|
BOOT CAMP 315 (02/03/04)
SPRING CLEAN & UPGRADE, part
3
If after last weeks
cleanup operations your PC still feels a bit sluggish and the reclaimed space on
your hard disc has bought only temporary respite then it might be time to
consider a simple upgrade or two that could give your computer a new lease of
life.
There are several things
you can do to perk up your PC, from wiping the hard drive re-installing Windows
and starting afresh, to replacing the Motherboard and CPU but these are fairly
drastic and time consuming measures that need careful planning. The two upgrades
we’ll be tackling are usually very straightforward and involve increasing the
size of your computer’s RAM memory and adding or ‘slaving’ a second hard disc
drive, but more about that next week.
If your PC is more than
three or four years old then there is a good chance that it does not have enough
RAM and adding extra memory will almost certainly yield a noticeable improvement
in performance. Until recently computer memory tended to be expensive and PCs
were sold with a minimum allocation to keep the cost down. Memory prices have
fallen and there’s no longer any need to cut corners but the optimum amount of
memory varies according to the PCs specification, the operating system and what
it is used for so the first thing to do is find out how much you have and then
work out how much you need.
In all versions of
Windows the amount of installed memory can be easily found by right clicking on
My Computer and selecting Properties, it’s shown under the heading ‘Computer’.
Jot down the number of Megabytes (Mb) and then pay a visit to:
http://www.crucial.com/library/howmuch.asp
or
http://www.kingston.com/tools/assessor/default.asp
Both web sites have
simple to follow charts that tell you how much memory you should have.
Additionally the Crucial web site has a database of 20,000 systems and should be
able to help you determine the exact upgrade for many recent PCs, otherwise
consult your local expert or keep reading for the DIY
method.
Once you have worked out
how much extra memory you need, you need to determine how many and what type of
memory modules you require. Your PC’s motherboard manual has the two key items
of information, namely memory module format and ‘speed’. Most standard desktop
PCs made in the past five years use either 168 or 184-pin Dual In line Memory
Modules or ‘DIMMs’ (184-pin modules are also referred to as Double Data Rate or
DDR DIMMs). Speed is denoted as a ‘PC’ number, i.e. PC100, PC133, PC2700 etc. If
you can’t find this information then it’s a lid-off job, but before you do that
disconnect the PC from the mains (and find a torch or a good desk light). Your
PC’s memory modules should be easy to find, they are thin strips, around
5.5-inches (13.5 cm) long standing vertically in a group or ‘bank’ of four or
six sockets.
If one or more slots are
empty shine your light onto one of them and look for lugs between the rows of
contacts. 168-pin module sockets have two lugs whist 184-pin types have one. If
you are still not sure then carefully remove a module by pressing down on the
two small levers at either end of the socket and the module will be released.
Remove the module by carefully gripping it by the chips; the notches on the
contact strip (look but don’t touch) correspond with the lugs in the socket, and
the speed should be on a label or printed on the board or one of the chips. If
you can’t establish the speed play safe and seek expert assistance.
Replace the module by
making sure the latches are in the open position, line the module up and press
it firmly into the slot (being sure to observe the position of the lugs and
notches). The latches will automatically close and lock the module into
position. Refit the lid and make sure the PC is working properly.
You should now be in a
position to order your new memory modules. There are two possible upgrade paths.
If you have free memory slots you can add extra modules to bring your PC up to
the desired capacity, or you can replace the old module(s) with just one of the
required capacity. Again if in doubt seek advice, PC component dealers are
normally only too pleased to advise. Given the current low cost of memory
modules and the possibility that mixing modules of different capacities and from
different manufacturers can cause problems I suggest installing a single module
but don’t throw the ones away, they might come in handy in an emergency, or you
can recover some of the cost by selling them on ebay.
Installing the new
module follow the same procedure outlined a moment ago, when the lid is back on
the PC and it boots up listen out for any unusual bleeps, which might indicate a
faulty module. Check the new higher capacity, if shown, during the boot up
routine and after Windows has finished loading, by right-clicking My Computer
and selecting Properties as before. Open Word or another heavyweight
applications and watch your PC fly along…
Next week – Spring Clean and Upgrade, part 4
JARGON FILTER
CPU
Central
Processor Unit - the main microprocessor chip in a PC
MOTHERBOARD
The main printed circuit board inside a PC, containing the
processor chip memory modules and expansion cards
RAM
Random
Access Memory, a computer's working memory, where programs store data and
information when they are running. RAM memory is ‘volatile’ and all stored data
is lost when the PC is switched off
TIP OF THE WEEK
If you are not comfortable about installing a RAM upgrade
just yet but would like to keep an eye your PC’s memory resources download and
install this handy little utility. RAMpage constantly monitors your system
memory showing how much is free from a display in the System Tray. If you need
to free up more memory, to run an application simply click on the display, or
right click to configure. The program works with all versions of Windows, the
Zip file is only 170k and it is freeware. You’ll find the download file at: http://www.jfitz.com/software/RAMpage/
NEXT
|