I have a Dimension XPS 410 with the following specs:
System Specs:
Dell XPS 410
2.13Ghz Pentium Core 2 Duo
1536MB RAM
Phillips 16X DVD-ROM
Plextor PX755SA 16x DVD Writer
Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card
SATA Western Digital 160Gig 10,000 RPM
SATA Maxtor 250 Gig 16mb cache
SATA Western Digital 36 gig 10,000 RPM
I've also upgraded to Windows Vista Home Edition. I've read that Vista runs
best on 2048MB of RAM. Would upgrading to a complete 2Gig make a noticeable
difference in performance. Most of my usage is keeping several windows open
at the same time, Web Browser, Mediaplayer, Outlook or Windows Mail,
uTorrent, Firefox (with several tabs open at the same time.)
"Jeff Ingram" <ingramje@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f14a6j$d2v$1@news04.infoave.net...
> Hello,
>
> I have a Dimension XPS 410 with the following specs:
>
> System Specs:
>
> Dell XPS 410
> 2.13Ghz Pentium Core 2 Duo
> 1536MB RAM
> Phillips 16X DVD-ROM
> Plextor PX755SA 16x DVD Writer
> Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card
> SATA Western Digital 160Gig 10,000 RPM
> SATA Maxtor 250 Gig 16mb cache
> SATA Western Digital 36 gig 10,000 RPM
>
> I've also upgraded to Windows Vista Home Edition. I've read that Vista
> runs best on 2048MB of RAM. Would upgrading to a complete 2Gig make a
> noticeable difference in performance. Most of my usage is keeping several
> windows open at the same time, Web Browser, Mediaplayer, Outlook or
> Windows Mail, uTorrent, Firefox (with several tabs open at the same time.)
<crosspost removed>
You're not going to suffer much with this hardware configuration.
I'd prefer the machine already have 2gigs of RAM (that 512mb- 2 x 256mb - in
the two slots now may go to waste during your next RAM upgrade), or get a
gig from Dell and a 2nd gig from www.crucial.com after the system purchase
(whichever is less expensive). But that's not an issue if you already have
those two DIMMs lying around and plan to add them when the machine arrives.
I'd also assume the hard disk configuration includes some drives you own
already.
I think some folks here who own that model have some opinions about the
premium you'll pay for the sound card versus the integrated sound.
In short: should work fine for the time being I'd think.
-----Original Message-----
From: S.Lewis [mailto:stew1960@mail.com]
Posted At: Monday, April 30, 2007 6:04 AM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Would this make a noticiable difference?
Subject: Re: Would this make a noticiable difference?
"Jeff Ingram" <ingramje@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:f14a6j$d2v$1@news04.infoave.net...
> Hello,
>
> I have a Dimension XPS 410 with the following specs:
>
> System Specs:
>
> Dell XPS 410
> 2.13Ghz Pentium Core 2 Duo
> 1536MB RAM
> Phillips 16X DVD-ROM
> Plextor PX755SA 16x DVD Writer
> Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card
> SATA Western Digital 160Gig 10,000 RPM
> SATA Maxtor 250 Gig 16mb cache
> SATA Western Digital 36 gig 10,000 RPM
>
> I've also upgraded to Windows Vista Home Edition. I've read that
Vista
> runs best on 2048MB of RAM. Would upgrading to a complete 2Gig make a
> noticeable difference in performance. Most of my usage is keeping
several
> windows open at the same time, Web Browser, Mediaplayer, Outlook or
> Windows Mail, uTorrent, Firefox (with several tabs open at the same
time.)
<crosspost removed>
You're not going to suffer much with this hardware configuration.
I'd prefer the machine already have 2gigs of RAM (that 512mb- 2 x 256mb
- in
the two slots now may go to waste during your next RAM upgrade), or get
a
gig from Dell and a 2nd gig from www.crucial.com after the system
purchase
(whichever is less expensive). But that's not an issue if you already
have
those two DIMMs lying around and plan to add them when the machine
arrives.
I'd also assume the hard disk configuration includes some drives you own
already.
I think some folks here who own that model have some opinions about the
premium you'll pay for the sound card versus the integrated sound.
In short: should work fine for the time being I'd think.
Stew
Stew,
I'm a little confused by your answer. He should have 2x512mb currently.
He could easily add 2x512mb.
That said, I upgraded my machine from 1gb to 3gb (similar XPS410/D9200)
and didn't see a noticeable improvement.
>Hello,
>
>I have a Dimension XPS 410 with the following specs:
>
>System Specs:
>
>Dell XPS 410
>2.13Ghz Pentium Core 2 Duo
>1536MB RAM
>Phillips 16X DVD-ROM
>Plextor PX755SA 16x DVD Writer
>Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card
>SATA Western Digital 160Gig 10,000 RPM
>SATA Maxtor 250 Gig 16mb cache
>SATA Western Digital 36 gig 10,000 RPM
>
>I've also upgraded to Windows Vista Home Edition. I've read that Vista runs
>best on 2048MB of RAM. Would upgrading to a complete 2Gig make a noticeable
>difference in performance. Most of my usage is keeping several windows open
>at the same time, Web Browser, Mediaplayer, Outlook or Windows Mail,
>uTorrent, Firefox (with several tabs open at the same time.)
From what I just read yesterday, it's probably not going to be
noticeable unless you do a lot of multitasking w/ or w/o video
editing large files and in your case, it sounds like this doesn't
apply. But in the past, the rule of thumb is "you never can have
enough" <grin>.
"Tom Scales" <tjscales@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:E85E3302FB4F4219A7FD6D887A743F2B@T9200...
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: S.Lewis [mailto:stew1960@mail.com]
> Posted At: Monday, April 30, 2007 6:04 AM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Would this make a noticiable difference?
> Subject: Re: Would this make a noticiable difference?
>
>
> "Jeff Ingram" <ingramje@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:f14a6j$d2v$1@news04.infoave.net...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a Dimension XPS 410 with the following specs:
>>
>> System Specs:
>>
>> Dell XPS 410
>> 2.13Ghz Pentium Core 2 Duo
>> 1536MB RAM
>> Phillips 16X DVD-ROM
>> Plextor PX755SA 16x DVD Writer
>> Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card
>> SATA Western Digital 160Gig 10,000 RPM
>> SATA Maxtor 250 Gig 16mb cache
>> SATA Western Digital 36 gig 10,000 RPM
>>
>> I've also upgraded to Windows Vista Home Edition. I've read that
> Vista
>> runs best on 2048MB of RAM. Would upgrading to a complete 2Gig make a
>
>> noticeable difference in performance. Most of my usage is keeping
> several
>> windows open at the same time, Web Browser, Mediaplayer, Outlook or
>> Windows Mail, uTorrent, Firefox (with several tabs open at the same
> time.)
>
> <crosspost removed>
>
> You're not going to suffer much with this hardware configuration.
>
> I'd prefer the machine already have 2gigs of RAM (that 512mb- 2 x 256mb
> - in
> the two slots now may go to waste during your next RAM upgrade), or get
> a
> gig from Dell and a 2nd gig from www.crucial.com after the system
> purchase
> (whichever is less expensive). But that's not an issue if you already
> have
> those two DIMMs lying around and plan to add them when the machine
> arrives.
>
> I'd also assume the hard disk configuration includes some drives you own
>
> already.
>
> I think some folks here who own that model have some opinions about the
> premium you'll pay for the sound card versus the integrated sound.
>
> In short: should work fine for the time being I'd think.
>
> Stew
>
>
> Stew,
>
> I'm a little confused by your answer. He should have 2x512mb currently.
> He could easily add 2x512mb.
>
> That said, I upgraded my machine from 1gb to 3gb (similar XPS410/D9200)
> and didn't see a noticeable improvement.
>
> Tom
>
Morning Tom -
Looks like he's showing 1.5gbs of RAM, so I assumed he was buying a gig with
the system then adding 2 x256mb he perhaps already had (don't think they can
be configured that way new).
My early morning point was that if he eventually moves to 2gb, those 2 x
256mb will have to come out, which isn't a cost factor if he already has
them.
Probably didn't word it well.
I expected you to have some comments on his sound card as well seeing as how
you have more than one of these beasts or similar.
In terms of memory, upgrading to a complete 2 gigs from 1.5 gigs would
not make a significant difference.
But with 1.5 gigs, depending on how you have implemented it, you MAY
have disabled dual channel operation, thus cutting your memory speed in
half. In that regard, going to 2 gigs might restore dual channel operation.
[If your 1.5 gigs is 1GB + 512GB, you likely have an issue; if your
1.5GB is 2x512 + 2x256, PROPERLY INSTALLED IN THE CORRECT SOCKETS, then
1.5GB could still be dual channel.]
Jeff Ingram wrote:
> Hello,
>
> I have a Dimension XPS 410 with the following specs:
>
> System Specs:
>
> Dell XPS 410
> 2.13Ghz Pentium Core 2 Duo
> 1536MB RAM
> Phillips 16X DVD-ROM
> Plextor PX755SA 16x DVD Writer
> Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card
> SATA Western Digital 160Gig 10,000 RPM
> SATA Maxtor 250 Gig 16mb cache
> SATA Western Digital 36 gig 10,000 RPM
>
> I've also upgraded to Windows Vista Home Edition. I've read that Vista
> runs best on 2048MB of RAM. Would upgrading to a complete 2Gig make a
> noticeable difference in performance. Most of my usage is keeping
> several windows open at the same time, Web Browser, Mediaplayer, Outlook
> or Windows Mail, uTorrent, Firefox (with several tabs open at the same
> time.)
-----Original Message-----
From: S.Lewis [mailto:stew1960@mail.com]
Posted At: Monday, April 30, 2007 6:59 AM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Would this make a noticiable difference?
Subject: Re: Would this make a noticeable difference?
"Tom Scales" <tjscales@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:E85E3302FB4F4219A7FD6D887A743F2B@T9200...
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: S.Lewis [mailto:stew1960@mail.com]
> Posted At: Monday, April 30, 2007 6:04 AM
> Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
> Conversation: Would this make a noticiable difference?
> Subject: Re: Would this make a noticiable difference?
>
>
> "Jeff Ingram" <ingramje@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:f14a6j$d2v$1@news04.infoave.net...
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a Dimension XPS 410 with the following specs:
>>
>> System Specs:
>>
>> Dell XPS 410
>> 2.13Ghz Pentium Core 2 Duo
>> 1536MB RAM
>> Phillips 16X DVD-ROM
>> Plextor PX755SA 16x DVD Writer
>> Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card
>> SATA Western Digital 160Gig 10,000 RPM
>> SATA Maxtor 250 Gig 16mb cache
>> SATA Western Digital 36 gig 10,000 RPM
>>
>> I've also upgraded to Windows Vista Home Edition. I've read that
> Vista
>> runs best on 2048MB of RAM. Would upgrading to a complete 2Gig make
a
>
>> noticeable difference in performance. Most of my usage is keeping
> several
>> windows open at the same time, Web Browser, Mediaplayer, Outlook or
>> Windows Mail, uTorrent, Firefox (with several tabs open at the same
> time.)
>
> <crosspost removed>
>
> You're not going to suffer much with this hardware configuration.
>
> I'd prefer the machine already have 2gigs of RAM (that 512mb- 2 x
256mb
> - in
> the two slots now may go to waste during your next RAM upgrade), or
get
> a
> gig from Dell and a 2nd gig from www.crucial.com after the system
> purchase
> (whichever is less expensive). But that's not an issue if you already
> have
> those two DIMMs lying around and plan to add them when the machine
> arrives.
>
> I'd also assume the hard disk configuration includes some drives you
own
>
> already.
>
> I think some folks here who own that model have some opinions about
the
> premium you'll pay for the sound card versus the integrated sound.
>
> In short: should work fine for the time being I'd think.
>
> Stew
>
>
> Stew,
>
> I'm a little confused by your answer. He should have 2x512mb
currently.
> He could easily add 2x512mb.
>
> That said, I upgraded my machine from 1gb to 3gb (similar
XPS410/D9200)
> and didn't see a noticeable improvement.
>
> Tom
>
Morning Tom -
Looks like he's showing 1.5gbs of RAM, so I assumed he was buying a gig
with
the system then adding 2 x256mb he perhaps already had (don't think they
can
be configured that way new).
My early morning point was that if he eventually moves to 2gb, those 2 x
256mb will have to come out, which isn't a cost factor if he already has
them.
Probably didn't word it well.
I expected you to have some comments on his sound card as well seeing as
how
you have more than one of these beasts or similar.
-Stew
I didn't catch that as I read 1GB in another part of the post. If it is
already 1.5GB, don't bother to upgrade.
>
>Stew,
>
>I'm a little confused by your answer. He should have 2x512mb currently.
>He could easily add 2x512mb.
>
>That said, I upgraded my machine from 1gb to 3gb (similar XPS410/D9200)
>and didn't see a noticeable improvement.
>
>Tom
Tom, that sorta re-affirms what I read yesterday about Vista and ram.
My interpretation based on the article I read yesterday.... is that
1gb ram is probably the sweet spot but of course more is always
better. I read that 256 is literally the minimum to run Vista but
don't expect much (perhaps just to install it??); 512 is realistically
the minimum for operating Vista with minimum functionality; 1gb is
probably best all around for most people to do most anything; 2 gb +
is best for a lot of multitasking and large video editing.
I have laptops and pc's with 1 and 2 gigs ram so one day I can test
this statement but currently I'm using XP so this is theory to me.
I guess what I'd most like is to speed up how fast my system boots and
launches applications. It's not molasses slow, but it doesn't have that
"snap" that I'd like. I've turned off all the pretty stuff in Vista but
that didn't really seem to make much difference.
Since I've already got a 10,000 RPM drive and I have the defrag run once a
week I don't imagine there's much more I could do about the speed of the
hard drive. Unless of course the disk defrag included with Vista sucks ***
and there's something else out there that would do a much better job. I
don't like how you can't check to see how fragmented the drive is.
I had considered getting an identical 10,000 RPM drive and setting it up as
a RAID for boost in speed, but I don't know how much of a gain I would get
from a RAID configuration.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Jeff
"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:4635ce27$0$15179$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> In terms of memory, upgrading to a complete 2 gigs from 1.5 gigs would not
> make a significant difference.
>
> But with 1.5 gigs, depending on how you have implemented it, you MAY have
> disabled dual channel operation, thus cutting your memory speed in half.
> In that regard, going to 2 gigs might restore dual channel operation.
>
> [If your 1.5 gigs is 1GB + 512GB, you likely have an issue; if your 1.5GB
> is 2x512 + 2x256, PROPERLY INSTALLED IN THE CORRECT SOCKETS, then 1.5GB
> could still be dual channel.]
>
> Jeff Ingram wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a Dimension XPS 410 with the following specs:
>>
>> System Specs:
>>
>> Dell XPS 410
>> 2.13Ghz Pentium Core 2 Duo
>> 1536MB RAM
>> Phillips 16X DVD-ROM
>> Plextor PX755SA 16x DVD Writer
>> Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card
>> SATA Western Digital 160Gig 10,000 RPM
>> SATA Maxtor 250 Gig 16mb cache
>> SATA Western Digital 36 gig 10,000 RPM
>>
>> I've also upgraded to Windows Vista Home Edition. I've read that Vista
>> runs best on 2048MB of RAM. Would upgrading to a complete 2Gig make a
>> noticeable difference in performance. Most of my usage is keeping
>> several windows open at the same time, Web Browser, Mediaplayer, Outlook
>> or Windows Mail, uTorrent, Firefox (with several tabs open at the same
>> time.)
-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Ingram [mailto:ingramje@gmail.com]
Posted At: Monday, April 30, 2007 7:38 PM
Posted To: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell
Conversation: Would this make a noticiable difference?
Subject: Re: Would this make a noticiable difference?
I guess what I'd most like is to speed up how fast my system boots and
launches applications. It's not molasses slow, but it doesn't have that
"snap" that I'd like. I've turned off all the pretty stuff in Vista but
that didn't really seem to make much difference.
Since I've already got a 10,000 RPM drive and I have the defrag run once
a
week I don't imagine there's much more I could do about the speed of the
hard drive. Unless of course the disk defrag included with Vista sucks
***
and there's something else out there that would do a much better job. I
don't like how you can't check to see how fragmented the drive is.
I had considered getting an identical 10,000 RPM drive and setting it up
as
a RAID for boost in speed, but I don't know how much of a gain I would
get
from a RAID configuration.
Anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks,
Jeff
"Barry Watzman" <WatzmanNOSPAM@neo.rr.com> wrote in message
news:4635ce27$0$15179$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> In terms of memory, upgrading to a complete 2 gigs from 1.5 gigs would
not
> make a significant difference.
>
> But with 1.5 gigs, depending on how you have implemented it, you MAY
have
> disabled dual channel operation, thus cutting your memory speed in
half.
> In that regard, going to 2 gigs might restore dual channel operation.
>
> [If your 1.5 gigs is 1GB + 512GB, you likely have an issue; if your
1.5GB
> is 2x512 + 2x256, PROPERLY INSTALLED IN THE CORRECT SOCKETS, then
1.5GB
> could still be dual channel.]
>
> Jeff Ingram wrote:
>> Hello,
>>
>> I have a Dimension XPS 410 with the following specs:
>>
>> System Specs:
>>
>> Dell XPS 410
>> 2.13Ghz Pentium Core 2 Duo
>> 1536MB RAM
>> Phillips 16X DVD-ROM
>> Plextor PX755SA 16x DVD Writer
>> Sound Blaster X-Fi XtremeMusic sound card
>> SATA Western Digital 160Gig 10,000 RPM
>> SATA Maxtor 250 Gig 16mb cache
>> SATA Western Digital 36 gig 10,000 RPM
>>
>> I've also upgraded to Windows Vista Home Edition. I've read that
Vista
>> runs best on 2048MB of RAM. Would upgrading to a complete 2Gig make
a
>> noticeable difference in performance. Most of my usage is keeping
>> several windows open at the same time, Web Browser, Mediaplayer,
Outlook
>> or Windows Mail, uTorrent, Firefox (with several tabs open at the
same
>> time.)
Raid probably wouldn't make a big difference. It doesn't on my machine.
Have you tried readyboost? Get a very fast CF or SD card, say 2gb, and
attach it to your system. Dedicate it to ReadyBoost.
Haven't tried it, but it is supposed to make a measurable difference.
Would this make a noticiable difference? 
Linear Mode
