Hey Oz....

I'v got a vaio VGN-FW23G....T5800 processor, Vista home premium(up to date), ATI HD 3470 graphics, 2gb memory, 250gb HDD, external 1tb for back-up and additional storage.........just wondering if it would speed things up by adding another 2gb memory?
As with most computers it has slowed as I'v put more programs on it-not complaining bout the speed as its still faster than our desktops but will soon be using some pretty demanding software for work and need as much stability as possible-software will be used to program alarm systems and use wireless internet to send/save new settings-program operates live back to base server......Also looking at using software for home theatre where I take photo's of rooms then from saved catalog use virtual install to show customer 360 degree view of what their room would look like once install complete............

Hope you can help

Cheers
Jason

Easy to point out your problem!! Its called Windows! Biggest drain on a system going!
Get rid of it and run Linux!

Ram will help but not by much, as it will take the stress off the cpu.
All ram is Random access memory , The main in all is the T5800 which is a 2.00ghz 2mb cache running at 800fsb.
Not to say it is not a good computer but if you are going to use high end software like cad etc go for something with at least a i5 better still i7 here is a couple of example.
Intel Core i7 2630QM 2Ghz Max 2.9Ghz
• 8GB DDR3, 640GB Hard Disk
• 15.6" HD (1366x768) High-Definition LED backlight
• Built-in WiFi N / LAN, DVDSM, Webcam
• Intel HD Graphics 3000 Support DX10
• Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
• Preloaded MS Office 2010 Starter
• 6-cell Lithium-Ion Battery
that sell for about $900.00
or better still
ASUS N53SV-SX787V
Intel Core i7 2670QM 2.2Ghz Turbo 3.1Ghz, 6MB
• 8GB DDR3, 500GB Hard Disk
• 15.6" LED HD (1366 x 768), Zero Bright Dot Guarantee
• nVidia GeForce GT540M 1GB Graphic
• WIFI N, Bluetooth, GigaLan, Webcam, DVD Burner
• USB 3.0, Card Reader, Bang & Olufsen ICEpower Audio
• Windows 7 Home Premium 64Bit, Preloaded Office 2010 Starter
$1050.00
now there is a lot more but I tried to keep it around the $1000.00 units , but yes ram will help and would only cost like $30.00 depending on the type and you can only every try to see if it will handle your progams.
now they are specs that would handle most thing you could put at it.

Installing lots of programs won't slow your computer Storms the problem is that these programs like to auto start even if you don't use them.
You can stop them doing that generally from within the program itself then they will just open on demand.

better still if it is a work PC. Reformat, install a clean bare minimum windows (no games etc) and just the software you need for work. you should be fine running whatever software you need than.

For all the other crap buy another laptop/pc.
As Fed pointed out it is the other software starting up processes automatically that make it slow (unless you filled your harddrive to almost 100% with them)

Good if all your software is available on Linux. Some is but likely not all and for those you may be able to find a Linux equivalent but this will than require a learning curve. and for the ones there is no equivalent? Get a windows PC?....now that sort of defeats the purpose :-)

Virtual Box or dual boot...

But yea, you are right, alot of programs wont run on Linux which is a PITA!

That deal sounds pretty good OZ..

Whats can you put together in a desktop package? Would be a heap cheaper yea?

Our old laptops are starting to get slow now that im trying to play with 15mb pictures and graphics, I think this toshi im typing on is 5yr old.. Still great for traveling though..

Yes Rumpus desktops can be cheaper but not much here is example
case 45
motherboard 100
cpu i7 2600 360
hard drive 1tb 140
ram 8gb 60
vc 1gb 85
wi fi 30
op 165
monitor 23" 185
total $1170

But these can be cheaper all comes down to the quality of the parts.

That is without me putting it together just the parts.

HERE IS A SPECIAL.

• Intel i5-2500 Core i5 Processor, 3.3 GHz, LGA1155, Quad Core, 4 Threads, 6MB Cache, Intel Turbo Boost Technology, Integrated Graphics*
• Gigabyte GA-Z68A-D3-B3 MB, LGA 1155, Intel Z68, DDR3 1333, PCI-Ex16, SATA2, SATA3, USB3.0, RAID, GbE LAN, 8CH Audio, CrossFire, ATX
• 4GB Corsair DDR3 RAM 1333MHz
• Integrated Video
• 1TB HDD (SATA II, 7200RPM)
• DVD Burner Drive
• Internal Card Reader
• High Definition Audio
• Gigabit LAN
• Antec NSK4482B Black ATX Tower with 380W EarthWatts Green PSU, 80PLUS Bronze Certified (Dimensions: 200W x 420H x 420D mm)
• Genuine Microsoft® Windows 7® Professional 64-bit
• Logitech MK120 Desktop (Keyboard and Mouse)
• 24 Months Warranty (RTB)

$850.00 Without monitor.

Well you can use 3Po as a screen saver
Have R2D2 herding the RAM's
probe droids are good as well

Thanks guys, appreciate the help, might try the ram upgrade.
Appreciate the advice Rumpus but me and computers and changing OS is something I'm not too keen to try, might help but the laptop is also used by my wife and the kids at times.
OZ, will see what you've got going around tax time-am in no rush to upgrade ATM-really want to see if I can justify using the software on a regular basis.
Jack, i'v got the programs on here that get reguarly used and don't put stuff on here thats not needed but year there are q

Thanks guys, appreciate the help, might try the ram upgrade.
Appreciate the advice Rumpus but me and computers and changing OS is something I'm not too keen to try, might help but the laptop is also used by my wife and the kids at times.
OZ, will see what you've got going around tax time-am in no rush to upgrade ATM-really want to see if I can justify using the software on a regular basis.
Jack, i'v got the programs on here that get reguarly used and don't put stuff on here thats not needed but year there are q

Thanks guys, appreciate the help, might try the ram upgrade.
Appreciate the advice Rumpus but me and computers and changing OS is something I'm not too keen to try, might help but the laptop is also used by my wife and the kids at times.
OZ, will see what you've got going around tax time-am in no rush to upgrade ATM-really want to see if I can justify using the software on a regular basis.
Jack, i'v got the programs on here that get reguarly used and don't put stuff on here thats not needed but year there are quite a few programs loaded.

Have you defrag your laptop of late
ok maybe we make a deal as I have to get new digital antennas at 2 places plus an alarm system at the new place.

Can you do.

Why stop there oz

Ask for a new pony as well

nah have a thoroughbred instead.

Who you kidding JG, I want a couple of new donkeys to pull all the gear to OZmans place-can you supply for 2 chickens and a non-laying duck exchange!