RAM upgrade to fix go-slow?

Potential-Monke

While my knowledge of computing is adequate, i'm find myself wondering before purchasing.

After my laptop GPU died (yet again, number 3), i decided to buy a second hand PC that is a few years old but functioning. It's a HP-Compaq dc5000 micro(?), P4 3.00ghz, 1gig RAM, XP Pro 2002 SP3, built in Intel 82865G Graphics Card.

Now, i cleaned it up, installed Eset Nod32 and everything checks out ok. But, i've noticed when watching videos it can go slow, jumpy, etc even if i preload, and god forbid i try to watch something full screen, just a jumpy mess.

I've noticed at these times in the task manager that the CPU usage is hitting the 100% mark, but RAM usage is still below 50%. And that makes me wonder that a RAM upgrade won't make much difference. There's no other program running aside from the usual needs, Eset and Chrome.

Any idea what's causing the go-slow?

boghopper

Hi before you go out and buy some memory run a couple of programs on your machine that might help to speed it up again

Download CCleaner it should clean out any junk files on your hard drive

download Malewarebytes, update this then run it. If there is any malware or other bad programs on the system this will kill them and reclaim you back some cpu cycles

When all this is finished download a program called defraggler to defrag your hard drive. This should help also.

Also check if there are any new drivers for your intel chipset, worth a look

Akarinn

What was it like before you installed Nod32 on it?

Surely that would effect it.. Like 1gb of ram isnt exactly much..

What type of ram is it? DDR2?

Torqay

Forget it... 1 GB is plenty for XP . It doesn't get any better on this machine. The problem isn't the lack of physical memory, that old P4 can only do so much and bus speed being the next bottleneck.

lankz92

i also like to point out that the graphics could be struggleing depending on what videos are being watched,

personally iv 2 p4 or around that pc's sitting there and they dont seem to have any problems playing videos

maybe try loading up a few low quality videos and see if it helps?

Potential-Monke

I've done the Malwarebytes, just have to get that ccleaner and defraggler (is the system defrag not the same?).

It's only when playing online videos. Just played Get the Gringo avi and the whole thing was fine (vlc), but still the issue with online, especially if i go above 480p, but i don't know is that the gpu that just can't handle the 720p.

Also, is an external gpu a good idea, or what might i be able to upgrade the motherboard to cheapish?

Every day i think i know more and more about computers, and every day i find i know less and less...

Edit: tried a video on youtube in 280 and it's grand until i go full screen. 720p doesn't even play properly in the small screen. I'll upgrade the RAM anyway (@Akarinn: running the same before Eset, and it's DDR PC2700 by the way) as i can see it struggle if i try and do more than, say, 1 thing at a time (right now the mouse is jumping all over the place while MS security updates are being downloaded/installed). Don't want to spend too much as i intend on building a monster rig hopefully this side of xmas.

lankz92

give cc cleaner a run, it does usually help improve internet problems for me,

defraggler would be the same as the system defrag

i dont know if ones better than the other, maybe someone can clarify that,


just seen your update, still give cc cleaner a run might help,

but id say if its running fine at lower quality then itd be the gpu,
although you did say it was fine offline...

Torqay

Do not spend any money on upgrades, nothing you could possibly put in there would be worth the money.

That P4 3.0 (Prescott, probably HT) is perfectly capable of playing at least 720p HD MKVs, even with an Intel GMA. (I play those on a 1.7 GHz Willamette with 133 MHz SDRAM)

Backup your files, wipe the old clunker and install XP anew, that'd be best "upgrade" you can get.

lankz92

Torqay wrote: »

Do not spend any money on upgrades, nothing you can possibly put in there would be worth the money.

That P4 3.0 (Prescott, probably HT) is perfectly capable of playing at least 720p HD MKVs, even with an Intel GMA.

Backup your files, wipe the old clunker and install XP anew, that'd be best "upgrade" you can get.

+1 should have pointed out both the machines i have were recently reinstalled so that would help

Skerries

get more memory here

http://www.downloadmoreram.com/

Potential-Monke

I'll do the clean install if ccleaner and defrag don't sort anything, but i have 1 question: what if i don't have the original install discs? Is there a licence key somewhere on this that i can reuse?

@Skerries: cloud ram?

lankz92

Potential-Monke wrote: »

I'll do the clean install if ccleaner and defrag don't sort anything, but i have 1 question: what if i don't have the original install discs? Is there a licence key somewhere on this that i can reuse?

it would usually be on a sticker on the side,

Torqay

Potential-Monke wrote: »

Is there a licence key somewhere on this that i can reuse?

Magic Jellybean or WinKeyFinder will tell you what you need to know.

Google "backup windows xp activation".

Of course, the key and the restored activation only work with the same Windows version (e.g. Windows XP Home OEM)

RUCKING FETARD

Potential-Monke wrote: »

@Skerries: cloud ram?

just a joke