Computer Question

[TripleDigitRide]

I'm thinking about upgrading to 2 sticks of 1024MB (2GB), PC3200 DDR, 400MHz for a spare PC. That would be exactly double of what's in there now. I'm wondering how much difference I can expect to see by simply upgrading the RAM.

The spare PC seems to operate pretty well for basic use. However, I was trying to play Full Tilt Poker online (for play money), but there seems to be enough lag that I can't join a tournament before it's full.

The spare PC is also equipped with an Intel Celeron CPU 3.33GHz. It's a few years old, but I don't think this is much of an issue.

If anyone happens to have a couple extra sticks of functioning 1024MB, PC3200 DDR, 400MHz sitting around collecting dust, I may be interested.

[notananti]

Sounds more like an internet connection issue to me. Are you connected through a wireless network? What type of internet connection do you have (cable, dsl, etc.)?

[Oh Shoot]

I'm thinking about upgrading to 2 sticks of 1024MB (2GB), PC3200 DDR, 400MHz for a spare PC. That would be exactly double of what's in there now. I'm wondering how much difference I can expect to see by simply upgrading the RAM.

The spare PC seems to operate pretty well for basic use. However, I was trying to play Full Tilt Poker online (for play money), but there seems to be enough lag that I can't join a tournament before it's full.

The spare PC is also equipped with an Intel Celeron CPU 3.33GHz. It's a few years old, but I don't think this is much of an issue.

If anyone happens to have a couple extra sticks of functioning 1024MB, PC3200 DDR, 400MHz sitting around collecting dust, I may be interested.

I'd say that unless your box is actually having stability probs running whatever's open at the limit of its memory, I doubt you'll see much if any improvement.

Internet games are much more about speed and consistency of the pipe, and all the math is handled by their puters, not yours; although heavy duty graphics is another matter and is handled by your box, but this is a video card matter, not system RAM (except for some of the lower end motherboard based video chips which use system RAM).

- OS

[D3vo]

An internet based game should not be so demanding it would need faster memory, but if while playing you find you are out of memory using the task manager its time to see what's gobbling it up. Let's say you have. Mcafee virus scan. Its a hog and I recommend getting something else like AVG (Freeware).

If I understood you have 1GB of RAM now which might be low depending on what's being loaded into memory at startup.

[JeffL]

1gb of RAM should be enough for using Windows XP and playing online poker. Are you running any anti-spyware software like Malwarebytes or Spybot Search & Destroy?

I don't think adding an extra gigabyte of RAM is going to help anything. I'll check my spare parts pile, I might have a P4 processor that would be faster.

ETA: What's the make/model of your computer?

[TripleDigitRide]

I built the PC about 6 years ago. Comcast cable internet connection @ 6 megs. Upload and download speeds appear to be within spec. Attempted running the program with virus protection disabled, no difference.

I'm going to try to find someone who may have some 1GB RAM sitting around and willing to let me try it out to see if that is the problem. I'd hate to drop $100+ only to find out it's not going to solve my problem.

[Guest mikedwood]

You running XP? If so a gig should be plenty.

Here is what I would try that is all free except time:

1. If you have Mccafee or Norton remove them

2. Go to www.download.com and

3. Download, update and run Malwarebytes. If it finds much of anything turn off "system restore" until the cleaning is complete.

4.Then download and run Ccleaner. Both are free at download.com.

The Ccleaner is a great little program the cleans temp files off and then run the registry cleaner on it. If the PC is 6 years old it should clean 400 or more things out of the registry and it will run much better.

Then put on AVG Free or Avria are the best AV's I have found for not killing your system. Mcafee and Norton are horrible memory hogs.

You might also google combo fix and run it. There are a lot of viruses out there that are poorly written and will eat up an internet connection.

[Guest slothful1]

Here's a utility that sits in your tray and shows how much RAM you have free (as well as CPU % busy, etc.):

Outertech - computer memory and cache optimization, tuneup and internet utility software

[TripleDigitRide]

You running XP? If so a gig should be plenty.

Here is what I would try that is all free except time:

1. If you have Mccafee or Norton remove them

2. Go to Free software downloads and software reviews - CNET Download.com and

3. Download, update and run Malwarebytes. If it finds much of anything turn off "system restore" until the cleaning is complete.

4.Then download and run Ccleaner. Both are free at download.com.

The Ccleaner is a great little program the cleans temp files off and then run the registry cleaner on it. If the PC is 6 years old it should clean 400 or more things out of the registry and it will run much better.

Then put on AVG Free or Avria are the best AV's I have found for not killing your system. Mcafee and Norton are horrible memory hogs.

You might also google combo fix and run it. There are a lot of viruses out there that are poorly written and will eat up an internet connection.

Yes, I'm running XP.

I already use Malwarebytes and CCleaner on a daily basis.

I disabled the Antivirus program, but that didn't seem to make a difference.

I'll check out combo fix.

[TripleDigitRide]

Here's a utility that sits in your tray and shows how much RAM you have free (as well as CPU % busy, etc.):

I will check that out when I get home. Thanks.

[I_Like_Pie]

It won't help that much at all. Despite the intended low overhead of flash based games - they, in concert with the browser, eat up a lot more CPU than you would think.

Many flash games run particularly bad on older machines.

Honestly - if your XP install is as old as that machine you might want to consider reimaging it. Despite all the "fix" programs listed above XP benefits greatly from a fresh install when you consider there are likely 6 or 7 years of programs hidden in there. Only consider if you have an install disk and the COA. You may want to consider giving ubuntu a try on that older machine.