WTB or Advice regarding DDR2 sticks

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Morgenmuffel

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#261819 16-Dec-2019 18:51

Ok wifey has been grumbling that her computer an elderly DC7900 SFF is slow, its running whatever the current LTS version of Ubuntu is and it has 4GB of DDR2 ram I am assuming they are 4 1gb sticks, but I am not sure as i an not organised enough to check it when its not running.

This is the Spec page of what can go in it

I can find 2gb sticks for $6 each on trademe (from Recycle IT?), is it worth getting them, will it make that much of a difference?

I am not buying an SSD or anything ridiculous like that for this machine especially as i just got a big grumble about having to reinstall the OS etc if I was to get a newish second hand machine for her, If I was to get something like an SSD I'd probably get a newer small machine to put it in.

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Jase2985

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#2376551 16-Dec-2019 19:16

you can clone the HDD so you dont have to reinstall the OS. SSD will speed it up a bit

Handle9

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#2376560 16-Dec-2019 19:43

The bottleneck won't be RAM - 4GB is relatively decent for the spec of machine. It's a Core 2 Duo with spinning rust.

Honestly just start again.

BarTender

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#2376612 16-Dec-2019 20:12

I have a similar machine running Windows 10.
With a SSD and 8GB of ram and it goes well enough.
But as otherwise have said purchasing a refurb i3 or i5 machine with 8gb of ram and then have a SSD and you will be fine.

and

Lias

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#2376639 16-Dec-2019 21:42

It all depends on budget and need.. assuming she's only doing internet/office stuff, that machine would be fine with the 8gb and a small SSD and is the cheapest option, but if you have the funds a newer box with an SSD would be better.

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Varkk

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#2376755 17-Dec-2019 08:50

Just adding to the dogpile of get a relatively cheap SSD in there and clone the OS to it. That is the single biggest improvement to performance you can make for a PC. Failing that bump the budget up to get a second hand i5 with an SSD and about 8GB of RAM.

xpd

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#2376768 17-Dec-2019 09:16

$275 gets you board, 8GB, SSD, Athlon 200GE CPU - would be great little work box.

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1101

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#2376788 17-Dec-2019 09:47

HP's can sometimes be VERY fussy as to RAM .The RAM you buy may not be compatible

Yes its a old dual core PC, but still should run at a usuable speed with 4G RAM anyway.
What can happen is some old HD's actually get slower over the years , to the point of being almost unusable .
So its buy a SSD or retire it

retire it :-)