More memory or new computers?

Hi,
I used to keep up with these sort of things but I've lost touch with what is good or not in new computers and laptops.......
I have more computers but my primary ones are an HP Pavilion a807w desktop, AMD Atlon 64 processor 3200+,2.21 GHz, SHOWING 384 MB of Ram??
I can't figure out why it's only showing 384 MB of Ram out of the installed 1 GB?
I also have an emachine M5405 laptop with a Mobile AMD Semipron Processor, 2800+, 1.6GHz, and 448 mb ram showing.....oh and the dvd doesn't work in this one, no biggie, I have an external one and flash drives.... these are both running windows xp home....sp 2.

First question? I think I have like 1GB of memory installed in the desktop, is one bad perhaps? and if so why is it only showing 384?

My husband is starting up his transportation business again or I would forget all this nonsense and put linux on a laptop but I will probably need to be running windows....

So do I up the memory to 2 GB for $79 in the desktop which is fully functional and ramp it up to 1GB for $49 in the emachine laptop which does fine. (plastic is broke a bit around the hinges but only I move it so that is OK).

OR do I bite the bullet and buy a new laptop to start and if so what? I am happy with xp but I've heard good things about windows 7? Brand? Recommended processor? I have found some on ebay for under $400 which don't look like bad deals, 3 or 4 GB of Ram etc....I do NOT want a Dell or an Acer or anything like that......HP, IBM, Levano, Toshiba are OK.....
THANKS,
Teresa

 

Those are both decent machines. I have no clue why so little ram is showing, but I would definitely go for the ram upgrade if you feel comfortable working inside a pc and notebook.

 

It's only 512MB of RAM. With 128MB reserved for onboard video, that would leave you with 384MB.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...nfoCategory&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=453539

 

Just Playin, thanks, I thought that might be it...I have to take it apart to see if I really DO have two sticks of memory in there...I was like sure I ramped everything up to 1 gb memory years ago but......
I've heard that I "need" to get windows 7 and I just can't see "needing" anything that likes 4 gb of memory and can use 8?
Teresa

 

Try SIW to see what it reports for your installed memory. Under Hardware>Memeory it should tell you what module is installed in each slot.

 

Thank you Sach2, I downloaded SIW and it shows one 512 mb stick of memory and it's 200 Mhz.....so that explains that...unless there is another one in there....I do have another stick that I think will work....I may just stick it in there for fun...

BUT the limits for my computer are supposedly 2 GB and it is showing 2 slots (I know there are two slots, I do know that much) with a capacity of 2048 for each so a total capacity of 4096.....if I were crazy and put that much memory in here with windows xp would it be worth it? AND could I run windows 7? This is the HP a807w.
Teresa

 

Crucial says each slot will only handle up to a 1gb module. So total memory is 2GB. HP says the same 2gb total limit.

As far as speed goes you'll have to wait for someone else to tell you what to expect.
For XP, I would just get a 1GB stick and put it in with the 512mb since 1.5gb is enough for just normal non-intensive use.

Does SIW say the type is (Pc2700 or Pc3200)? Probably PC3200 so no down side to buying just a 1gb module (other than slight savings when buying a pair of 1gb)

 

Depends what you use your computer for really,if its just a general light use them 2gb and win 7 will be fine,it wont be fast but it will work.One of the biggest bottlenecks for the spritliness of windows is your harddrive,if you bought even a cheap solid state drive and installed windows on that you should be quite happy with the performance IMO,so maybe a 512 or 1gig stick in the desktop and a solid state drive.

If you want to game,do intensive video processing,large file encoding you should be looking at a new computer,I think the laptop is entirely up to you as to whether you can afford it,it will simply be faster and doing everything.

If your gonna be doing business on these computers its essential you either upgrade to service pack 3 plus all the updates or upgrade to windows vista or win 7 and fully update for security reasons.

 

I'd go with Sachs' recommendation of adding 1GB of RAM and keeping XP, no need to shell out money for W7 which graphically you won't see any of the bells and whistles because of your graphics. You'll probably do accounting stuff right, one doesn't need megagobs of power to accomplish that.

As to a solid state drive, it's at least a 6 year old machine Rikky that's running XP!rolleyes However, it is a good idea to have a separate hard drive to make back-ups to as you don't want lose all your data if you're primary hard-drive kicks the bucket.

BTW, if you haven't done so yet, clean out your machines as lots of crap gets in there over the years.

 

So what?Ermm?Nah I'm not gonna argue this one your prolly right it falls on the side of just too expensive in this case,other than memory though a solid state drive is best upgrade for increasing the service life of a PC IMO.

 

sach2 it is 3200. I knew crucial and HP said 2 GB was the limit, that's why it surprised me when SIW said 4GB!
I use sea monkey for regular browsing and working on websites...for business I have to use foxfire...so there are two browsers open, then paint shop with up to 20 photos open making photo bars etc. Then I might have word or excel open...so I might try the 1 GB addition and see if that helps...
I did download advanced system care and I haven't had to wait on too much lately. If I left seamonkey for long periods of time I'd come back and it would run away with itself, like a car over revving?? But it hasn't done that today so maybe the advanced system care helped....
THANKS you all!
Teresa

 

Rikky I will look into service pack 3......I don't think I will need Windows 7, doesn't mean I don't WANT it though....I'm just running a small trucking business, finding loads, keeping books, then on the side I write for the internet, and design and develop websites...but NOTHING really complicated.
I've got back ups augiedoggie, but finding them is another issue...and whoever said clean up the machine hit the nail on the head....I've got 5 years of junk on here and it's been cleaned but not very well I'm afraid!
THANKS again you all!! I am a fan on facebook too now but I'm TC there. And I'm a fan of SIW!!
Teresa

 

All I can say is you run photoshop with 512mb RAM--WOW! :eek

I think you might want to go with the two 1GB modules of RAM if you intend to run that machine for another year or so. You will definitely see an improvement upgrading RAM and it will be the cheapest fix.

A newer computer with a newer processor would of course make further improvements but RAM seems to be a major bottleneck with your PC having several memory intensive programs open at once.

***I'm going to look around for info on your motherboard. I have seen cases where a board will accept larger modules than the manufacturer has stated but because both Crucial and HP still say 1gb I would be cautious. [I will still look around to see what I find]

 

sach2 it's paint shop pro 8, I've got something fancier on the mac but it's all in what you get used to. It's easier than gimp but I also have that....

I was thinking I might go with the 2 GB of ram also...

I used my digital camera with an old HP with 3.9 GB of hard drive and like 48 ram.....maybe 96, I can't remember...I took EVERYTHING off of that computer to have room to put photos on and run the photo software...windows 95, it was cool.

I was shopping for ram just now and I saw it referenced another place (which escapes me, may have been crucial? or Kensington) that my computer actually will hold 4 gb of ram?

I can't say it enough, thank you all for all your help. I feel like I might actually know something again!!
Teresa

 

Just a quick note that I have looked at many sites and can't find any reputable dealer or even questionable one that says your board would work with 2gb modules. I would definitely stick with 1gb modules.

Now that I realize it isn't photoshop I think adding just the one 1gb module will probably be enough. Just for reference I have an old P4 with 1.5gb RAM and XP I keep around for working with XP. I have never seen the used memory go above 700-800mb. Granted I don't use it much but when I do I usually have two browsers open, MSWord, a pdf viewer and maybe one or two other applications open. It is really up to you if you think you need the last extra bit of RAM but it may not be needed if your website/graphics applications aren't RAM hungry.

Good Luck!

Edit: I did see one site that referenced the 4gb of RAM but it was not quite right. It showed your model of computer but the description was "maximum memory up to 4gb of Kensington RAM with 1gb per slot" which doesn't make sense because you only have two slots. I don't know why SIW is wrong but just ignore it's information about 4gb max and stick to what everyone else says: 2gb system maximum with 1gb max. per slot.

 

Thanks sach2, I might go with the 2 gb just in case. I tend to be one of those people who have like 10 programs open @ a time. It drives people crazy. Plus if I have the 2GB I will be ready for anything for a year or so....until I get a new desktop and laptop (cheap) or two new laptops (sensible).

I did try what was described as a trick of making the paging file size minimum and max number the same. Once again it may be my imagination but that seemed to help a bit on the laptop.
Thanks again,
Teresa