Hard drive...soft RAM

[blind34_1]

Originally posted by GT40FIED
I was wondering where you were, Aaron. Yeah...after the reformat I scan using 3 programs (Adaware Personal SE, Xoftspy, and Spybot S&D v1.3) usually once a day. I also do a full system check at least once a week with Norton AV. Aside from random cookies, no real spyware as of yet. I think the big problem is that I always try to multi-task the shit out of my computer. I'll run a program like TMPGenc while using Realplayer, IE, and probably Outlook all at once. Slows shit to almost a crawl...especially when running TMPGenc. Maybe I'll go with a WD 160GB HDD instead of the 200GB is the 200s have problems. I don't need a TON of extra space...just enough to keep my movies (I usually have 5-10 at any given time. The problem is that most of the places you see good prices for HDDs like CDW or Newegg sell OEM units...which I imagine come without instructions. I will definitely need instructions once the thing is in. I can install it...but i don't know how to properly set it up. Bollocks to CDW and Newegg.

Oh goodness! yeah, that's your problem! If you're doing video encoding, DO NOT try to do anything else. Just start it up and go do something else (I play my PS2)

As a rule, whenever you are ripping, encoding, or burning anything, close anything that is running, eliminate as many background tasks as possible, and for the love of god, stop using RealPlayer!

Seriously, in my opinion RealPlayer has got to be the worst thing ever to be running. It goes comfortably under my "Bad Software" list, right next to MusicMatch Jukebox, any Creative Software, any HP software, and AOL AIM. It's horrible.

That, combined with video encoding, and trying to check email using Outlook on a machine with too little RAM...I'm surprised you haven't shot yourself yet.

Go with two 512Mb. sticks, to bring it up to 1Gb. You'll thank yourself. I'm running a gig of mushkin3200 with a 3ghz intel, and I can rip and encode VERY smoothly. Your processor is well up to the task, but your bottleneck is having virtually no RAM.

And like I said, your onboard video isn't helping things.

And also, if you are doing video work, just get a 250gb HDD. You'll thank yourself again. I've got a 160gb and a 120gb and I'm wondering where all my space went (probably to the raw video object files taking up 65gb).

Wait for the BestBuy and CircuitCity ads to come out on Sunday, as there is almost always a great rebate deal. They sell the full retail box, which comes with a huge poster that shows how to install it. I remember seeing a 250gb western digital going for 160$. That's a heck of a deal.