Computer Question

[ForeverAutumn]

My mom's computer is in serious need of upgrading. I've never seen a computer that runs slower. It's an Acer, with only 512MB of RAM and running on Vista. :yikes:

I want to get her an upgrade. I'm tossed between just upgrading the existing computer with more memory or buying her a new processor.

She only uses the computer for email, web, and the occasion Word or PDF doc. Is there a reason that I should be considering one option over the other? If I went with a new processor I'd probably just buy her a refurb.

I'm not much of a computer person, so any advice on how to improve her computer for the least amount of cost and hassle would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Hyfi]

Add as much ram as the pc will handle. 512 isnt even enough to run XP properly.

[Geoffcin]

It would depend on the other parameters. What's the processor? HD all full up yet? Does it have a decent sound card? How about the video?

If the monitor is in decent shape then you could get a bare-bones kit cheap and add her HD into it.

[poppachubby]

Truthfully FA, for the easiest option, hit a refurb shop. For under $200 you can get her a stellar comp which will do more than she needs it to. If she doesn't care about a fancy monitor, even less still.

If you aren't up to upgrading it (and who is?!?), I'm sure your mom won't be going inside the comp either.

Start fresh.

[Hyfi]

What is the exact PC model? I may have a few sticks of the older ram laying around and if it matches it's yours for shipping cost.

[ForeverAutumn]

What is the exact PC model? I may have a few sticks of the older ram laying around and if it matches it's yours for shipping cost.

Wow Hyfi, that's really generous of you! :D I just called her and here's the info that's on the front of her computer...

Acer AST180-EA351B
Processor: 3500+ AMD Athion 64
512 MB DDR2
160GB
9 in 1 card reader.

I hope that helps.

She has a decent monitor, keyboard and mouse. So all she needs is the HD or more memory. She doesn't need the full package.

[Geoffcin]

Wow Hyfi, that's really generous of you! :D I just called her and here's the info that's on the front of her computer...

Acer AST180-EA351B
Processor: 3500+ AMD Athion 64
512 MB DDR2
160GB
9 in 1 card reader.

I hope that helps.

She has a decent monitor, keyboard and mouse. So all she needs is the HD or more memory. She doesn't need the full package.


That's still a decent computer. Depending on the mother board you could go to 4GB.ram.
http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/C13-6084-main01-op.jpg

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4631346&Sku=C13-6084

For $59 more you could also add a 1TB HD while you got the box open.
http://images.highspeedbackbone.net/skuimages/large/TSD-1000AS4-main01-mpl.jpg

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=4691121&Sku=TSD-1000AS4

[Hyfi]

Wow Hyfi, that's really generous of you! :D I just called her and here's the info that's on the front of her computer...

Acer AST180-EA351B
Processor: 3500+ AMD Athion 64
512 MB DDR2
160GB
9 in 1 card reader.

I hope that helps.

She has a decent monitor, keyboard and mouse. So all she needs is the HD or more memory. She doesn't need the full package.

FA, this pc is way newer than I thought at first. It's hard to believe it only came with 512MB. I would say that that is all that is wrong, it just needs more ram.

Aside from full hard drive causing slowness, the next big thing is lack of ram. You should get it up to at least 2GB but the full 4GB would make this box a nice keeper.

I have a box I built a few years ago using the same CPU. I run 4GB RAM in mine and it's just fine with XP. Vista is a bigger memory hog too.

Unfortunately I don't have any of the newer ram for this box but have stacks of older ram.

Geoffcin's link is a great deal and I would do that before anything else.

[ForeverAutumn]

Thanks guys! The 160GB that my mom has is plenty for her use. I can't imagine that she's used more than a fraction of it. She's 74-yrs-old, so she's hardly bogging it down with games and downloads. LOL. But I will check the HD just to make sure.

There's a TigerDirect store up the street from me. If I buy more ram, it is easy to install myself?

Our own home computer can probably use an upgrade too. Maybe I'll experiment on my Mom and if it all works out then I'll do the same to our own. If I screw it up, its much easier to replace my Mom's PC than ours as she has a lot less stuff on hers. :D

[Hyfi]

Thanks guys! The 160GB that my mom has is plenty for her use. I can't imagine that she's used more than a fraction of it. She's 74-yrs-old, so she's hardly bogging it down with games and downloads. LOL. But I will check the HD just to make sure.

There's a TigerDirect store up the street from me. If I buy more ram, it is easy to install myself?

Our own home computer can probably use an upgrade too. Maybe I'll experiment on my Mom and if it all works out then I'll do the same to our own. If I screw it up, its much easier to replace my Mom's PC than ours as she has a lot less stuff on hers. :D

RAM is simple to install. Open the case and you will see the sticks of ram in their slots. At each end of the slots there is a little flippy thing that holds them in which you will push down at each end. That will unseat the old ones. When putting in the new ones, make sure they ar in the correct direction and the littls slot in socket lines up with slot in stick of ram. Push stick down at both ends until the clips flip back up and lock it in place.

When you reboot, PC will want to go into setup because it knows the amount of ram changed. Go in and exit out saving changes.

That is it.

[Geoffcin]

Thanks guys! The 160GB that my mom has is plenty for her use. I can't imagine that she's used more than a fraction of it. She's 74-yrs-old, so she's hardly bogging it down with games and downloads. LOL. But I will check the HD just to make sure.

There's a TigerDirect store up the street from me. If I buy more ram, it is easy to install myself?

Our own home computer can probably use an upgrade too. Maybe I'll experiment on my Mom and if it all works out then I'll do the same to our own. If I screw it up, its much easier to replace my Mom's PC than ours as she has a lot less stuff on hers. :D

There's almost nothing easier to install than RAM. Like the song says; "just a little push and you'll be smiling" :biggrin5:

[ForeverAutumn]

Seriously? That's it?

If there are enough slots, should I just leave the old ram alone and add the new ones? This just sounds too easy to me.

[Hyfi]

Seriously? That's it?

If there are enough slots, should I just leave the old ram alone and add the new ones? This just sounds too easy to me.

I did not look it up but some of the smaller motherboards only have 2 slots so you can put a 2gb chip in each slot. It probably only has a single 512 in there no matter how many slots. For the cost of the 2-2gb sticks, and the fact that 4gb is max, it will be better taking out what is in there and just put the new ones in. Dis-similar ram can cause issues.

If it has 4 slots and only one is used with the 512 stick, you could get 3-1GB sticks and have 3.5 GB ram.

[Feanor]

Seriously? That's it?

If there are enough slots, should I just leave the old ram alone and add the new ones? This just sounds too easy to me.
I agree with Geoff; it's simple to install RAM.

(I assume he's correct about the DDR2 PC-6400 specification -- seems right so I'm not double checking.)

I think your mom would be find with 2 GB -- get to 1 GB modules rather than a single 2 GB. I'd advise that you remove the old RAM and install the new chips in the two slots, or if there are fours slots, in the 1st and 3rd.

Here's a reasonably good YouTube shows you how, (hope you don't get the L'Oreal ad) ...

<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SiFIgSQOY7g?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SiFIgSQOY7g?fs=1&amp;hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

And HERE (http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3402807&CatId=2368) is the TigerDirect.ca link ...

Or you can get it at BestBuy.ca HERE (http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/lexar-media-lexar-2-x-1gb-ddr2-desktop-memory-ld2gd2d806cna-ld2gd2d806cna/10134884.aspx?path=06ed7fa207d9eb9dfcd9d5a187597b2 4en02).

[ForeverAutumn]

Thanks. I'll have to buy the ram before heading over to Mom's place, so I'll just buy 4GB. Feanor, why would using two 1GB sticks be better than one 2GB stick?

I was thinking that I could buy two 2GB sticks and put one in my mom's computer. That would free up the other stick for our computer. We already have 2GB and could use the upgrade to 4.

Sorry if these sound like dumb questions. But I am pretty clueless when it comes to stuff like this.

[Feanor]

Thanks. I'll have to buy the ram before heading over to Mom's place, so I'll just buy 4GB. Feanor, why would using two 1GB sticks be better than one 2GB stick?

I was thinking that I could buy two 2GB sticks and put one in my mom's computer. That would free up the other stick for our computer. We already have 2GB and could use the upgrade to 4.

Sorry if these sound like dumb questions. But I am pretty clueless when it comes to stuff like this.
One 2 GB stick will probably work fine, however the technical architect of the computer is such that two identical 1 GB sticks are faster than a single chip of 2 GB.

A computer shop, especially a small local, shop, might very well install the RAM sticks for free if the buy the RAM from them -- call ahead and ask, though.

[Hyfi]

Thanks. I'll have to buy the ram before heading over to Mom's place, so I'll just buy 4GB. Feanor, why would using two 1GB sticks be better than one 2GB stick?

I was thinking that I could buy two 2GB sticks and put one in my mom's computer. That would free up the other stick for our computer. We already have 2GB and could use the upgrade to 4.

Sorry if these sound like dumb questions. But I am pretty clueless when it comes to stuff like this.

It is usually best to use 2 slots whether there are 2 or 4.

The ram coming out of moms PC may not be compatible with yours unless it uses the exact stuff.

Keep in mind, when the PC is a Dell or Gateway, you always need to buy ram that specifically states it will work.

[Geoffcin]

Acer uses an open architecture format, so the RAM should work, even if the FSB speed is clocked slower than the 800mHz the RAM is rated for.

2 sticks of 1GB have double the connections of 1 stick of 2GB. It will be faster using the two. 4GB (2GBx2) would be the optimal amount in this application.

[ForeverAutumn]

Alright. So I may have to open the computer before I buy the ram. How do I know what ram to buy? I went onto the web site mentioned in Feanor video but they didn't list my Mom's model. If I go into BB or Tiger Direct with the info that I gave you guys, will they be able to help me?

[Hyfi]

Alright. So I may have to open the computer before I buy the ram. How do I know what ram to buy? I went onto the web site mentioned in Feanor video but they didn't list my Mom's model. If I go into BB or Tiger Direct with the info that I gave you guys, will they be able to help me?

go to this link

http://www.crucial.com/?gclid=CMuXu-Tj66MCFUmA5QodDnkD3g&cpe=pd_google_us&ef_id=1705:3:s_e5a671b52d70f8e35f18d945e0cb10d3_25 85419493:TIEv4AqoEEQAACyfSoYAAAni:20100903172656

choose scan your system

Also, with product info, Tiger can probably match it up.

[ForeverAutumn]

go to this link

http://www.crucial.com/?gclid=CMuXu-Tj66MCFUmA5QodDnkD3g&cpe=pd_google_us&ef_id=1705:3:s_e5a671b52d70f8e35f18d945e0cb10d3_25 85419493:TIEv4AqoEEQAACyfSoYAAAni:20100903172656

choose scan your system

Also, with product info, Tiger can probably match it up.

Thanks. I'll have to go to my mom's place to do that.

You guys have been great! I'll have to get over to my mom's house, do the scan, and then see how many slots her computer has. I'll let you know how it all goes. :D

[Hyfi]

Thanks. I'll have to go to my mom's place to do that.

You guys have been great! I'll have to get over to my mom's house, do the scan, and then see how many slots her computer has. I'll let you know how it all goes. :D

I just used the info you posted and went thru the other method and the results are.....


http://www.crucial.com/store/listparts.aspx?model=Aspire%20T180

[Geoffcin]

Yes, it appears the computer's chipset can only address 1GB per slot, so don't buy the 2GB sticks. In any case Vista should run OK with only 2GB.

[02audionoob]

The best and fastest thing you can do for computer performance with Vista is to go to the Performance Information and Tools settings in Control Panel and the link to adjust visual settings and click the button to "adjust for best performance". Of course, RAM is a big help in cases like this, but the relatively new low-end computers can't adequately run the visual effects in Windows Vista and 7.

[blackraven]

I would not put more than 2 gig's of ram in that computer. For email, internet and word processing, any more ram will be a total waste. FA, I'll check and see if I still have my amd 3700 processor which will help a little with the speed but I doubt that you would notice a difference. If I can find it, I would be more than happy to send it to you.

For under $400 you can buy new lap tops with dual core processors that would run circles around that computer though.

[Feanor]

I would not put more than 2 gig's of ram in that computer. For email, internet and word processing, any more ram will be a total waste. FA, I'll check and see if I still have my amd 3700 processor which will help a little with the speed but I doubt that you would notice a difference. If I can find it, I would be more than happy to send it to you.

For under $400 you can buy new lap tops with dual core processors that would run circles around that computer though.
BR, that's not my experience. I added RAM to a 513 MB Athlon running Vista and notice a significant -- though not huge -- improvment.

[blackraven]

BR, that's not my experience. I added RAM to a 513 MB Athlon running Vista and notice a significant -- though not huge -- improvment.

I did'nt say that there would not be an improvement by adding ram, its just that adding more than 2 gigs will not give any improvement for web browsing and email. Vista should have at minimum1 gig or ram to run adequately.


http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/products/system-requirements

[02audionoob]

Performance would also be aided significantly by an added video card.

[blackraven]

Performance would also be aided significantly by an added video card.


Yes, a separate video card would help if she is running on board video with shared memory. You could find older video cards for just a few dollars. Just remember to turn off the on board card.

[Feanor]

I did'nt say that there would not be an improvement by adding ram, its just that adding more than 2 gigs will not give any improvement for web browsing and email. Vista should have at minimum1 gig or ram to run adequately.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/products/system-requirements
Yes, 1 GB is enough for simple tasks under Vista, but it one is upgrading, might as well go to 2 GB.

512 MB is simply inadquate for Vista. I bought my late mother a Compaq Semperon-based machine with 512. Performance was so miserable I quickly upgraded to 2 GB for, like I said, a significant improvement. Interestingly a month or so after we bought that machine, Compaq upgraded the same model to 1 GB -- their mistake corrected.

[Feanor]

Yes, a separate video card would help if she is running on board video with shared memory. You could find older video cards for just a few dollars. Just remember to turn off the on board card.
Then again upgrading the base memory will alleviate the shared memory problem to a signficant degree.

[Feanor]

Incidentally, we shouldn't over look the simplesy way to upgrade RAM. That is a USB flash drive: just stick a new flash drive into a USB 2 slot and Vista will ask whether you want use to improve performance or use it a data drive. Choose the the former and Vista will use that drive for memory paging, etc.

The flash memory wouldn't work as well as internal RAM, (not nearly), but can improve the performance of machines with a very low internal complement. (It doesn't help above 2 GB internal in my experience.)

[02audionoob]

It's the processing power of a video card that helps most. Also, the memory on the video card is ordinarily faster than the system memory and certainly faster than flash memory.

[Feanor]

It's the processing power of a video card that helps most. Also, the memory on the video card is ordinarily faster than the system memory and certainly faster than flash memory.
But I doubt FA's mamaw is into video games.

[ForeverAutumn]

But I doubt FA's mamaw is into video games.

Right you are Feanor. All I want to do is speed things up for her so that she can surf the web and read her email without having time to go for a coffee between each transaction. :D

[02audionoob]

But I doubt FA's mamaw is into video games.

One does not have to be into video games to benefit from a separate video card. Processing graphics is a large part of what is going on when you're moving around in Windows. The added card takes a load off the system processor.

An ordinary PC from the electronics store, fresh out of the box, can ordinarily benefit from an added video card....and like I mentioned before, from disabling visual effects.

[blackraven]

Noob is correct about the video card. FA, another thing that you should do for your mother's computer is to download a program like Spy Bot Search and Destroy by De Kolla and run it in the advanced mode. It has a program in it called start up and it will give you a list and description of programs that are running automatically when the computer starts up. There is a check box next to each and you can turn off unecessary processes that are slowing down the computer.

I would also consider doing a full operating system reinstall (if you have the disk and are comfortable doing so). This will ensure that there is nothing corrupted in the registry and the computer will run like new. Then I would use the Spy Bot program and turn off all the junk programs running in the back ground to free up resources. These are some simple things to try in addition to new ram to optimize the computer. By the way, Spy Bot will also help with malware and it also has a program called Tea Time which if turned on will help with unwanted programs making registry changes. There are many other programs out there that do this but spy bot is free and it works well. Make sure it is from De Kolla.

http://www.safer-networking.org/en/index.html

And Feanor, I certainly agree with going with 2gigs of ram if you are going to upgrade. I was just saying that 4 gigs is overkill for her purposes.

[Smokey]

I would also consider doing a full operating system reinstall (if you have the disk and are comfortable doing so). This will ensure that there is nothing corrupted in the registry and the computer will run like new.

After adding additional RAM, this probably will be the next best step. I used to do system reinstal every other year, and it is amazing what a difference it make as far as speed is concern.

[bfalls]

Anyone consider it could be malware causing the decrease in performance? The memory upgrade is still a good idea with Vista, but if it had been running OK and now isn't, I'd check for malware. Go to www.malewarebytes.com and download the free trial version.

[ForeverAutumn]

Great suggestion bfalls. Thanks. This computer has always been unbearably slow so I don't think it's malware. I will run a scan after upgrading the ram though. There is no way I could scan it before hand. It'll take 20 minutes just to d/l the program and probably hours to run it.

[02audionoob]

Another way to improve performance without adding hardware is to go to the Start menu, and Run, type in MSCONFIG, click OK, click Continue, the Startup tab, the Disable All button, and click OK. Then restart the computer and click the box to not show the message about start up changes again.

[Feanor]

Another way to improve performance without adding hardware is to go to the Start menu, and Run, type in MSCONFIG, click OK, click Continue, the Startup tab, the Disable All button, and click OK. Then restart the computer and click the box to not show the message about start up changes again.
Noob & FA,

I really don't recommend that FA do this. It's true that are there are a likely a few start-ups that her Mom doesn't need but there are likely more that are useful or even essential. This is getting into the arcane area of PC operation where the uninitiated should fear to tread. Same goes for Windows Services -- however keeners should check out Blackviper.com (http://www.blackviper.com/) to read up on which Windows service are essential, which are not, and when.

I do agree that good anti-malware programs are worthwhile. I regularly use Ad-Aware: see HERE (http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php); it's free. But here's the snag: using Ad-Aware to full advantage requires extra resources so it's back to adding RAM (or getting an faster computer).

[02audionoob]

Noob & FA,

I really don't recommend that FA do this. It's true that are there are a likely a few start-ups that her Mom doesn't need but there are likely more that are useful or even essential. This is getting into the arcane area of PC operation where the uninitiated should fear to tread. Same goes for Windows Services -- however keeners should check out Blackviper.com (http://www.blackviper.com/) to read up on which Windows service are essential, which are not, and when.

I do agree that good anti-malware programs are worthwhile. I regularly use Ad-Aware: see HERE (http://www.lavasoft.com/products/ad_aware_free.php); it's free. But here's the snag: using Ad-Aware to full advantage requires extra resources so it's back to adding RAM (or getting an faster computer).

You're way overstating the significance of this. It simply is not true that this is arcane or that there are essential operations in that Startup function. I've tried this many times. That might even be where malware programs are starting.

[blackraven]

You're way overstating the significance of this. It simply is not true that this is arcane or that there are essential operations in that Startup function. I've tried this many times. That might even be where malware programs are starting.

Yep, and you can always go back into MS config and reset the defaults. The program that I mentioned earlier-Spy Bot Search And Destroy allows you to do the same thing as MS Config but in greater detail and it will tell you if the program is essential, malware and give you a description of the program. Some things it cannot identify and unless you know what it does, it is best to leave it alone. The good thing is that you can go back and turn the program back on.
It also will search for malware and unwanted cookies and you can immunize the computer against malware.

Another thing to do to speed up the computer is get rid of most of the desk top Icons and place them in the start menu. Desk top icons take up computer resources.

Here's a program called Mem Test which you can use to see if the installed memory has gone bad. Its a useful tool and its free and easy to run-

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/memorytest.htm

And if you know the brand of the hard drive, you can download one of these free hard drive programs to see if the Hard Drive is working properly- HD's go bad and when they start to go, the computer bogs down and runs very slow. This could very well be part of your mom's computer problem if it takes hours to run programs, but more likely it is the lack of adequate ram, dedicated video card and a cheap mother board

http://pcsupport.about.com/od/toolsofthetrade/tp/tophddiag.htm

You should should also see if you can find the speed of the HD, 5400rpm vs 7200rpm. if its 5400 you can easily upgrade to a faster HD for little money. It will load programs faster and start up will be a little faster.

I would try some of these things as well as reinstalling the OS and adding ram and possibly a dedicated video card..

[ForeverAutumn]

go to this link

http://www.crucial.com/?gclid=CMuXu-Tj66MCFUmA5QodDnkD3g&cpe=pd_google_us&ef_id=1705:3:s_e5a671b52d70f8e35f18d945e0cb10d3_25 85419493:TIEv4AqoEEQAACyfSoYAAAni:20100903172656

choose scan your system

Also, with product info, Tiger can probably match it up.

I ran the scan from Crucial on my Mom's computer yesterday and it not only told me what type of memory to buy but also how many slots her computer has so I didn't need to open it up. It took foreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeever to run the scan though.

I'll continue to keep you posted on my progress, but it might be another couple of weeks before I have time to buy the sticks and get back to her place to install them.

Thanks again!

[ForeverAutumn]

Hey guys, I just added 2GB to my Mom's computer and it works better than any of my own computers. It's fast!!! Thanks for all your help! :)

[recoveryone]

You guy missed one important factor that is amazing, At age 84 her mom is still interested in using a computer. I had to drag my parents into the computer age and I get numerous calls now on how to transfers digital photos, e-mail attachments and so on and they are in their late 70's

[Feanor]

Hey guys, I just added 2GB to my Mom's computer and it works better than any of my own computers. It's fast!!! Thanks for all your help! :)
Great to hear it, FA. And no surprise: a RAM upgrade is usually the easiest and most effective upgrade you can make, at least given your original complement was only 500 MB or 1 GB.

Are you game to try any of the other suggestions mentioned here?

[ForeverAutumn]

Great to hear it, FA. And no surprise: a RAM upgrade is usually the easiest and most effective upgrade you can make, at least given your original complement was only 500 MB or 1 GB.

Are you game to try any of the other suggestions mentioned here?

I took her computer from 512GB to 2.512 MB.

At the moment, I don't need to try any of the other suggestions. Mom's computer is working like a dream and is much faster than she ever thought it could be. She's thrilled. No need to spend any more dough on upgrades to her computer. Next stop...upgrading or replacing our own eight-year-old desktop. :yesnod:

[BillShiphr]

I think it's a good idea to check your computer for viruses. After all, there are a lot of miners nowadays that terrorize your video card or processor. So I decided to install enterprise ransomware protection (https://spin.ai/) so that I don't put my office computers at great risk. The worst thing that can happen is loss or leakage of data.