Question What RAM can I upgrade to?

[RookPC]

Hello, I have a way too old PC that I'm trying to not replace, but to just upgrade a bit to make it not so slow. Any help with what I can upgrade for RAM (or otherwise) that would be cost efficient and give me a bit more time with this PC? We don't game on this, it's mostly internet, Office, and kids homework.


Windows 7 Home Premium 64
i3 550 at 3.2 Ghz
6GM Dual channel DDR3 at 665 Mhz
Motherboard is Dell Inc. OCZKJT (CPU 1)

I have four RAM slots, with one unused.

Graphics: SE2717H/HX (1920x1080@59Hz)
Intel HD Graphics (Dell)

 

[geofelt]

6gb of ram is sufficient for your work.
The very best upgrade you can do is to replace your windows "C" drive with a ssd.
It will transform your performance.
On your current "C" drive how much space is actually used?
Buy a Samsung evo ssd of sufficient capacity to hold your C drive.
Use the Samsung ssd migration app to move your current windows C drive to the ssd.
Boot from the ssd and you can reuse your old HDD as you wish.

 

[RookPC]

Storage
Hard drives
ST3750528AS ATA Device
Manufacturer Seagate
Form Factor 3.5"
Heads 16
Cylinders 91,201
Tracks 23,256,255
Sectors 1,465,144,065
SATA type SATA-II 3.0Gb/s
Device type Fixed
ATA Standard ATA8-ACS
Serial Number 9VP11KES
Firmware Version Number CC44
LBA Size 48-bit LBA
Power On Count 16684 times
Power On Time 1197.2 days
Speed 7200 RPM
Features S.M.A.R.T., AAM, NCQ
Max. Transfer Mode SATA II 3.0Gb/s
Used Transfer Mode SATA II 3.0Gb/s
Interface SATA
Capacity 698 GB
Real size 750,156,374,016 bytes
RAID Type None
S.M.A.R.T
Status Warning
Temperature 32 °C
Temperature Range OK (less than 50 °C)
S.M.A.R.T attributes
Partition 0
Partition ID Disk #0, Partition #0
Disk Letter C:
File System NTFS
Volume Serial Number 3E261B40
Size 684 GB
Used Space 609 GB (89%)
Free Space 74 GB (11%)
Partition 1
Partition ID Disk #0, Partition #1
File System NTFS
Volume Serial Number 8E1BCECF
Size 449 MB
Used Space 16.1 MB (3%)
Free Space 433 MB (97%)
Partition 2
Partition ID Disk #0, Partition #2
Disk Letter D:
File System NTFS
Volume Serial Number 38278C32
Size 13.7 GB
Used Space 404 MB (2%)
Free Space 13.3 GB (98%)

 

[RookPC]

That's a mess: but that is what I have running for storage right now. I'll look at some SSD's and cost. Is it hard to physically add an SSD?

You don't think upgrading from 6 GB would help? I looks like I can go upto 16GB, which looks like less than $100.

 

[geofelt]

Here is a link to the samsung migration aid software and manual.

Tool & Software Download | Samsung Semiconductor Global

Download various software related to your product, including Samsung Magician, designed for use with Samsung's memory products, and find related information.

www.samsung.com

Read the manual.
If you have some large data folders like video files, they can be excluded from the space requirement calculation.
Such files will remain on the HDD and be available for access.

You install the ssd in your case.
If you do not have a 2.5" drive mount capability, a 2.5" adapter is about $5.
Or you can even just lay the ssd on the bottom of the case if you do not need to move the case.
You attach another sata power cable from your psu and connect a sata data cable to a port on your motherboard and the port on the ssd.

You run the ssd migration aid to copy your windows C installation to the new ssd.
When done, change your boot order to the ssd and you are done.

The manual will list the supported drives.
Essentially any Samsung evo 2.5" drive will work.
If your used space is sufficiently under 500gb, a 500gb Samsung 860 evo is $68
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820147674

Even 1tb drives are getting cheaper. perhaps twice the $68.

Once you use a ssd, you will never use a hard drive again.
Everything you do will be quicker.
Files open instantly, thumbnails are instant, browsing is faster.

 

[RookPC]

Thanks. Looks like I only have 75 of 684 GB hard drive space available. Of that, 150GB is pictures and 5 GB is a video file. I'll have to figure out what is taking up so much space. I think we have some old programs I can get rid of.

I need to purchase the data cable and power cable separately right?

 

[geofelt]

Thanks. Looks like I only have 75 of 684 GB hard drive space available. Of that, 150GB is pictures and 5 GB is a video file. I'll have to figure out what is taking up so much space. I think we have some old programs I can get rid of.

I need to purchase the data cable and power cable separately right?

Your psu should have a extra sata power lead you can use.
If not, a molex to sata power adapter is cheap.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...=sata_to_molex_adapter-_-12-422-787-_-Product

Yes, you need a sata data cable.
They are also cheap.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...cable&cm_re=sata_cable-_-12-422-753-_-Product

If you need a 2.5" to 3.5" mount, here is what one looks like:
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Prod...+3.5-_-17-979-016-_-1&Description=2.5"+to+3.5

 

[RookPC]

Okay I need help again.

I purchased a pack of RAM: Corsair 4 x 4 GB DDR3 1333MHz ram. I also got the 500 GB Samsung Evo SSD. Installed both tonight. Pretty sure I get them physically installed correctly. But once setup it would not boot fully. The screen comes up with the Dell logo and Inspiron, with a progress bar that goes about 1/5 the way across, and the right corner says F2 setup / F12 Boot Options.

I took the RAM out and reset it thinking I didn't push it in all the way and same thing.

I disconnected the SSD and tried it to see if it's a RAM or SSD problem, same thing.

I took two of the RAM cards out (leaving two in the same color coded slots) and same thing.

I just put the old RAM in and it boot.

So, how do I figure out what I did wrong? Did I buy the wrong RAM? Do I need to do something particular first?