Hi I have an AMD ATHLON XP1700+, 1.48Ghz and 256mb of ram. \nI have a 40gb hard disk.\nThe PC is a bit slow sometimes especially when hard-disk memory is low. \n\nHow do you increase performance on my PC?\nNew hardware? Which are the best in the market?
207058
As far as hardware upgrading, I believe a system with the 1700+ (I used to have the 1800+) is compatible and upgradeable to the 2200+.  You probably won't really notice the increase.  You can try to find and purchase ultra low latency RAM for your system, but you will want any pairs to match for best performance.  Usually, increasing RAM capacity by purchasing a larget stick is a decent cheap upgrade.  This will allow you to run more programs at once and will speed up the system noticeably.  However, this is not the only performance factor.  For example, purchasing a high density (cheap) 512MB stick of RAM will increase performance by 10% (just an example, mind you).  But, purchasing a 512MB stick of low or ultra low latency RAM will increase performance by 35%.  As long as the RAM is compatible with your system.  According to your specs I would say you need PC 2100 DDR DIMM SDRAM (133MHz - 266DDR).\n\nA better graphics adapter would significantly increase video performance and system performance to a degree.  If you have integrated graphics, then it will also increase overall system performance noticably.  According to your system specs, I'm assuming you have an AGP 4x, possibly 8x.  I believe the best card for this setup would be an AGP GeForce 7800 GS or a Radeon X800 XL.\n\nBetter hard drives will provide big performance boosts as well.  One with quick access time and fast read/write speeds.  Especially in a RAID0 array.\n\nIf you want to increase performance through system tweaks (at no cost, of course), then I suggest you download, unzip, and read the following.  It will help.  Trust me.  Try doing a before and after benchmark test such as on pcpitstop.com.  You will notice significant difference in performance.  Good luck.\n\nhttp://www.tweakguides.com/files/TGTC_3.0.zip
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ahhh...\nyes\ni recall this from a long looooooooooong time ago\nin a galaxy far away\nwhen some stupid idiot in the Intel Corp. figured out a way to hurt your gaming capabilities and then some marketing guys called it "Hyper-Threading"!!!\nit basically is dual core but it isnt as powerful (like u cant run two games at once, which dual core can do)\n64-bit...thats AMD's technology...\nthe good thing about it is that when you run multi threaded apps (like divx or nero recode or something like quake four i think) it runs faster
191810
you should upgrade from AMD 62 to AMD 64 - fun aside, the only good upgrade i see, upgrade from 512MB to 1GB Ram. The rest is ok. don't spend to much money for upgrades, better save up for a new comp.
569073
the 4200 means 4.2 ghz comparable but that is hype,  to get the most out of a system you need fast memory DDR2 which AMD doesn't support yet, and a fast HDD  western digital Raptor 10000 rpm with a seek time 1/2 of the next competitor, the processor is just 1 part of the system, if you dont have enough and fast memory you will never get the max out of the processor,
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You go to Start Menu.\nControl Panel.\nSystem.\nAnd then click on the Advanced Tab.\nUnder Performance there is a settings tab.\n\nYou can increase your virtual memory there, but I wouldnt touch it because it usually allocates it the best way possible so that your computer and your graphics card gets the most from your memory.\n\nIt usually means you might need to upgrade your memory. Go to control panel again, then system, and then check your computer information and see how much memory you have. If you only have 128MB RAM, which is the standard that new computers come in, then you might need to add more RAM.\n\nThe more the RAM, the better performance of your computer. If you only have 128MB RAM then that basically means that you cant have much more than maybe 3 or 4 programs opened at the same time.\n\nIf you need more help or if you want instructions on how to install more memory, then contact me in my profile.
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ok you only want the system to surf the net, i pressume you will at some point want to watch video files?\nso you want a system with a minimum 512MB 333mhz or faster (higher numbered) DDR or DDRII RAM(Minimum).\nprocessor speed of 1.8GHz (1800Mhz) is a little slow but will work adequetly (i built a system for a neighbour with similer requirements to yours)\nas much cach level 1 and level 2 as possible (the higher the number the better)\n\nfor your needs as a beginer 120GB (unformatted) 111GB approx (formatted) should be a good starting point, however make sure the hard drive RPM is above 7200RPM and if the system has SATA capability even if the system has no sata drive installed will enable you to upgrade to larger hard drives (although you can upgrade your primary drive) SATA transfers faster than PATA/UDMA/IDE drives of the same size and RPM.\n\nif you can make sure the System has seagate brand hard drive(s) as this brand is the most reliable you can get.\nyou should also check the systems PSU (Power Supply Unit) as most budget systems come with only around a 350 to 400W this will in the short term be ok your system may (if you get the right PSU) work faster and with a greater level of system stability with a much larger PSU for example in my primary system i have a 650W PSU but then i'm running 7 internal hard drives, 1 DVD burner, floppy multiple PCI cards, AGP graphics card, AMD Sempron 3400 CPU.\n\nyour current system at 240MB? that sounds a little problem? as memory is normaly in multiples such as 128MB, 256MB, 512MB, 1024MB (1GB), and buffered or unbuffered you should never mix buffered and unbuffered in the same system or your system will become unstable.\nremember when you get your new system you should be able to install the old hard drive in the new system for ease of accessing your old personal data.\n\nif you were local to me i could possibly provide better assistance such as either browsing the stores with you or buying the components and assembling the system yourself.\nremember that if you do build a new computer and scrap your old one you can get away with using your old software, some of your old hardware such as your display panel keyboard and mouse etc.\nthe only think you would realy need to buy would be new main board, CPU, RAM, and possibly a new hard drive. you then just scrap your old system components. which means if money is tight why buy a complete new system if you only need the new components, by buying and building selectively you can get more for your money effectively. however unless you know what you are doing you could fry the componets as they are electostaticaly sensetive, so you need to ground yourself with a wrist strap or other device when building your system remeber to ground to any properly earthed such as a cable connected to bare copper on a central heating system or other similar instalation.
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Currently for games having a dual core will not increase the speed of the game dramatically because computer games are single threaded and thus only utilize one core.  However, the advantage of a dual core processor is that you can say; burn a CD while playing a game, or have one processor concentrate on the game while the other one handles windows and your other background programs.\n\nThe AMD x2 4200+ you are interested in is a good processor.  The 2.2 GHZ clock speed is actually way faster then your old P4 2.46 GHZ.  Because the AMD64 uses a shorter pipeline in its processor,then that of the P4. This makes the AMD64 more efficient and therefore faster.\n\nAs for the best dual core processors out now; the Intel core 2 duo is the best.  Any dual core will play better then any P4 processor.\nMy personal choice would be a AMD processor, but the Intel core 2 duo is the best for the money currently.
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Is there any specific reason you wish to upgrade your pc for, or is it just that you want more and more? Remember, there's no end to upgradations, but you should learn to draw the line somewhere. If you feel your pc is not performing efficiently, maybe you should try and diagnose it rather than upgrade with your eyes closed. Go ahead, upgrade your RAM if you feel the need to, but 160 GB of hard disk space...? \nA heart transplant doesn't make you younger - same goes for your pc.
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Never ever think of waiting for more new hardware or software, they always develop.\nUsing a 64 bit CPU is a good option, also great for future updates when the windows 64-bit will be more available, for now have it & have the PCI-E cards, they are the new era of technology. Vista will be even compatible with older technologies so how come about your state-of-art parts? They will be kicking for years :D\n\nGo ahead & have them, choose well & God bless you
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For gaming, you need to make sure that all the parts are reasonably fast.  As another person mentioned, most PCs come with cheap or built-in graphics.\nAlso, some chip sets don't do the CPU justice - check the benchmarks.  Most newer games are CPU limited with the best graphics cards, but you won't change your performance much unless you have a decent motherboard.\nFaster memory might make more difference - be careful too since now there are DDR2 versions, they are faster (M2 series of AMD) and memory : CPU performance can give more boost than most people think.\nConsider too, that the final speed difference between a medium and high speed chip (10% faster) might increase the cost by $150, where in a year, the next chip with bigger cache and even higher clocks might cost $150 and be a >30% performance upgrade.\nMost current games that I know of cannot use the dual core capabilities, but Vista will use some to help games run faster.  It is a lot of work for game writers to split their game in two for dual-cores, and since most people don't have these chips yet, the game companies aren't in a hurry.
402412
This is exactly what I have in one of my computers, it's great, it's fast, I really don't want nothing better, you just said it..\nINTEL PENTIUM D PROCESSOR 805 WITH DUAL CORE TECHNOLOGY (2 x 2.66GHZ, 533FSB)\nThis is the one, and with this question I just move to level 6 thanks..
19058
Hmm, if you've already lowered your graphics rendering thingy, reduced the fonts (like, in the on-screen messages), and changed the resolution on your games colors, i can't think of anything else.\nRAM is cheaper these days, so just buy more.  More computers these days have at least a Gig of RAM, it's the wave of the future!  Plus, games will just keep getting better and better, so eventually you'll need to keep up, so when's a better time to buy more RAM?\nGood luck
591439
Hi,\nthe biggest question you have to reslove is "What do I really want to do with my new computer?"\n\nIf you are a heavy gamer and get frustrated because you are a couple of frames per second FPS slower that the max or you have need of a powerful machine to do some 3D graphics procssing (ie: rendering a complex animated scene) or as you mentioned you are heavy into Video processing then you have to do some serious studying ahead to get the best match for price / performance. Study benchmarks that are specific to video processing and then you can make some intelligent decisions.\n\nIf you are a casual gamer and just want some speed and are on a budget then it's easy to throw one together.\n\nFirst oreder of business is PCI Express, it's the new kid on the block and for some reason the video care mfgrs. are only charging about $160 for a PCI Express video card that is about the equivalent of a $500 AGP card.\n\nBeyond that choose either AMD or Intel and go with the 64 bit. AMD has both excellent performance and excelent pricing. Each manufactuer has chips in the $900 to $1000 range (and above if you start looking at XEON and Opteron processor) but for the general usage, you can get a pretty decent AMD 64 bit for around $300 - $400.\n\nAdd a case, a high quality power supply, cooling system (if you get some of the higher powered chips) a decent mother board. Lots to choose from  http://hardwarehell.com/mobo.htm \n\nPersonal experience stay away from PC Chips they're kind of weak in the BIOS can't do much over clocking and they have less settings overall. \n\nGet a board wth a fast FSB front side bus, some decent quality memory (at least a gig) and a SATA hard drive. DVD burner and DVD player. and you are good to go.\n\nThere are sooooo many chips and soooooo many motherboards that it is almost a full time job keeping up.\n\nSome chips within the same manufacturer like AMD are very close in performance and yet are several hundered dollars apart in price.\n\nDual core just means (a new trend in chip technology) that there are two processors on the same die or physical chip. \n\nI have an AMD 3000+ 32 bit with 1 GIG of memory and an ATI x700 graphics card that is respectable in performance.\n\nI can play games and I can render simple stuff and I do a fair share of video creation using a program called MAGIX Movie Edit Pro.
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Are you sure you need to upgrade the processor?\n\nHow much memory (RAM) do you have?  This is usual a more important factor in higher end systems (2.80 Ghz is a pretty decent CPU).
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Your CPU and ram is enough for now. Although I do always recommend always to have at least 1GB of ram.\nBut the best solution to your problem is to buy a new video card. The FX5500 is a great card but it is really a low end card. You will need a card that can give you more than 30fps (frames per second) the higher the fps is the better your gameplay will be. 30FPS is the min. to play a game,anything less than 30fps is like the game is freezing every few seonds.\n\nYou didnt post a price range you are willing to spend for a new video card. Normally many people will say $150 range. So I recommended you card at this price, and believe me this is an excellent video card.\n\nhttp://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16814130251
72523
Several possible reasons:\n\n1. Xp and only 256MB ram, 512MB is the bottom end to expect any performance.\n\n2. Low cache CPU such as a Celeron. 512k or 1MB cache will greatly increase the performance.\n\n3. Slow HD. Notebooks almost always use slower HD's but some vendors will use the slowest, cheapest they can find.\n\n4. Tons of useless startup crap that Dell or some other vendor decided you need. What all is running once your system is started? All that crap you see in the lower right hand corner all uses memory and resources.\n\n5. Support software which is running in the background checking for updates and ready to help you if the system crashes. Personally I will update my system when I want to and if it crashes more than once it's going back.
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before you buy a new card, check if your computer is using part of your RAM as video memory. if it does, you may be able to allocate enough memory for the game. \n\nshutdown your PC. turn it on and whatch for the "press F1 to enter setup" message (some times F2, F10, or a key combination). so do it. once you're in BIOS setup, go through all menues and look for anything that has to do with on-board video memory size. if you can find it - see if you can change it to 32 MB or more. if not you're out of luck. and you'll need a new video card.\n\ni would, though, strongly recommend getting a new video card in any case. it will increase your PCs performance.\n\ngood luck