upgrading processor questions

[robblaw]

I have an Intel Celeron 600 mhz processor with 256MB of RAM. My system runs pretty good but I always do a lot of things at once thus decreasing my system resources. I am wondering how much say a 1.4 GHz processor would save my resources so that they stay up around 80-90%? I realize memory has a lot to do with it and I am running Windows 98 SE. Please give me some feedback and any suggestions like is the Pentium 4 all it is made out to be? Thanks.

<b><i>RL</b</i>

[JohnT]

I can't give info on the Pent4, as I have a 1.0mhz pent3 with 384mb ram, on 80gb hard drive, 98se. I don't know if you will gain that much RAM wise for memory. I am at about 70-80% most of the time. The real thing in favor is start up speed, and quicker reponse to programs. With the positive side that many of the Pent4's can take more memory up to about 1.gb along with the processor speed and you can't go wrong. What most IT people say is if you cannot speed up 3 times of current it is not worth the upgrade. I don't know if that holds true or not. Good luck and I hope you get a lot of valued input.

[BertImmenschuh]

Re: "decreasing my system resources", 'resources' is not quite the same as memory. 'Resources' is how Windows manages the memory. You can have 128MB or 1.0GB of memory and still run out of resources. The message given by Windows does say 'low on memory'. Re-booting clears out any data in the RAM and gives Windows a fresh start.

[report_2]

http://content.techweb.com/winmag/columns/explorer/2000/11.htm

Also see /12.htm, /13.htm and /14.htm to learn all about system resources and things you can do about them.
The articles are good reading but a lot of it.

[coolsights2000]

One issued that you need to address with a large amount of ram installed windows doesn't manage it very well.

They say you should reserver 1/4 of memory for Vcache -- So you can see if you use 1/4 of you ram the system is trying to keep 64Mb of Vcache updated all the time... allot of data moving to and from the hard drive all the time... also this will cause the swap files to kick in to soon and now you add more information to and from the hard drive

with all this information moving you are burning up to much processor uasage %

How I tamed mine down is to add a few lines to my system.ini
All of this is backed up by articles at microsoft support
If you are not sure how to add them post back and we will help get you instruction..
The headings [vcache] and [386enh] should already be in there
Either change or add the lines under the heading to read whats below..... I also up the stack space by adding-MinSPs=8

the ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1 causes the computer to use the ram for programs so the swap file doesn't kick in so soon......



[vcache]
MinFileCache=0
MaxFileCache=16384

[386enh]
ConservativeSwapfileUsage=1
MinSPs=8


if you go to the microsoft site and search for entries above you will find allot of info...

Click here (http://search.support.microsoft.com/kb/c.asp?ln=en-us&sd=gn)

Thanks
Mac!!!

This Is just my opinion
So if it stinks wait for another one
Cause I'm no expert