need help in making my mind......

[gautam7]

Hi everyone,

well i hv a compaq cq 40 laptop with core 2 due 2.00 GHz, 2 GB DDR 2 RAM and 160 GB HDD. now i m thinking to increase my internal HDD to say 500 GB. Now as my knowledge is very limited in this hardware field so i need help from you guys. My questions are:

1. What to look for in the HDD which i m about to buy??
2. DO i need to increase my RAM as well?? I m currently runing Windows 7 64 bit OS. If the answer is yes then what to look for while increasing the RAM.


With regards
Gautam7

 

[mickey megabyte]

as far as hdd goes, you'll be wanting a 2.5 inch (laptop size) drive, and make sure it has a SATA interface - most of them do now, but be sure.

also drives run at different speeds, a 7200 rpm is obviously faster than 5400 rpm. both will work inside your laptop.

you only need to increase your ram if you are doing memory-intensive stuff on your pc. for everyday office stuff, email, internet, movie watching, music playing, then 2 gigs is probably enough. you only really need more if you are doing lots of things at once, or have to edit unusually large files.

 

[Luckystar]

With regards to Ram. Like Mickey Megabyte, its only necessary for memory intensive programs/apps.

If you do want extra RAM, you would have to find out the limit for your laptop, most have a limit of 4Gb.

You say you want to install 64bit windows, well with 2 gig of ram, it will eat most of it. So i would say yes, get some more.

If you are only using this laptop for everyday use, stay with 2gb and get yourself a 32bit version of windows.

Lucky

 

[linnemeyerhere]

gautam7,
Have you considered getting a external usb inclosure for the 160gb drive and going with a SSD drive for your OS and apps. You laptop will speed up like a mad dog and when you exhaust the storage on the 160 gb now reduced by the size of the OS and apps. you can purchase a larger portable drive like a full 1TB. Bonus for heat and energy savings with the SSD. Lightning boot times and faster overall application functions.

 

[gautam7]

thanks everyone for this quick replies.

Mickey thanks for your SATA advice i will make sure of it.

Again Luckystar i hv already purchased Windows & 64 bit. I dont run memory consuming application or do multy tasking BUT i hate to have a slow computer and want to use it smoothly. How much RAM do u think i will need keeping in mind i only use my laptop to daily general use??

Thanks linnemeyerhere for SSD tip. but only concern i hv is using my 160 GB HDD as externel drive, because whenever i will need to eccess this drive i will have to scan it for viruses.... and i just dont wana think how much time it will consume just to scan this everytime. In between how much GB of SSD will be sufficient for OS and other application??

 

[linnemeyerhere]

gautan7, A 60-64gb SSD would work fantastic and of course if you can afford a 128 go for it but the price jump is too steep for my blood currently. As far as virus scanning if the AV program is light it can work in the back ground and you won't notice it. When Sata III SSD's in the 128-256 gb range and larger fall then the 64gb SSD I currently have running will drop into my laptop and i will be doing exactly what were discussing.

 

[essenbe]

If it were me (and it's not) I would double the ram to 4 gigs if I were running a x64 windows 7. But, the ram needs to be an exact match to keep from having problems later. I would also look into the SSD idea. You can get a 90GB SSD for less than $200 right now. And use an external enclosure for your media and storage. If you try, you can put the OS and quite a few apps on a 90GB ssd with room to spare. Plus, with an external enclosure, if you run out to space, just buy another larger HD.

 

[Luckystar]

If it were me (and it's not) I would double the ram to 4 gigs if I were running a x64 windows 7. But, the ram needs to be an exact match to keep from having problems later.

Exactly, 4 gig. That would be a plenty of RAM for your use, especially with 64bit.

And yes, Make sure the ram is a matching pair.

Have you checked to see how many sticks it takes?

There should be at least 2.

But double check!!!


Lucky

 

[gautam7]

@ Luckystar
Well from the disscution it seems i really need 4 gig of RAM and i think i will give it a go, can you kindly explain to me what this " matching pair RAM " mean?? Surely i dont want problem latter.


As for SSD i talked to a local hardware shop and they said they will be able to encase my current HDD with a USB so that i can use it as an external drive, but dont you guys think that will be very slow, because when i transfer data to my 4 gig pendrive the transfer rate is only around 7 mbps.

With regards
Gautam7

 

[linnemeyerhere]

gautam7,
Matching pair just means that both sticks of ram or ram modules as they are know are the exact same. Same Mfg'r and same model. Also a good idea to check with the computer or mobo Mfg'r. to see if they have that exact ram on a tested and approved list.
Regarding the existing HDD being moved to a usb enclosure this is really easy as well. I like this enclosure a lot.
Ineo I-NA208U All-In-One Portable Storage - Leather Pouch, Business Card Holder, 2.5 SATA to USB, Black at TigerDirect
Regarding the transfer speed usbII is slower than SataII but this new external disk will be written to more than anything as your OS and Apps. all reside on the SSD and when you do need a photo, music or document file it will do the job very well.

 

[Luckystar]

Hello Gautam,

Sorry for the delayed reply.

As linnemeyerhere said, a matching pair is two or more identical sticks of RAM.

Normally when you buy 2 or more GB, the ram will normally come as a pack of 2., these are identical.


If the pack has only 1 stick, then it would be better to buy 2 packs at the exact same time from the same ad/offer.
To ensure they are identical, before opening the packages, the serial/model number should be displayed at the front of the package (A sticker on the RAM), check that each pack matches right down to the T, any difference's, send them back at try again.

But as i said, as a rule, RAM of 2 or more Gb come in packs of two.

If you go here - RAM Memory Upgrade: Dell, Mac, Apple, HP, Compaq. USB drives, flash cards, SSD at Crucial.com

At the top is a scanner which scans what ram and it will then give you a list of compatiple ram.
Either buy through them, or write down the model/serial number of the ram you would like and google it to see if you can save a few bob.


Don't worry about speed, you would only need the lowest speed if all you do is general work. Faster ram is for more memory intensive work.

Lucky

 

[gautam7]

Hi everyone sorry for the delay.

i think i will go with 4 gb RAM and i m really greatfull u lot pointed out the SAME RAM issue. I never considered it but now i will make sure its of same nature.

Thanks again everyone for your time and suggestions. i will definetly come back again if i run into any trouble.

With Regards
Gautam

 

[gautam7]

One last quick question i just found out my internal HDD is 5400 rpm. will it support 7200 rpm internal HDD. My main concern is regarding system heat.

 

[linnemeyerhere]

gautam7,
The laptop will support the faster spinning drive but it won't be cooler and may be slightly hotter running. For a cooler rig you could look into a SSD and load your OS and App's. only on it and put the 5400 rpm spinner from the case into an external usb enclosure for all your data. I like this trick little widget here: Ineo I-NA206U All-In-One Portable Storage - Leather Pouch, 2.5 SATA to USB, Black at TigerDirect

 

[gautam7]

@ linnemeyerhere

well SSD are great but its a bit costly for me right now. So want to stick with this HDD. Its great to know my system will support faster spinning drive. My only concern is if this faster spinning drive will damage my other system component.

 

[essenbe]

Gautam7, I still believe that a 64 bit OS needs at least 4GB. To match it you can do to Crucial's web sight and download their scan. It can scan your computer and tell you exactly how much and what type of ram you have and also make suggestions as to what you need to buy. You don't have to buy from them, but you will know exactly what you need.

Also dont be so concerned about the anti virus scan. If your external is hooked up to your laptop, it can only get a virus if a virus goes through the laptop. you can always disconnect the external when it is time to scan if you want to. That's what I do. I have 4 externals that add up to about 4.5 TB right now. But, I know that if they have a virus, My computer has one too. As far as ram and the SSd are concerned, just stay with a good reputable company. With SSD's right now, Intel, Vertex and Crucial are the leading SSD's. Ram you can look at Crucial, G. Skill, OCZ or Kingston as well as a few others. The real key to the ram is it all must be an exact match. If you have to, Pull out a stick from the laptop. It should tell you exactly what it is. Then you can either match it or go with all new ram to be sure.

Those are my suggestions. I think you have been given very good advice from several on this thread. any of the advice you have been given here you will not be making a mistake. Just make sure your computer has a MB and processor that will support a X64 OS before you but one.

 

[gautam7]

Thanks Essebbe. as i wrote in my earlier post that i will upgrade the RAM to 4 GB, as most people suggested this up gradation. well as for SSD they r a bit costly for my budget so i will be sticking to old HDD but i will up grade from my existing 160 GB 5400 rpm HDD to a new 500 GB 7200 rpm HDD. Thanks for your advice.

 

[essenbe]

you are most welcome. come back often.