Best Laptop Performance Upgrade For $200

[ITSTOCK]

I have $200 in best buy gift cards and was wondering if there was anything I could do to make the computer run faster. It's not slow, but when multiple programs are running, it slows a little. The only specs that I know are....

Celeron 2.70ghz
1.18GB ram
60gig hard-drive
ATI Radeon 7000 IGP


That's all I really know (not too computer savvy!)

I already upgraded the ram to 1g from 256 and the performance was unbelievable, so how do I know if I can upgrade the ram even more? Or will it not do too much?

I mainly use the computer for internet, and the only other thing that I use are a design program which according to min. requirements, doesn't call for too much (64mb ram, 3.4gb hard disk, vga card with 800x600 and 16 bit, and 32 memory mb card).

Thanks for any help or suggestions! This laptop is almost 4 years old now also, so should I consider ditching it and selling it used, and just putting $200 towards a new one (I "think" that I could sell this one for around $300)? It's a Toshiba Satellite model A65.

[igo4bmx]

usually RAM will help, and a beefier disk drive with larger cache (but requires reinstallation)


other than that I would just save it

[TGilb2007]

I agree with igo..... save the money, and invest in a new one.

If you really want, a larger HDD w/ more cache would be nice. I wouldnt look into RAM, unless you know that the computer can handle more (if the mobo can take it).

[ITSTOCK]

Damn, now I have to think of something else to blow $200 on .

I honestly don't know that it would be worth it to buy a new one, so I'll probably forget that idea all together. It just doesn't make sense, for how "little" I use the laptop for. Thanks for the quick replies!

[den9]

put it towards a flat screen or something, maybe home theatre? satelite radio? u could upgrade your ram to 2 gigs but im not sure how much that would cost.

[05GT]

Well, you are already running over over 1GB ram so you say, and well, you have Celeron processor, so upgrading your ram at this point would be over kill for that processor.

[ITSTOCK]

Well, you are already running over over 1GB ram so you say, and well, you have Celeron processor, so upgrading your ram at this point would be over kill for that processor.

This is what I am going by, perhaps I should be looking somewhere else?

[foss]

nah that's where you wanna look. honestly, with a celeron processor your going to be limited. save another $200 and you can buy a nice laptop. i am typing on a $400 laptop right now and it has 1gb ram, 80gb hd, vista, and a dual-core processor.

[ITSTOCK]

Bah, for a 4 year old $500 laptop I'm happy with this one, was just considering if there was anything to "bring it up to date". I guess the processor is what's holding back. Oh well!

[05GT]

Yep, that's the right place to look ITSTOCK.

The Celeron processors were Intels low end cpus. But hey, as long as it does what you need it to do, then that's what counts.

You can also check a few things to help performance.
#1. Check to make sure your vitual memory is set correctly.
#2. Make sure you aren't running out of hard drive space.
#3. Turn down how much hard drive space System Restore uses.
#4. Run MSCONFIG and uncheck the things that don't need to auto load when the laptop boots.

[TGilb2007]

Yep, that's the right place to look ITSTOCK.

The Celeron processors were Intels low end cpus. But hey, as long as it does what you need it to do, then that's what counts.


The Celeron processor was basically just the math co-processor to the P3 (and later P4) chips that were out.

ITSTOCK.... I think some companies also offer a trading in program as well to get rid of old laptops towards new ones. Or also look at some companies refurb ones if you want a new(ish) laptop.

Or, take that $200 towards Best Buy... and put it towards a really BA Television

[drew]

#4. Run MSCONFIG and uncheck the things that don't need to auto load when the laptop boots.

i have to do this to my girlfriends familys PC everytime i'm over there :rofl:



be careful with what you uncheck, some things are needed. feel free to post a screen shot of all of them and we can help you