More memory or Dual Core?

Hello guys, I just have a couple of questions.



1) I used the Crucial System Scanner to determine want kind of memory I need for my system. I want to max it out at 2 GB. For sure my system uses PC4200 533 MHz 200pin. Ok, here is the deal, the Crucial System Scanner says:

“Each memory slot can hold DDR2 PC2-5300 667 MHz, DDR2 PC4200 533 MHz with a maximum of GB per slot.”



Is their a problem is this picture? I thought I can only upgrade with PC4200 533 MHz…



2) My second question is that I was thinking of selling this laptop to buy one with dual core processor, but I don’t want to go through the selling process and all that. The only reason I would want the dual core is because I do a lot of multi-tasking jobs all at the same time. For example: running anti-virus while downloading music and running Photoshop. But It makes no sense to sell my not even a year old laptop (got it March 2006) just for one with dual core. OK here is the question: Would I be able to multi- task just as much by upgrading my laptop to a maximum of 2 GB memory or should I just sell it and buy a laptop with dual core? I have 512 MB of ram right know and it is slow and hangs up sometime. I don’t want to spent all this money and still be slow. Also, let me add that I’m not a high roller gamer at any means at all, just worry to being able to multi-task with out a problems of slow down but going fast.

3) And the last question is, will I see a major improvement using a 7200 rpm HD? I using a 80 GB Toshiba 4200 rpm right know but heard that 7200 rpm’s helps with system speed and performance.

PS: I have a Inspiron 6000 WXP MCE 2005, Intel Pentium M 1.73 GHz

 

1) Your Pentium M will only utilize 533 MHz RAM.

2) Your Pentium M is not the fastest processor available, but is no slouch either. Considering your situation, upgrading the RAM will give you some nice performance boosts. You can replace the whole system in when this one begins to show its age more.

3) The 4200 RPM HDs are pretty slow. Question is, do you want to spend the money for faster access and boot times? You will see an improvement, but you have to decide if it's worth the money. Perhaps just get a 7200 RPM drive with your next notebook.

 

1) The crucial system scanner is notoriously unreliable. Unless you can find some reliable documantaion stating your laptop can take 667MHz, I'd stick with 533MHz ram.

2) Ram will make a lot more difference than a new cpu, upgrading to a Gb or more will make a huge difference, although as you have a P-M 740 now (1.73GHz 533MHz FSB) you could try upgrading the machine to a P-M 770 2.13GHz or 760 2.0GHz if you are willing.

3)The difference between 7200 and 4200 will be very noticeable and increase performance and especially loading times quite markedly. That would be a good upgrade to make.

 

I would certainly upgrade the RAM. Photoshop alone could easily eatup all the RAM you have, which then forces the computer to use the HDD as RAM, and on a 4200 RPM (actually, even faster drives) that is incredibly slow. Adding a 1GB stick should make a difference for you once you start doing that stuff. While a dual core would certainly make a difference, even getting a cheap one is going to cost you close to $1000, when you could spend less than $100 to get at least 75% of the functionality gain via a RAM upgrade.

The HDD upgrade would be nice too. This gives you potentially more storage, and a noticeable improvement in system speed with read and write times. It doesn't seem like it could matter, but a 7200 RPM would change your world.

 

Thanks for all the help. I just got a reply at the Dell forum and some guy just said that more memory will do nothing for multi-tasking. I think it should. Dual Core or faster in general no question about that. But I think is not smart to buy an entire new laptop just for that. I think I can make my laptop faster (more multi- tasking) just buy upgrading or maxing out the memory.

 

How much memory does your system have now? 1GB? (2X512mb)?? 1 stick of 512mb only?? If you have 1 stick of 512mb only, then just throw in a stick of giga in the other slot and that would be more than enough, instead of getting 2 gigs of memory, just get 1, and a 7200RPM hard drive for the same price of 2 gig's.

 

I think that dual core is the laptop we've all been waiting for all of our lives. What dual core does is kills lag and makes the computer more responsive in almost every situation. True, only some apps truly take full advantage of dualcore (like rippers and encoders) this will change over time and it does not matter, the OS utilizes it and you will find yourself pushing the computer ever harder and it will keep up with you in all but the most extreme situations.

If you are so inclined, getting a dual core would make you happy for years to come. Also, you are at the point where soon, you will get very very low prices for any used single core laptop on the Craigslist market.

Ram will cost say, $100.

You can sell your laptop for say, $400.

That's $500.

You can get a dualcore laptop for under $1000.

So, you will be spending more money, but, the next several years will be joyous.

I'm so happy with mine, that my desktop just got sold on Craigslist, and I'm done with desktops, probably forever.