Is it worth buying RAM?

[Andy1086]

My current computer at the minute is a Dell Dimension 2350, it only has 256Mb
of RAM (PC2100+266Mhz DDR SDRAM - Non ECC) and an Intel Pentium 4
processor(2.50Ghz). I need to improve performance, would upscaling the RAM to
possibly 512Mb or 1Gb really make a good difference for good value and would
the CPU be able to cope with the extra RAM and make it worthwhile? Or would i
have to get a better CPU? Or ultimatley a new PC. Thanks

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

My current computer at the minute is a Dell Dimension 2350, it only has 256Mb
of RAM (PC2100+266Mhz DDR SDRAM - Non ECC) and an Intel Pentium 4
processor(2.50Ghz). I need to improve performance, would upscaling the RAM to
possibly 512Mb or 1Gb really make a good difference for good value and would
the CPU be able to cope with the extra RAM and make it worthwhile? Or would i
have to get a better CPU? Or ultimatley a new PC.

256 Mb RAM? Definitely go to 1 Gb. RAM is very cheap these days.
CPU should be able to handle it. If you have any concerns get a PC
store to do the upgrade. They should charge a minimal fee as it takes
longer to remove the case than to insert new RAM.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/

 

[Sylvain Lafontaine]

For what reason do you want to improve performance? It's a certainty that
upgrading the memory to 512MB or 1GB will increase the performance; possibly
by a factor of 25-50% or even100%. However, even if 100% looks like a big
improvement, if your current application is to slow, even cutting the time
in half it will remains to slow.

Second, you should know that anytime now, your computer could definitely
crash for good. Maybe it will happen next year or in two years but it could
also happen tomorrow. This is a seven years computer, so possibly that it
will soon start to find a reason to die.

Second, there is the price: upgrading it to 1GB should cost you something
like 75$ (no installation) to 100$ (with installation). However, for a
seven years computer and when you look at what 300-400$ can buy you today
for a box (without the screen or even the keyboard/mouse)and considering the
fact that you need improvement, I would seriously think it twice before
putting 100$ on a sever years old computer.

--
Sylvain Lafontaine, ing.
MVP - Windows Live Platform
Email: sylvain2009 sylvainlafontaine com (fill the blanks, no spam please)
Independent consultant and remote programming for Access and SQL-Server
(French)

 

[James]

My current computer at the minute is a Dell Dimension 2350, it only has
256Mb
of RAM (PC2100+266Mhz DDR SDRAM - Non ECC) and an Intel Pentium 4
processor(2.50Ghz). I need to improve performance, would upscaling the RAM
to
possibly 512Mb or 1Gb really make a good difference for good value and
would
the CPU be able to cope with the extra RAM and make it worthwhile? Or
would i
have to get a better CPU? Or ultimatley a new PC. Thanks

It's probably worth buying more RAM, it depends what OS you are on. If
you're on Vista you really need more, if it's XP you should still get some
more, although to be honest I think it's time for you to retire that Pentium
4 and go multi-core.

 

[Rick Brandt]

My current computer at the minute is a Dell Dimension 2350, it only has
256Mb of RAM (PC2100+266Mhz DDR SDRAM - Non ECC) and an Intel Pentium 4
processor(2.50Ghz). I need to improve performance, would upscaling the
RAM to possibly 512Mb or 1Gb really make a good difference for good
value and would the CPU be able to cope with the extra RAM and make it
worthwhile? Or would i have to get a better CPU? Or ultimatley a new PC.
Thanks

I just went through this. Went from 750MB to 2GB. It made a difference,
but not as much as I had hoped for. You, however are starting much lower
so I would expect a good increase in performance.

DDR is still reasonable on the internet, but don't try to buy it at a
local store. It is already old enough that they have really jacked up
prices (more than double what DDR2 goes for).

 

[aaron.kempf]

Jet doesn't properly utilize memory.

it's a wste of money to upgrade ram-- because Jet isn't smart enough
to use any of these inventions:
a) dual core
b) memory
c) wan
d) wireless

 

[Tony Toews [MVP]]

My current computer at the minute

Please ignore Aaron's posting as Aaron's answer to just about every
question is SQL Server and ADPs. No matter how appropriate his
response.

Tony
--
Tony Toews, Microsoft Access MVP
Please respond only in the newsgroups so that others can
read the entire thread of messages.
Microsoft Access Links, Hints, Tips & Accounting Systems at
http://www.granite.ab.ca/accsmstr.htm
Tony's Microsoft Access Blog - http://msmvps.com/blogs/access/