Why is my machine slowing down?

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I had a 256 MB DDR RAM when I first got this computer. Since then, I have installed a 512 MB DDR RAM to give a total of over 700 MB. So now, my computer’s physical memory is only run from this RAM and not the page files from the hard drive as it used to when I had only 256 MB. However, even after installing this 512 RAM, I see little difference in the operation and speed of my computer. On a daily routine basis, the computer only uses about 300 to 400 MB of RAM yet it is still so slow. The only difference I have seen from installing the additional RAM about 2 years ago was that the programs don’t crash as often.

I’m no computer expert but even I know that my computer is unusually slow. I have CPU 2.40 GHz – 2.42GHz, 736 MB of RAM

I still find that opening IE takes ages and no difference in opening Microsoft Word which always takes over a minute, which is a long time when you’re waiting for the computer to load and not doing anything else. I know that in the school computer network, even if the computer were bought at exactly the same time and they are of the same brand, some of them would be lightening fast and others, snail slow. Unfortunately, my computer is even slower than the slowest computer on the school computer network and it’s even slower than the Windows 98 on the laptop.

I have done lots of things to help speed up the computer. They include

- Defragmenting the hard drive
- Buying more RAM memory
- Having less icons on the desktop
- Reducing the size of desktop wallpaper
- Stopping unnecessary startup programs
- Removing unnecessary installed program and files on hard drive

And many other which I can’t think of now.

What else do I need to do?
Please help as I really want a faster computer to work on.

Hi Leo
Me again. I would like to know that on my current CPU of 2.40GHz, would going to the bios and changing the CPU speed from 2400MHz to 3200MHz (whatever that means) have any effect on the speed of the computer and if so, by how much?
In my previous comment, I realised I stated having 736MB of RAM. But I've installed one 512MB with the 256MB of RAM already in the computer, which adds up to 768MB. So how can I regain this 'lost' megabtyes since I bought the extra 512MB of RAM when I only could use 224MB from the 256MB of RAM.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I recently bought another MB for my P4 2.2 (100 Mhz x 22)I have 512mb of RAM and a nvidia 6800 vid card. My computer take forever to open programs and even studders a bit when going through the start menu. I've run stress tests and received a low score on my HD in the RAMDOM SEEK and REWRITE functions. The HD is old, but runs at 7200RPM. My gut tells me it's the HD. However, I haven't seen too many complaints out there for slow HDs. Also, it does make the occasional loud "clank" sound. I guess I'm looking for more a concrete reason to replace my HD. I'm a very experienced user and know how to get a computer running fast, but right now I'm stumped. PS - I have considered my processor, but the MB I had in there was no where near as slow (presently my 1.13 AMD processor on my other computer is much faster), plus the new MB I bought had a faster FSB. Any suggestions?

Hi i have become to addicted to bench marking and recently used pcmark 05 and to my dismay found i had one of the slowest scores and yet with 3dmark i was near the top. The problem seems to be with my HDD and when it does the hdd virus scan test i score virtually zero. I am worried that something is not set right and that i am losing an awful lot of performance becuase of this.

I am running 2 seagate 160gb drives in a raid 0 configuration with a 4600+ cpu 2gig 800mhz ram and two 7600gt in sli.

Thanks

Gary

my laptop was running generally ok, but one day it was booted up with a separate caddied hard drive still attached. since then it has booted up very slowly and the hard drive is reading slower then before. is there possibly a overwritten driver on the hardware/cmos/bios? ive tried most of the general methods defrag, driver updates and rollbacks. doesnt seem to be a windows problem. i cant figure the direct cause or conclusion, any ideas?

I Just Formatted My PC Just Cuz I Was Cleanin It Up And That I Was Gettin A Slow Loadup When I First Start My PC.. From The Point The Main Screen Loads And Icons And Whatnot There Is 0% CPU Useage And Very Very Little Memmory Used.. I Can Click On Things And Open The Start Menu With No Problem But Once I Start Using Somthin It Freezes For About A Min And Then A Few More Things Load And Use Maby 5% CPU.. I Have Just Formatted My PC And Have 0 Virus's And No Programs Installed..

AMD Athlon X2 4200+ Dual Core CPU
GigaByte GA-K8NF-9 Motherboard
2 GB DDR PC3200 Kingston Ram

More Than Enough To Not Lag Like That..

hi my pc is equitmted with 4gb of ram igb per each slot!!( 4 in totoal) but in the porpeties of my computer it says it has only 2gb so cna you tell me whtas oging on???

my cpu of my computers cpu 2.6ghz and with 256mb of ram and it way slow..i might be thinking of upgrading my pc to dul core will this increase my cpu????and will it speed up my pcs overall performance!! im gonna get a dauk core 2 extrem processor! should buy one if it will hep my pcs performance if this wont help then i will foget buying it!

M

I run IE7 and Mozilla. Mozilla takes no time to load while IE grinds away and finally loads.

Why would one be so much faster than the other?

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