I had a Toshiba notebook with 8 GIG RAM crash, so purchased a replacement Toshiba and it has 6 GIG RAM. The replacement notebook is running a CORE i5 processor (only know this because sticker is on the case).

Although I only run Microsoft office, adobe, and internet browsers, the new notebook often has delays because the hard drive is often running. The hard drive is 70% empty, and the hard drive cache is running as large as the operating system recommends.

Would upgrading from 6 GIG to 8 GIG RAM make a big difference? I am running 64 bit Windows 7. I moved the RAM over from the old notebook, it fit but the system would not boot with it. Replacement RAM is around $80.

It wouldn't be a big difference unless you use applications that are memory hogs (like Minecraft, Photoshop, almost anything java). Now if you really want to see a speed boost, replace the hard drive. I can almost guarantee you that it came with a hard drive spinning at 5400RPM. Get a 7200RPM HDD, or a SSD if you really want to go fast, and the difference will be night and day. 5400RPM drives just plain suck.

Check to see how many processes are running in the task manager. Often times a slow running computer is more related to all the crappage running in the background.

Step away from the ****.


All kidding aside. More memory is always better. But I think you might be better off checking your msconfig/startup and see what crap is starting when windows starts. You can deselect crap you don't need or want. Then go in and uninstall stuff. Sometimes old printer programs are left behind clogging crap up.

Like Brian said, faster HDD is also good. SSD FTW!

Wanted to give a update. A few weeks ago I purchased a 250 gig solid state hard drive and replaced the 500 gig factory hard drive. Also loaded on a fresh copy of Windows 7.

The notebook runs flawlessly- no speed issues whatsoever. I was waiting five plus minutes to access some web pages prior to the drive replacement.

Not sure if it was a bad drive that would not fail, corrupt windows 7- but I am sold on the quickness of a solid state hard drive. Note prior to replacing the drive I purchased Norton Utilities and other utilities trying to find a problem, defrag, every program said everything was good.

It could have been failing, but today'* computers will let you know via SMART system that your drive is failing. It could have simply been a factor that you reinstalled a fresh copy of Win7.