• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Do i need more RAM or more powerful processor?

P

Peter780

Junior Member
One of the more given advice i am seeing for slow computers is to get more RAM. But in some cases i don't see how more RAM will make my pc faster. For example, when i run virus scan with Kapersky the cpu load is 100% almost all of the time which doesn't allow me to do anything else, but ram usage is 50%-60%. I don't see how more ram will help me in this case. More likely i need more powerful process.

My laptop processor is - Mobile DualCore Intel Pentium T2330, 1600 MHz (12 x 133)

My RAM memory is 2GB.

My OS is Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit.

What configuration i need to avoid high cpu load?

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Any reason you're doing virus scans with Kapersky?

If virus scans are eating your CPU up, you should probably change AV clients, or stop scanning so often.

Any reason you'd bother upgrading such an old CPU in the first place?

If you actually need more CPU power, you would likely be better off replacing the whole machine. There are only going to be a handful of possibly compatible models, maxing out at 2.4GHz. You have a crap CPU from its time, but most notebooks with such CPUs will not be able to cool most fully-fledged C2Ds--even those with similar TDPs might be risky, if it was a run of the mill consumer machine.
 
The machine has reached an age now that its not worth upgrading. RAM only helps if you don't have enough and in this case your problem is CPU performance, and that is really going to require a new machine to make any really difference.
 
Agree with the other posters. That cpu barely meets the system requirements of Win 7. I bet it has a slow hard drive as well.

Not worth upgrading. If you want a laptop, you should be able to get a pentium or i3 with 4 gb of ram for 350 to 400 dollars. It will be amazingly faster than what you have for everyday usage.
 
Anti-virus will bring any machine to its knees, because it's absolutely thrashing the IO-subsystems. While with an SSD you may not suffer for as a long a time, during the time of the scan, you will still not be getting anything done, because the CPU will be pegged.

More memory does help in those cases, because you can better buffer IO-queues, which means that the horrible IO-latency caused by the scan can be masked.

But all of that doesn't change the fact, that on the machine you've got, a virus scan is a bad idea, if you want to work at the same time.

Also, please note: IO-latency is often shown as "CPU-usage", because the thread using the CPU is blocking it, until the IO-read/write terminates. I'm not sure how Windows displays this.
 
You need a new machine, a CPU from 2007 won't cut it anymore if you want to have it doing two things at a time like scanning for viruses and web browsing.
 
ggadrian said:
You need a new machine, a CPU from 2007 won't cut it anymore if you want to have it doing two things at a time like scanning for viruses and web browsing.
Click to expand...
Actually, one from 2007 can do that just fine. I use them regularly. But, not a 1.6GHz 1MB type one (a 2.13-2.4GHz 4MB C2D, or 1.8-2.4GHz 2MB Turion II--though that's more 2008--would be fine, though might warrant a new HDD, or SSD), and a worthy upgrade that could likely be cooled would cost half what a good used laptop would, and likely provide less overall benefit, much less be anywhere near a new or nearly-new one.
 
Last edited:
Peter780 said:
One of the more given advice i am seeing for slow computers is to get more RAM. But in some cases i don't see how more RAM will make my pc faster. For example, when i run virus scan with Kapersky the cpu load is 100% almost all of the time which doesn't allow me to do anything else, but ram usage is 50%-60%. I don't see how more ram will help me in this case. More likely i need more powerful process.

My laptop processor is - Mobile DualCore Intel Pentium T2330, 1600 MHz (12 x 133)

My RAM memory is 2GB.

My OS is Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit.

What configuration i need to avoid high cpu load?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

It is worth pointing out that I think the problem is NEITHER your CPU nor your RAM. I would wager that your virus scan is actually speed limited by your hard drive. The high CPU utilization is a side effect of cheap ATA controllers that lean on the CPU for performing operations. A faster drive might load the CPU, but most systems are disk constrained on things like virus scans.
 
VirtualLarry said:
Just a note that I've seen a PATA (IDE) 2.5" SSD from Transcend on Newegg.
Click to expand...
I think that even the OP's old machine is likely SATA, it is Core era tech. An SSD would be a good first step, but not if the machine is PATA. That's good money after bad. The SATA SSD can be reused.

@Blain, I recently picked up a T510 for $200. I think the T410 and T510 models are a very good deal at this point in time, and have the traditional IBM keyboard, jmho.
 
SecurityTheatre said:
It is worth pointing out that I think the problem is NEITHER your CPU nor your RAM. I would wager that your virus scan is actually speed limited by your hard drive. The high CPU utilization is a side effect of cheap ATA controllers that lean on the CPU for performing operations. A faster drive might load the CPU, but most systems are disk constrained on things like virus scans.
Click to expand...


+1

OP, checking that all drivers are up to date can help a lot with some systems as the default drivers are crap.

As mentioned before, the only thing you can do with old laptops is add ram or change HDD as everything else is not possible as it is designed out of the computer to allow it to be portable.

Even if it was a desktop PC, given it's age, finding suitable parts to upgrade (cpu ect) would be more expencive and time consuming than just buying a new computer anyway.
 
2GB RAM + Windows7...

1st, use a different antivirus.
2nd, Win7 would benefit from more RAM. (Likely limited to 2x2GB DDR2 at best... CPU-z will tell you more about what type of RAM you have without cracking it open.)

The processor isn't that bad, provided it's enough to power your favorite apps.

Still, don't sink $50 into old tech when $250 gets you brand new and much better.
 
So what kind of hard drive you have? A 5400rpm Hard Drive is really going to hold you back. No amount of upgrade is going to help that processor.
 
My T60 had a T2700 and 2GB RAM, and with an SSD it did light chores in Win7 just fine. The only reason I got rid of it was the ancient video driver was wonky in Win7 and would bluescreen the machine coming out of sleep about 1 in 10 times.
 
maxing out it's ram will be a very good idea. these days, a 2gb ddr2 sodimm or 4gb ddr3 sodimm are like $25 each if you do some digging on ebay for used from reputable (99%+) sellers.

I have a collection of older laptops including an athlon64 x2 1.9ghz and going from 2gb to 4gb with win7 made quite a good improvement in the system. I use that particular one as my primary laptop for browsing and watching shows and video clips, along with my only system with chat programs installed (I chat on irc and skype a lot).

I also recently purchased an e-300 laptop and compared to this athlon64 x2 it was a damn SLUG, even though the 320gb hdd had far superior performance than the old 80gb in this one. Sometimes newer is NOT better.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top