need some memory and pc speed advice - Techwatch Support Forums: Digital & Satellite TV, FTA, Cable, Computers, Mobile Phones, Apple and General Tech Forums

ciarand30 · 10-02-09, 04:24 PM

alrite folks our pc is running very slow lately and i keep getting "low vitual memory" warning. would putting in new ram help im currently on 448mb of ram with an amd athlon 64 processer 3400+ so whats my best course of action and would any ddr ram work in my pc????

in case you didnt already know im a bit of a pleb when it comes to things like this lol

elli5on · 10-02-09, 04:31 PM

You do need memory yes but here's what you do for virtual memory.

Start-Control panel-System-Adavanced tab-choose virtual memory settings-on performance options windows select advanced tab again- At the bottom under virtual memory option, again select chance. Make sure custom button is checked then top box enter 1024, in bottom box enter 2048.

But it is really advised you get more ram for faster performance. You may be delving into paging/swapping where you run out of physical RAM AND start to use your Hard drive as temp storage.

Craig

P.S- take one of your memory sticks out, but more than likely your running PC3200 (DDR400). Have a look on the sticker on the RAM module and let me know what it says, i can point you in the right direction.

smoggy · 10-02-09, 04:39 PM

if you decide to upgrade memory you could try running the crucial memory scanner _http://www.crucial.com/uk/?cpe=pd_google_uk&gclid=CLDVgZqj0pgCFYFA3godi27J1A
it will give you the correct memory upgrades your PC is capable of and the price of the memory sticks

ciarand30 · 10-02-09, 04:43 PM

thanks very much for the quick responses lads. i will get 2 takin the ram out in the mornining and let you know what it says craig thanks again been a great help

ciarand30 · 10-02-09, 04:55 PM

quote=elli5on;295960]You do need memory yes but here's what you do for virtual memory.

Start-Control panel-System-Adavanced tab-choose virtual memory settings-on performance options windows select advanced tab again- At the bottom under virtual memory option, again select chance. Make sure custom button is checked then top box enter 1024, in bottom box enter 2048.

But it is really advised you get more ram for faster performance. You may be delving into paging/swapping where you run out of physical RAM AND start to use your Hard drive as temp storage.

Craig

P.S- take one of your memory sticks out, but more than likely your running PC3200 (DDR400). Have a look on the sticker on the RAM module and let me know what it says, i can point you in the right direction.[/quote]

alrite craig me again lol. i ran that scan that was recommended and it said DDR PC3200 512mb of installed ram so were do i go from there?

elli5on · 10-02-09, 05:23 PM

I take it you have already changed your virtual memory settings???

There is a number of places you can buy that memory from here is a link.

Web-Systems Online Thas 1gb, ABOUT £5.99 delivery. if you have 2 of them the same size you will be running in DUAL channel. Oterwise you could just buy the 512mb version. More RAM the better.

You could also nip into pcworld but they will charge more than the site link provided mate. Entirely up to you dude.

ciarand30 · 10-02-09, 05:27 PM

yep done the virtual memory thing no warnings now thank god. ao would i b ok putting a 1gb piece of ram in then? would i need to remove my original 512mb ram?

ciarand30 · 10-02-09, 05:28 PM

and by the way is it my imagination or wishful thinking that since i done the vitual memory thing that my systems running that wee bit faster????

elli5on · 10-02-09, 05:30 PM

I would be very surprised if your motherboard didnt support 1gb sticks. Kingston is more than likely the most commonly used RAM modules in pre built systems.

As long as you have 2 memory slots, 1 will be taken up by your 512 then you are fine to install alongside this. It is generally better to install 2 chips of the same size i.e - 2X512 or 2X1GB. You may have 4 memory bank dpending on motherboard manufacturer and model number. running 2 the same size enables dual channel and works slightly better.

Regards

Craig

elli5on · 10-02-09, 05:34 PM

The virtual memory, Small posibility. But realistically no.

RAM is a volatile memory, Anything loaded into it is never permanently stored. Application's you run including internet explorer all initionally load into RAM before opening. They are kept there until you close them. Think of RAM as a table, the bigger the table, the more food you can put onto it

You could use MSCONFIG and disable any startup applications running in the background which are not needed. This is a more daunting task to the basic user.

I generally disable all non windows programs except anti virus. I can tell you how to do it if you need. This should make system start up quicker, and run smoother as more RAM ''Should'' be available.

Regards

10-02-09, 04:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
ciarand30 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 10 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	need some memory and pc speed advice alrite folks our pc is running very slow lately and i keep getting "low vitual memory" warning. would putting in new ram help im currently on 448mb of ram with an amd athlon 64 processer 3400+ so whats my best course of action and would any ddr ram work in my pc???? in case you didnt already know im a bit of a pleb when it comes to things like this lol

10-02-09, 04:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
elli5on Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 390 Thanks: 54 Thanked 66 Times in 62 Posts	Re: need some memory and pc speed advice You do need memory yes but here's what you do for virtual memory. Start-Control panel-System-Adavanced tab-choose virtual memory settings-on performance options windows select advanced tab again- At the bottom under virtual memory option, again select chance. Make sure custom button is checked then top box enter 1024, in bottom box enter 2048. But it is really advised you get more ram for faster performance. You may be delving into paging/swapping where you run out of physical RAM AND start to use your Hard drive as temp storage. Craig P.S- take one of your memory sticks out, but more than likely your running PC3200 (DDR400). Have a look on the sticker on the RAM module and let me know what it says, i can point you in the right direction. Last edited by elli5on; 10-02-09 at 04:36 PM.

10-02-09, 04:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
smoggy Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: North East England Posts: 2,757 Thanks: 238 Thanked 881 Times in 791 Posts	Re: need some memory and pc speed advice if you decide to upgrade memory you could try running the crucial memory scanner _http://www.crucial.com/uk/?cpe=pd_google_uk&gclid=CLDVgZqj0pgCFYFA3godi27J1A it will give you the correct memory upgrades your PC is capable of and the price of the memory sticks

10-02-09, 04:43 PM	#4 (permalink)
ciarand30 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 10 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: need some memory and pc speed advice thanks very much for the quick responses lads. i will get 2 takin the ram out in the mornining and let you know what it says craig thanks again been a great help

10-02-09, 04:55 PM	#5 (permalink)
ciarand30 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 10 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: need some memory and pc speed advice quote=elli5on;295960]You do need memory yes but here's what you do for virtual memory. Start-Control panel-System-Adavanced tab-choose virtual memory settings-on performance options windows select advanced tab again- At the bottom under virtual memory option, again select chance. Make sure custom button is checked then top box enter 1024, in bottom box enter 2048. But it is really advised you get more ram for faster performance. You may be delving into paging/swapping where you run out of physical RAM AND start to use your Hard drive as temp storage. Craig P.S- take one of your memory sticks out, but more than likely your running PC3200 (DDR400). Have a look on the sticker on the RAM module and let me know what it says, i can point you in the right direction.[/quote] alrite craig me again lol. i ran that scan that was recommended and it said DDR PC3200 512mb of installed ram so were do i go from there?

10-02-09, 05:23 PM	#6 (permalink)
elli5on Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 390 Thanks: 54 Thanked 66 Times in 62 Posts	Re: need some memory and pc speed advice I take it you have already changed your virtual memory settings??? There is a number of places you can buy that memory from here is a link. Web-Systems Online Thas 1gb, ABOUT £5.99 delivery. if you have 2 of them the same size you will be running in DUAL channel. Oterwise you could just buy the 512mb version. More RAM the better. You could also nip into pcworld but they will charge more than the site link provided mate. Entirely up to you dude.

10-02-09, 05:27 PM	#7 (permalink)
ciarand30 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 10 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: need some memory and pc speed advice yep done the virtual memory thing no warnings now thank god. ao would i b ok putting a 1gb piece of ram in then? would i need to remove my original 512mb ram?

10-02-09, 05:28 PM	#8 (permalink)
ciarand30 Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 10 Thanks: 4 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: need some memory and pc speed advice and by the way is it my imagination or wishful thinking that since i done the vitual memory thing that my systems running that wee bit faster????

10-02-09, 05:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
elli5on Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 390 Thanks: 54 Thanked 66 Times in 62 Posts	Re: need some memory and pc speed advice I would be very surprised if your motherboard didnt support 1gb sticks. Kingston is more than likely the most commonly used RAM modules in pre built systems. As long as you have 2 memory slots, 1 will be taken up by your 512 then you are fine to install alongside this. It is generally better to install 2 chips of the same size i.e - 2X512 or 2X1GB. You may have 4 memory bank dpending on motherboard manufacturer and model number. running 2 the same size enables dual channel and works slightly better. Regards Craig

10-02-09, 05:34 PM	#10 (permalink)
elli5on Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Posts: 390 Thanks: 54 Thanked 66 Times in 62 Posts	Re: need some memory and pc speed advice The virtual memory, Small posibility. But realistically no. RAM is a volatile memory, Anything loaded into it is never permanently stored. Application's you run including internet explorer all initionally load into RAM before opening. They are kept there until you close them. Think of RAM as a table, the bigger the table, the more food you can put onto it You could use MSCONFIG and disable any startup applications running in the background which are not needed. This is a more daunting task to the basic user. I generally disable all non windows programs except anti virus. I can tell you how to do it if you need. This should make system start up quicker, and run smoother as more RAM ''Should'' be available. Regards