How do I make my computer system better and faster?

Uxas · 22 Feb 2016

I have a desktop computer with Intel Atom 230 1.60 Ghz processor running Windows 7 Ultimate x32. I need to start with programming and stuff, I understand that Atom is not the best choice, but I'll have to make do with it. The only things I can upgrade are the HDD and RAM. Considering all the above, what sort of HDD and RAM should I go for? Also, I have a really limited budget. Thanks in advance.

whs · 22 Feb 2016

A RAM upgrade will give you marginal performance improvements. A big kick would come from a SSD to replace the HDD.

SSD - Install and Transfer the Operating System

Here are my favorite SSDs

mushkin ssd - Newegg.com

Of course the situation in your country may be different.

DavidE · 22 Feb 2016

How much RAM do you have now and how much can your PC use ?
i.e. If you have 1 GB RAM, adding more would help.

Uxas · 23 Feb 2016

DavidE said:

How much RAM do you have now and how much can your PC use ?
i.e. If you have 1 GB RAM, adding more would help.

I have 1GB of RAM. Should I upgrade it to 8GB or would 4GB be enough?

Uxas · 23 Feb 2016

whs said:

A RAM upgrade will give you marginal performance improvements. A big kick would come from a SSD to replace the HDD.

SSD - Install and Transfer the Operating System

Here are my favorite SSDs

mushkin ssd - Newegg.com

Of course the situation in your country may be different.

Is the storage capacity of the HDD/SSD a factor here?

LMiller7 · 23 Feb 2016

I have 1GB of RAM. Should I upgrade it to 8GB or would 4GB be enough?

As you are using a 32 bit OS RAM is limited to 4 GB, assuming your hardware can accommodate it. That isn't always the case.

Uxas · 24 Feb 2016

LMiller7 said:

I have 1GB of RAM. Should I upgrade it to 8GB or would 4GB be enough?

As you are using a 32 bit OS RAM is limited to 4 GB, assuming your hardware can accommodate it. That isn't always the case.

So in case I do get an SSD, there's still a chance that a 4GB RAM won't be compatible, right? That's what you're saying, right?
What if I upgrade to the 64bit version, what then? Would my overall experience be deteriorated because of the processor?

Barman58 · 24 Feb 2016

In order for anyone to help you you will need to fill in your system specs so helpers can know what they are dealing with - Click on My System Specs bottom Left of any post and select Update your System Spec - complete as much as you can

https://www.piriform.com/speccy/builds the standard Speccy program will help find the details

whs · 24 Feb 2016

Uxas said:

whs said:

A RAM upgrade will give you marginal performance improvements. A big kick would come from a SSD to replace the HDD.

SSD - Install and Transfer the Operating System

Here are my favorite SSDs

mushkin ssd - Newegg.com

Of course the situation in your country may be different.

Is the storage capacity of the HDD/SSD a factor here?

No not really. I would take at least 128GB if not 256GB for a SSD.

whs · 24 Feb 2016

Uxas said:

LMiller7 said:

I have 1GB of RAM. Should I upgrade it to 8GB or would 4GB be enough?

As you are using a 32 bit OS RAM is limited to 4 GB, assuming your hardware can accommodate it. That isn't always the case.

So in case I do get an SSD, there's still a chance that a 4GB RAM won't be compatible, right? That's what you're saying, right?
What if I upgrade to the 64bit version, what then? Would my overall experience be deteriorated because of the processor?

You are mixing things up. The size of the SSD has nothing to do with the size of RAM. Any size RAM can go with any size SSD. You do, however, need a 64bit OS if you want to address RAM that is bigger than 4GB. The physical addressing limit of a 32bit OS is 4GB.