The Question and Answer Board

[dukeb]

If you are looking to extend the life of the computer, I would do two things:

1) Bump up the memory. 4GB is not enough to run most modern versions of Windows, especially if you have multiple tabs open and/or run multiple programs. Memory is dirt cheap and is a do-it-yourself job. Popping in one or two new modules takes about 30 seconds. You want to be sure to get the correct type of memory. Desktops generally take SDRAM (vs SODIMM that are used in laptops) but you also need to be sure you get the right speed. It looks like DDR3 will work with the E8400 processor but I suggest you order from a merchant where you can return the memory if it turns out not to be compatible. Don't force the modules in. If they are the wrong kind they won't fit.

2) If you have a spinning hard drive now, consider replacing it with a solid state drive. Also very inexpensive these days and can make all the difference in the world. I've seen systems that took 10 minutes to boot up with a HDD take about 30 seconds with an SSD. This may be a job you will want done by someone who knows the ins and outs of PCs. You will probably want to "clone" the existing drive to the SSD. This can be a bit tricky and frustrating if you've never done it before.

Good luck.