slab288 Posted January 1, 2013 Posted January 1, 2013 Hi guys, I have a laptop, an HP G56 105sa, it's standard apart from the RAM having been increased from 2gb to 4gb. My question is what effect does increasing the RAM have on the speed of the computer and would it be of benefit to increase the RAM to it's maximum i.e. 8gb? Also, what effect would I see if I also increased the HDD from the standard 250gb to the max of 320gb? Thanks in advance slab288 Quote
KenB Posted January 1, 2013 Posted January 1, 2013 Hi and welcome to ExTS would it be of benefit to increase the RAM to it's maximum i.e. 8gb? Do you have a 32 bit or 64 bit operating system ? If it is 32 bit then 4GB is the maximum supported - even if the motherboard supports 8GB or more. My question is what effect does increasing the RAM have on the speed of the computer It really depends on what you are doing. If you are using graphics intensive software ( Photoshop for instance ) then you would see a difference. what effect would I see if I also increased the HDD from the standard 250gb to the max of 320gb? There should be 10 to 15% at least of free hard drive space for Windows to operate properly. If you have more than this then you will see no increase in speed at all. Quote There is an email going around offering processed pork - gelatin - and salt in a can ......this is simply SPAM !! MiniToolBoxNetwork TestWireless Test
Plastic Nev Posted January 1, 2013 Posted January 1, 2013 (edited) Hi and welcome to Extreme Tech Support - Free PC Help. The extra RAM taking it up to 8GB will make a difference providing the system is running 64bit. If only 32bit the RAM is already at its maximum of 4GB for that. As for upping the size of the hard drive, if it is of the same spindle speed, then the only difference it will make is more storage space available providing partitions are enlarged to match it. Doing so also means taking a full image of the existing hard drive, for reinstalling on the new bigger drive, if wanting to maintain all data and operating system. The only real way to speed up the hard drive side of the system is installing one of the newer SSD, or Solid State Drives, as I suspect the drive you have may be or be near to, the fastest available anyway. Hope that helps in understanding things, Edit to add, ken Posted while I was writing, however we both say similar things. Nev. Edited January 1, 2013 by Plastic Nev Quote Need help with your computer problems? Then why not join Free PC Help. Register here. If Free PC Help has helped you then please consider a donation. Click here We are all members helping other members. Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs. -------------------------------------------------------------------- I have installed Windows, now how do I install the curtains? 😄
slab288 Posted January 1, 2013 Author Posted January 1, 2013 Thanks for the replies guys it's much appreciated, the system is 64bit so I will probably go for the upgrade to 8gb in RAM and will have a look at the SSD..........anything in particular I should look out for i.e. type, manufacturer, size etc..........and I forgot to say Happy New Year to all. Thanks again slab288 Quote
Plastic Nev Posted January 1, 2013 Posted January 1, 2013 Hi, before going to the SSD rout why are you wanting faster operating speed, is this for games? If so can you let us know what type of game, or whatever other reason you are wanting to upgrade, it will help us better in our recommendations if we know more about what you wish to do. Running an SSD will improve start up times and quite a lot, however once things are up and running, considering most applications then are running from the RAM, it is only paging file use that is quicker. Also if some of the higher spec games are wanted, the laptop graphics are more important, and most laptops are not equipped with graphics up to high end gaming level. The graphics being on board, they cannot normally be upgraded. Let us know please what you are wishing to do, then we can advise better. Nev. Quote Need help with your computer problems? Then why not join Free PC Help. Register here. If Free PC Help has helped you then please consider a donation. Click here We are all members helping other members. Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs. -------------------------------------------------------------------- I have installed Windows, now how do I install the curtains? 😄
slab288 Posted January 1, 2013 Author Posted January 1, 2013 Thanks Nev.......it's not gaming (although that could change), over and above general day to day stuff it will be more photoshop that I will be looking to use and just a liking to have a faster computer than what I'm used to.........for a change LOL!! The HP G56 was my daughters laptop which, as she has been given a tablet, she no longer uses and as our laptop which was a Toshiba and 9years old with no upgrades finally gave up the ghost she gave us her laptop for the manditory contribution to our grandaughters trust funds.......and as you would expect the HP is waaaayyyyyyy faster than the Toshiba we were used to. It's also curiosity that wants to see what a "fast" computer is like when using Photoshop. The G56 105SA is as follows: - Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit 2.3 GHz AMD V-Series Processor V140 Level 2 cache 512 KB 2 GB DDR3 (1 x 2048 MB) Now upgraded to 4 GB will soon be 8 GB DDR3 ATI Mobility Radeon HD 4250 Graphics 250 GB SATA Hard Disk Drive 5400 rpm SATA optical drive: LightScribe SuperMulti DVD±R/RW with Double Layer Support Webcam with Integrated Microphone (VGA) I only mention the Webcam as that will be my next question.........how you get that up and running.........one thing at a time though eh!! Thanks again slab288 Quote
Plastic Nev Posted January 1, 2013 Posted January 1, 2013 Hi, OK the extra RAM will improve things a good bit but the stumbling block is the graphics which is ceertainly not useful for high end games, though lower spec games may be OK up to a point. However as you intend mainly photoshop use it isn't going to be too bad, though there may be some delays when you ask the program to do something complex. The Radeon HD 4250 is an on board and part of an overall chipset, so cannot be upgraded, however it will handle HD video and even Blueray. More information on it here= http://www.notebookcheck.net/ATI-Radeon-HD-4250.29664.0.html The hard drive you have, although there is slightly faster spindle speed drives right up to 15000 rpm, there is a myth that they are going to be faster overall, it isn't quite true, to understand that try a read of this= http://www.zdnet.com/blog/ou/how-higher-rpm-hard-drives-rip-you-off/322 So, if we look at SSD drives, well yes they do access data much quicker but again for use with Photoshop, it isn't going to be much help if there is a bottleneck in the graphics chip. So basically leave that drive as it is is my thoughts. Just upgrade the RAM and get the best out of that and leave the rest well alone. Nev. Quote Need help with your computer problems? Then why not join Free PC Help. Register here. If Free PC Help has helped you then please consider a donation. Click here We are all members helping other members. Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs. -------------------------------------------------------------------- I have installed Windows, now how do I install the curtains? 😄
slab288 Posted January 1, 2013 Author Posted January 1, 2013 Perfect Nev........had a read through the links and although I can't say I get everything I think I get the gist of what they say and as you say RAM only upgrade is the way to go :cool: Thanks again it's appreciated........now please feel free to comment on the webcam ? LOL!! slab288 Quote
Plastic Nev Posted January 2, 2013 Posted January 2, 2013 Hi, as for the web cam, I haven't even got a laptop with one, and the old laptop I had didn't either, but I sold that before Christmas. Might be best to start a new thread regarding the webcam, it will be picked up on by someone who does know about them as not having had one, I am not familiar with their controls. Nev. Quote Need help with your computer problems? Then why not join Free PC Help. Register here. If Free PC Help has helped you then please consider a donation. Click here We are all members helping other members. Please return here where you may be able to help someone else. After all, no one knows everything and you may have the answer that someone needs. -------------------------------------------------------------------- I have installed Windows, now how do I install the curtains? 😄
KenB Posted January 3, 2013 Posted January 3, 2013 More RAM will improve things - more so than an upgrade to SSD ( you would see very little difference with SSD ) Please post a new thread re webcam - otherwise it gets confusing for members looking for solutions :) Quote There is an email going around offering processed pork - gelatin - and salt in a can ......this is simply SPAM !! MiniToolBoxNetwork TestWireless Test
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.