Please help

BlahBlah

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2005

I have a lag problem. It lags in big fights, in towns, going into portals, etc...
Usually this happens a lot but at times it works okay.
Someone said I need more Ram (like 512)and that would really help so
tell me if it is Ram, Video, or whatever thanks!

I have a DSL connection and Directx 9.0

Processor:Intel (R) Pentium (R) 4CPU 2.40 GHz, ~2.4 GHz
Memory: 256 MB Ram


Display
name: NVIDIA GeForce 4 MX 420
DAC type: Integrated RAMDAC
approx total memory: 64 Ram

Okay so that is it...I have no idea what it means though.
and if you can go to newegg.com and tell me an exact Ram to get-if that is the problem-that is compatible with my stupid DELL much appreciation is deserved. (I heard Rosewill is good and less expensive?)

Madjik

Madjik

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Somewhere, U.S.A.

Gold Pheonix

i would recommend both more ram and a better graphics card. As far as what type of ram to get, i couldnt tell you without know what kind of ram you have. 256 mb's of ram is unfortunatly not enough information. Is it DDR? or another type all together?

BlahBlah

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2005

It is DDR SDRam

Madjik

Madjik

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Somewhere, U.S.A.

Gold Pheonix

You'll need to get the exact same TYPE of ram that you already have, not size, can be more or less then 256, but if you have DDR you need to get DDR, you'll also need to get the same speed ram. If this is not listed on your invoice from where ever you bought the computer (if you bought it and didnt put it together) then the only way i know of to find out what ram you have is to open the case and pull out one of those ram sticks in there. There SHOULD be a sticker on one of those sticks of ram that states what type you have and its speed. The best thing you can do is to put it in an ANTI STATIC bag and take it with you when you go to purchase your ram, any sales associate worth his salt will know what you need by looking at it. Like wise takeing someone with you who knows his stuff is also highly recommended.

BlahBlah

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2005

Same speed Ram?
what is an example?
is it going to say like Ram speed:___?
cause I can maybe check since I have the owner's manual and such.

Lunarbunny

Lunarbunny

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Seattle, WA, USA [PST | GMT -8]

Ready and Willing [RAWR]

I'd have to say that your problem is mainly the RAM and secondary the graphics card.
I'm guessing that you're using PC2100 DDR (just seems like the range your system is in) although 2700 is possible. You can check the stick like Madjic said...It should have some labeling on it, normally a sticker, that tells you speed and size. What's your OS? XP will eat up almost every byte of that RAM, and you'll be stuck wasting away your page file (how much work is you HDD doing while it lags?)
You should be able to buy a 512MB stick of 2100/2700 for real cheap; that's what I'd go with.
I might be able to say more if you know the motherboard model or the model of the computer.

Madjik

Madjik

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Somewhere, U.S.A.

Gold Pheonix

i've seen DDR pc2100 and pc2700.

also DDR 333mhz and 400mhz.

either of those 2 formats.

Lunarbunny

Lunarbunny

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Seattle, WA, USA [PST | GMT -8]

Ready and Willing [RAWR]

I'd have to say that your problem is mainly the RAM and secondary the graphics card.
I'm guessing that you're using PC2100 DDR (just seems like the range your system is in) although 2700 is possible. You can check the stick like Madjic said...It should have some labeling on it, normally a sticker, that tells you speed and size. What's your OS? XP will eat up almost every byte of that RAM, and you'll be stuck wasting away your page file (how much work is you HDD doing while it lags?)
You should be able to buy a 512MB stick of 2100/2700 for real cheap; that's what I'd go with.
I might be able to say more if you know and could tell me the model of the computer.

Kitar

Kitar

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

It's probably PC-2100. Any stick of it should work fine as long as it isnt high density. (Just stay away from the super duper cheap stuff and yo should be fine.)

A stick of 512 DDR Rosewill (pc 3200 even) should be fine.

BlahBlah

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2005

I have Windows XP. I think I might need to open my PC and check the stick...
how do I go about doing that? and how do I know which is the Ram?

Kitar

Kitar

Academy Page

Join Date: May 2005

Quote:
Originally Posted by BlahBlah
I have Windows XP. I think I might need to open my PC and check the stick...
how do I go about doing that? and how do I know which is the Ram?
For indepth instructions you may want to look online at guides. Otherwise, taking it to a local store wouldnt hurt.

Lunarbunny

Lunarbunny

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Seattle, WA, USA [PST | GMT -8]

Ready and Willing [RAWR]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Madjik
i've seen DDR pc2100 and pc2700.

also DDR 333mhz and 400mhz.

either of those 2 formats.
Bandwidth(MBps)/Speed(MHz)
2100=266MHz
2700=333MHz
3200=400MHz
4000=500MHz
There are a couple in the middle, and a few lower and higher, but these are the usual ones you will see.

Madjik

Madjik

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2005

Somewhere, U.S.A.

Gold Pheonix

Quote:
Originally Posted by Lunarbunny
Bandwidth(MBps)/Speed(MHz)
2100=266MHz
2700=333MHz
3200=400MHz
4000=500MHz
There are a couple in the middle, and a few lower and higher, but these are the usual ones you will see.
I've been looking for a chart like that for ages! thanks!!

BlahBlah

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2005

checking...

Lunarbunny

Lunarbunny

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Seattle, WA, USA [PST | GMT -8]

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http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
Click on the image that says "Click here to download your free copy of Belarc Advisor"
It should give you a lot of info. Post what you feel comfortable posting (there may be some info you don't want to share there), mainly what it says for RAM. [edit] To be clearer, what's the value under "Main Circuit Board>Bus Clock?"

BlahBlah

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2005

how do I delete a post?

Lunarbunny

Lunarbunny

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Join Date: Apr 2005

Seattle, WA, USA [PST | GMT -8]

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Sorry...I edited too late. Tell what the value under "Main Circuit Board>Bus clock" is.

BlahBlah

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2005

Bus Clock: 133 megahertz

wow is that bad?

Lunarbunny

Lunarbunny

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Join Date: Apr 2005

Seattle, WA, USA [PST | GMT -8]

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Quote:
Originally Posted by BlahBlah
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz

wow is that bad?
That means you have PC2100. DDR works on the top and the bottom of the cycle, so 133x2=266MHz. The bus runs at 133, the ram at 266.
EDIT: Give me the model of the motherboard "Main Circuit Board," too. It may be able to support faster RAM.

BlahBlah

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2005

^model hmmm? what does it say?


If you can find a better one for same or less price that would be appreciated!
Okay so I searched and would this be good for my crummy dell:

Rosewill 512MB 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Unbuffered DDR 266 (PC 2100) System Memory - Retail $44.99

Lunarbunny

Lunarbunny

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Apr 2005

Seattle, WA, USA [PST | GMT -8]

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We'll just go with the recommendation. $45 is fine in terms of retail 512MB PC2100. (OEM would be the other option, but you might get crappy RAM grabbing an OEM stick.)

BlahBlah

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Apr 2005

SO I'll order this ram then I just plug it in and I'm good to go right?

I'd like to thank everyone who helped in this thread, and I'll try to post my results here.

-Later-