512MB RAM

Hello,

I am getting a new computer soon because my old one basically died on me. I
am low on money but I've seen a good emachines I can afford and it's similar
to one of the one's I had before and it works well. All the requirements are
right and it comes with Windows Home Basic. The RAM is only 512MB and I plan
on adding 1gb to that. But I won't be able to do it right when I get the
computer. I was wondering if it is really as terrible and as slow as some
people say with only 512MB. - I don't mind not having all the Vista features
not included in Home Basic. I don't see myself using half of it. Seeing as I
only use Trillian, Itunes and have a few web pages open.


http://www.mysimon.com/Desktops/9024...-32329694.html
That is the computer incase you are wondering. I know it isn't great...

Even with Vista Home Basic I would recommend 1 gig of RAM. Many retail
stores will allow you to obtain more RAM at the time of sale for a small
fee.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User


"3ONE9" <> wrote in message
news:AC09660D-E185-4D98-9168-...
> Hello,
>
> I am getting a new computer soon because my old one basically died on me.
> I
> am low on money but I've seen a good emachines I can afford and it's
> similar
> to one of the one's I had before and it works well. All the requirements
> are
> right and it comes with Windows Home Basic. The RAM is only 512MB and I
> plan
> on adding 1gb to that. But I won't be able to do it right when I get the
> computer. I was wondering if it is really as terrible and as slow as some
> people say with only 512MB. - I don't mind not having all the Vista
> features
> not included in Home Basic. I don't see myself using half of it. Seeing as
> I
> only use Trillian, Itunes and have a few web pages open.
>
>
> http://www.mysimon.com/Desktops/9024...-32329694.html
> That is the computer incase you are wondering. I know it isn't great...
>
>
>
>

"3ONE9" <> wrote in message
news:AC09660D-E185-4D98-9168-...
> Hello,
>
> I am getting a new computer soon because my old one basically died on me.
I
> am low on money but I've seen a good emachines I can afford and it's
similar
> to one of the one's I had before and it works well. All the requirements
are
> right and it comes with Windows Home Basic. The RAM is only 512MB and I
plan
> on adding 1gb to that. But I won't be able to do it right when I get the
> computer. I was wondering if it is really as terrible and as slow as some
> people say with only 512MB. - I don't mind not having all the Vista
features
> not included in Home Basic. I don't see myself using half of it. Seeing as
I
> only use Trillian, Itunes and have a few web pages open.
>
>


512 megs of ram should be enough for XP...
heck I've even setup a few lower end machines with just 256 megs

What you can do to improve the performance is run msconfig and take most of
the junk out of startup...
chances are all you need is the virus checker and firewall...

Also go into control panel
and adjust for best performance...
you can set the machine for XP color theme if you like the eye candy

I am getting it from Best Buy I don't know if they do it for less when you
buy it but I know Geek Squad charges 40 dollars to install RAM and 1GB of RAM
from Best Buy is around 80 dollars.

Would 1.5 GB of RAM be pretty good?

"Richard Urban" wrote:

> Even with Vista Home Basic I would recommend 1 gig of RAM. Many retail
> stores will allow you to obtain more RAM at the time of sale for a small
> fee.
>
> --
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban MVP
> Microsoft Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "3ONE9" <> wrote in message
> news:AC09660D-E185-4D98-9168-...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am getting a new computer soon because my old one basically died on me.
> > I
> > am low on money but I've seen a good emachines I can afford and it's
> > similar
> > to one of the one's I had before and it works well. All the requirements
> > are
> > right and it comes with Windows Home Basic. The RAM is only 512MB and I
> > plan
> > on adding 1gb to that. But I won't be able to do it right when I get the
> > computer. I was wondering if it is really as terrible and as slow as some
> > people say with only 512MB. - I don't mind not having all the Vista
> > features
> > not included in Home Basic. I don't see myself using half of it. Seeing as
> > I
> > only use Trillian, Itunes and have a few web pages open.
> >
> >
> > http://www.mysimon.com/Desktops/9024...-32329694.html
> > That is the computer incase you are wondering. I know it isn't great...
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

I know that 512MB RAM works well with Windows XP but I'm afraid of it being
sow with Vista. I will try those things when I get it but I think I may still
ad 1gb of RAM.

"philo" wrote:

>
> "3ONE9" <> wrote in message
> news:AC09660D-E185-4D98-9168-...
> > Hello,
> >
> > I am getting a new computer soon because my old one basically died on me.
> I
> > am low on money but I've seen a good emachines I can afford and it's
> similar
> > to one of the one's I had before and it works well. All the requirements
> are
> > right and it comes with Windows Home Basic. The RAM is only 512MB and I
> plan
> > on adding 1gb to that. But I won't be able to do it right when I get the
> > computer. I was wondering if it is really as terrible and as slow as some
> > people say with only 512MB. - I don't mind not having all the Vista
> features
> > not included in Home Basic. I don't see myself using half of it. Seeing as
> I
> > only use Trillian, Itunes and have a few web pages open.
> >
> >
>
>
> 512 megs of ram should be enough for XP...
> heck I've even setup a few lower end machines with just 256 megs
>
> What you can do to improve the performance is run msconfig and take most of
> the junk out of startup...
> chances are all you need is the virus checker and firewall...
>
> Also go into control panel
> and adjust for best performance...
> you can set the machine for XP color theme if you like the eye candy
>
>
>

"3ONE9" <> wrote in message
news:31AE58E8-FE22-4963-9423-...
> I know that 512MB RAM works well with Windows XP but I'm afraid of it
being
> sow with Vista. I will try those things when I get it but I think I may
still
> ad 1gb of RAM.
>



Well if you go with Vista...get the machine with at least 1 gig

unless you add RAM yourself...you will pay way to much to have someone add
it later!


BTW: What's wrong with your old machine???
It might be a simple fix!

First of all, they shouldn't be selling you that system without nothing more
than a GB of RAM, if you are adding an extra 1.5 GB that would should be
more than enough.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"3ONE9" <> wrote in message
news:482F8ECC-1A1B-401B-9A9F-...
>I am getting it from Best Buy I don't know if they do it for less when you
> buy it but I know Geek Squad charges 40 dollars to install RAM and 1GB of
> RAM
> from Best Buy is around 80 dollars.
>
> Would 1.5 GB of RAM be pretty good?
>
> "Richard Urban" wrote:
>
>> Even with Vista Home Basic I would recommend 1 gig of RAM. Many retail
>> stores will allow you to obtain more RAM at the time of sale for a small
>> fee.
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Richard Urban MVP
>> Microsoft Windows Shell/User
>>
>>
>> "3ONE9" <> wrote in message
>> news:AC09660D-E185-4D98-9168-...
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > I am getting a new computer soon because my old one basically died on
>> > me.
>> > I
>> > am low on money but I've seen a good emachines I can afford and it's
>> > similar
>> > to one of the one's I had before and it works well. All the
>> > requirements
>> > are
>> > right and it comes with Windows Home Basic. The RAM is only 512MB and I
>> > plan
>> > on adding 1gb to that. But I won't be able to do it right when I get
>> > the
>> > computer. I was wondering if it is really as terrible and as slow as
>> > some
>> > people say with only 512MB. - I don't mind not having all the Vista
>> > features
>> > not included in Home Basic. I don't see myself using half of it. Seeing
>> > as
>> > I
>> > only use Trillian, Itunes and have a few web pages open.
>> >
>> >
>> > http://www.mysimon.com/Desktops/9024...-32329694.html
>> > That is the computer incase you are wondering. I know it isn't great...
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>

I accompanied a friend to a Circuit City store a few months ago. He bought
an eMachine computer. He paid a small additional fee and they physically
gave him a stick of retail packaged RAM that he installed himself when he
got home.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User


"3ONE9" <> wrote in message
news:482F8ECC-1A1B-401B-9A9F-...
>I am getting it from Best Buy I don't know if they do it for less when you
> buy it but I know Geek Squad charges 40 dollars to install RAM and 1GB of
> RAM
> from Best Buy is around 80 dollars.
>
> Would 1.5 GB of RAM be pretty good?
>
> "Richard Urban" wrote:
>
>> Even with Vista Home Basic I would recommend 1 gig of RAM. Many retail
>> stores will allow you to obtain more RAM at the time of sale for a small
>> fee.
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Richard Urban MVP
>> Microsoft Windows Shell/User
>>
>>
>> "3ONE9" <> wrote in message
>> news:AC09660D-E185-4D98-9168-...
>> > Hello,
>> >
>> > I am getting a new computer soon because my old one basically died on
>> > me.
>> > I
>> > am low on money but I've seen a good emachines I can afford and it's
>> > similar
>> > to one of the one's I had before and it works well. All the
>> > requirements
>> > are
>> > right and it comes with Windows Home Basic. The RAM is only 512MB and I
>> > plan
>> > on adding 1gb to that. But I won't be able to do it right when I get
>> > the
>> > computer. I was wondering if it is really as terrible and as slow as
>> > some
>> > people say with only 512MB. - I don't mind not having all the Vista
>> > features
>> > not included in Home Basic. I don't see myself using half of it. Seeing
>> > as
>> > I
>> > only use Trillian, Itunes and have a few web pages open.
>> >
>> >
>> > http://www.mysimon.com/Desktops/9024...-32329694.html
>> > That is the computer incase you are wondering. I know it isn't great...
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>

The next machine up with 1GB would turn out to be more than to just add RAM
the the machine with 512MB.

Is installing RAM myself easy?

The motherboard went bad and the memory was wiped. It's fixable but I was
told it'd be the same amount as buying a new computer.

"philo" wrote:

>
> "3ONE9" <> wrote in message
> news:31AE58E8-FE22-4963-9423-...
> > I know that 512MB RAM works well with Windows XP but I'm afraid of it
> being
> > sow with Vista. I will try those things when I get it but I think I may
> still
> > ad 1gb of RAM.
> >
>
>
>
> Well if you go with Vista...get the machine with at least 1 gig
>
> unless you add RAM yourself...you will pay way to much to have someone add
> it later!
>
>
> BTW: What's wrong with your old machine???
> It might be a simple fix!
>
>
>

Installing memory (assuming you get the right type) is so easy, even my
Girlfriend can do it.
It only goes in 1 way, and pops in and you're done.

Did you get a power Spike ? Generically, Memory does just die because the
motherboard did. How are you determining the Menory is dead ?

Getting a replacment Mobo should only be like $50-75, getting more ram is
another $100 or less. Far less then the cost of a new PC. Unless your Mobo
is like 4-5 years old, then you might not find a replacement. You may have
to re-install windows with a new\different mobo.

"3ONE9" <> wrote in message
news:904A09A1-DC4B-4C97-9F04-...
> The next machine up with 1GB would turn out to be more than to just add
> RAM
> the the machine with 512MB.
>
> Is installing RAM myself easy?
>
> The motherboard went bad and the memory was wiped. It's fixable but I was
> told it'd be the same amount as buying a new computer.
>
> "philo" wrote:
>
>>
>> "3ONE9" <> wrote in message
>> news:31AE58E8-FE22-4963-9423-...
>> > I know that 512MB RAM works well with Windows XP but I'm afraid of it
>> being
>> > sow with Vista. I will try those things when I get it but I think I may
>> still
>> > ad 1gb of RAM.
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> Well if you go with Vista...get the machine with at least 1 gig
>>
>> unless you add RAM yourself...you will pay way to much to have someone
>> add
>> it later!
>>
>>
>> BTW: What's wrong with your old machine???
>> It might be a simple fix!
>>
>>
>>