC2100 speeds (lowest stick memory). Please help me out once more....thanks so much

If the PC3200 512mb on sale is a great deal why not get two of them

otherwise here is a quick search & source:

The 3200 RAM will assume the same MHz speed as the 2700 RAM
Basically the 3200 RAM will operate is if it was 2700 RAM

I believe the answer depends on how you use the system. If you are
frequently running with high memory usage (e.g. 80% or more), the extra
memory will reduce the amount of swap space needed. However, if you rarely
use as much as 50%, and you actually clock the PC3200 at the faster speed,
using just that stick will give you better performance. If you do mix them,
put the PC2700 in slot 1 so the auto-detect works.

RAM mix 3200 & 2700

sorry I missed the speed

RAM mix 3200 & 2100

You should be able to do that. From what I've read and heard you may want to
try your best to get the same brand of memory for compatiblity sake. There
should for the most part be no problem, but it's preferable to be aware that
mixing different brands of RAM can cause misrecognition by the mb.

You can use 3200 as 2700 or 2100
You can use 2700 as 2100 not 3200
You can not use 2100 as 2700 or 3200

This means you can clock your ram lower than it's actual speed but not
higher.

Just to reiterate from the above:

If the PC3200 512mb on sale is a great deal why not get two of them & sell the PC2100


All of your RAM will run the same speed, so if you are running
PC2100 with the PC3200 it would clock your memory bus-speed down
from 400Mhz to 266Mhz.

The PC2100 will cut your memory bandwidth almost in half.

Essentially the 3200 will work as if it were 2100 if the 2100 is installed.

Seems to say that just a single stick of 3200 would almost be superior; although I'd still go for a pair of 3200

Yeah I'm thinking about going ahead and getting two 512 PC3200s... or I can always just get one now and get another one later...

About the bus speed... right now since I have PC2100 in, i'm only running at 266mhz right? so when I put the new PC3200 in I will still be running at 266 but only with 512more mb.... that should still be a noticeable improvement upon what I have now...I hope? I mean how much does the difference between 266-400 mean for the average user? I know its double the bandwith but I dont know if I should spend the money to get both if I already have a system thats a bit overkill for what I use it for anyways...

Getting the PC3200 would get me the same peformance as if I would go buy another PC2100 for a lot more money...

Regarding selling my current PC2100 512... do people even buy old memory sticks? I would have no clue where to start for selling them (not an avid ebay customer), seems like a bit of a hassle.

Thanks again for your help... been awesome

One more thing


...Getting more hard drive space wouldnt really speed things up would it? I still have 30gigs or so free but just a thought

And when you were talking about "clocking" the sticks at the lower speed, thats not something you have to manually is it? it seems like that is something the computer does with auto-detect etc...

basically I have a ton of open room in my computer case and I want to do some sort of upgrade.... thought memory would be the best avenue for speed increase