Soldato
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Well aside from only being able to use the first ~3GB RAM, yeah
IT Support...
- Thread starter Freakbro
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You still need to figure in the time for installing the SSDs, reinstalling Windows, installing apps, data, configuration, etc.
That's not necessarily correct. 32 bit Windows has a per process limit of 2 GB and a total limit of 2 GB. 64 bit Windows can use the whole 4 GB straight off.
8Gb RAM on Windows 7 32-bit? Pointless, it won’t use anymore than it already is now. And I also don’t agree that SSDs are going to make much difference here. Spotify will be hammering that CPU into the floor. The other apps will as well. SSDs are great for disk access but I don’t see how that’s going to help in a situation where they’re using office applications and things like Spotify. How much disk access will be used whilst in Excel or Word? Hardly any. Sure, they might be running out of RAM but I’d say the most likely cause for the constant “not responding” is the CPU as the bottleneck. They’re only dual core CPUs from 2011. The architecture these days is pretty much useless when you start using most applications. Applications using .NET will chew through that CPU in no time!
One thing you can try in the interim is to disable visual themes in Windows. I’ve noticed recently on some Windows 7 PCs that they’ve been adversely affecting performance, causing similar issues to what you’ve described. It’s unlikely to completely resolve your issues, but it might make things more usable for the time being.
Soldato
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I disagree re: SSDs. Next to boot times, general windows environment is where they make the biggest (and the most important) difference. Ssds can breath new life in to tired old desktops.
Soldato
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our work machines have a minimum spec now of i3, 8gb ram, 250gb ssd. SSD has been a game changer, even for office machines. Never under estimate the speed it can install windows updates for example, or perform a full av scan.
It's not just, you don't need an ssd just for office use. Machines do a lot of background stuff on a network.
It's not just, you don't need an ssd just for office use. Machines do a lot of background stuff on a network.
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Current standard staff desktop i buy in here at the campus i run is an i5, 8gb ram, 256 gb ssd and a 23" monitor.
Circa £500 quid for the lot.
Basically any mods to these machines are not worth the money in parts, time or hassle with the only possible exception being ssds but even then you are not getting a magic bullet and the cost per box for labor in fitting and purchasing the drive is imho not worth it versus the actual machines spec.
Cheep machines are rubbish, i always say that and its almost always come back to bite folk in the ass who buy cheep stuff and later on find themselves limited.
Circa £500 quid for the lot.
Basically any mods to these machines are not worth the money in parts, time or hassle with the only possible exception being ssds but even then you are not getting a magic bullet and the cost per box for labor in fitting and purchasing the drive is imho not worth it versus the actual machines spec.
Cheep machines are rubbish, i always say that and its almost always come back to bite folk in the ass who buy cheep stuff and later on find themselves limited.
I've just checked and we've had them for 5 years not 2!
So I've had a chat to the manager and we're going to do a rolling replacement program and get some better machines.
So as above with the spec TheOracle just mentioned, should I look for an i3 or i5 with 8gb and an SSD and that will be good to last another few years?
Thanks, I found a guide to turn off some of the more intensive processes and it seems a little snappier.
So I've had a chat to the manager and we're going to do a rolling replacement program and get some better machines.
So as above with the spec TheOracle just mentioned, should I look for an i3 or i5 with 8gb and an SSD and that will be good to last another few years?
Thanks, I found a guide to turn off some of the more intensive processes and it seems a little snappier.
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2018.. looking for future proofing.
Do not get a dual core machine... simply do not.
i5 hyperthreaded all the way, 8gb and pref an ssd if you can run to it.
Do not get a dual core machine... simply do not.
i5 hyperthreaded all the way, 8gb and pref an ssd if you can run to it.
Fair enough regarding the SSDs, but my point was based around the fact that the OS still needs a complete reinstall (or someone has to image) and thus it'll be time spent and cost doing that as well. I still think that new PCs are the best solution in this scenario.
What I should have said earlier is that those CPUs were budget CPUs even when they released in 2011. In today's standards, they don't really fit anywhere anymore. They're pretty poor.
No problem. Definitely look at getting i5 quad cores for your next upgrade. They'll see you through for a good while and are capable of dealing with even the most intensive applications these days.
What I should have said earlier is that those CPUs were budget CPUs even when they released in 2011. In today's standards, they don't really fit anywhere anymore. They're pretty poor.
No problem. Definitely look at getting i5 quad cores for your next upgrade. They'll see you through for a good while and are capable of dealing with even the most intensive applications these days.
Soldato
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Which i5 has hyperthreading?
Agreed. Put one in my Dad's Core 2 Duo and he thinks it's a new PC...
Yup, try for an 8th gen quad core i3.
Kaby lake i5 has HT might be the refresh variant though.
Andi.
This really depends upon how the machines are used.
No desktop i5 has hyperthreading, it's a "feature" reserved for i7.
Mobile i5 dual cores are all hyperthreaded. The newer quads are not, again that's held back for the i7.
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Can I ask the manufacturer, or do you build yourself?
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Currently we are using HP for one of the unis i support and Dell for another.
But over the years they have flip flopped along with Lenovo being in the mix.
So i have a mix of boxes, all pretty much the same internals.
But over the years they have flip flopped along with Lenovo being in the mix.
So i have a mix of boxes, all pretty much the same internals.
Depends on whether this will upset the MSP or not - though, as they support you (and are really your slaves
) they shouldn't really refuse you any support, if you were to do the move yourself. Thing is, there are so many MSPs out there, if they try to throw their weight around, you could always dangle the carrot of leaving them for a competitor. Contract Ts&Cs permitting.Adding a device back onto the domain is just a case of entering your domain credentials (with rights to add to AD), picking a name, and giving it the domain name - then rebooting. If you are going to re-use the same hostname, you might want to delete the existing entry from AD before re-adding it; none of this should really impact the roaming profiles - though you could at least do a quick bit of research on that.
If you have a machine spare, you can at least give it a go yourself...