5 replies to this topic

[DAVID E]

I have some post processing software Called Capture NX2 that converts RAW files from the camera in order to be able to process and fix digital files after the fact. The problem is whenever I click on an adjustment I want to make like Sharpen, change contrast or brightness or delete an object in the foreground, or even enlarge the photo with the software in order to see the effect of how I'm sharpening it, each move takes from 10-20 seconds and it should be nearly instantaneous. When enlarging from say 15 to 50% it takes about twenty seconds to see that enlargement and you can actually see the photo pixilating in the process.

My question is what's the problem with all this? I have about 44% of my HDD space left(an 80G WD drive) and 1g of RAM. I have a new 320G drive coming but haven't received it yet. Should I replace the two 512 sticks with two 1G sticks and if so, how will this affect the BIOS? I'm not sure the computer will even handle two 1G sticks. It's a Dell Dimension 455o and is about seven years old.

[dobhar]

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Should I replace the two 512 sticks with two 1G sticks

Nope...your PC is only designed for 1.0GB (2-512MB) max
- http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/syst...ecs.htm#1101572

However with that being said I also found the following article...Interesting read...
http://en.community.dell.com/wikis/desktop...gb-not-1gb.aspx

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My question is what's the problem with all this?

IMHO I don't think there is an issue...If the PC is 7 yrs old it probably does not have the oomph to handle the processing...it will run but at its own pace. Are any other programs running when you are running this program?

Looks like the requirements for the sofware are kinda high...

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Capture NX 2 System Requirements
Windows OS Pre-installed versions of 32-bit Windows Vista Home Basic/Home Premium/Business/Enterprise/Ultimate (Service Pack 1) editions or Windows XP Home or Professional (Service Pack 2) editions
Processor Pentium 4 or better
RAM (Memory) 768 MB minimum (1 GB or more recommended)
Hard-disk space 200 MB required for installation
Monitor resolution 1,024 x 768 pixels or higher (1,280 x 1,024 pixels or higher recommended) with 16-bit color or more (32-bit color recommended)

At work we have guys running Dell Precision 670's, P4 Dual 3.0GHz CPU, Dual Core, with 2.0GB RAM running CAD software and even with the power of this box some of the files they work on take minutes to render.

Now IMHO...I would not spend the money to upgrade a 7 yr old PC...I would save my money and buy a newer one. I recently bought an off lease Dell Optiplex 280 P4 2.8GHz with 1.5 GB RAM for $250.00 Cdn from a local store in my city...it even came with WinXP Pro pre-installed.

[DAVID E]

Yep, I just found that out about the memory...too bad. I guess the MOB and everything else would have to be replaced. About the only programs running at the time I'm trying to do the post processing work is Firefox and maybe I'll have my email minimized and that's about it.

I'll agree the program does require your soul to run and here's another potential problem - I also have another PP program loaded called Pain Shop Pro X. I don't have them running at the same time but do use them both if needed.

At work most of us have an old Optiplex with 1G of memory and we have AutoCad installed on all of them so we can check/fix problems with the electrical drawings the CAD tech work on once we check them for accuracy. I had another 512 stick installed about a year back as the system was beginning to freeze (like mine at home does occasionally) and it helped. It appears another system is in order with maybe a 500G HDD and about 4G of memory to do what I want it to with some reasonable speed and no freeze ups. Well, I guess seven years is not too bad for a computer. It still runs pretty good it's just since I've added all the digital photos and associated programs it's really caused it to work harder than it's probably capable.

One problem about upgrading a PC is that Vista is what you get these days pre-loaded and I don't want Vista. I do understand Dell will put XP Pro on a system if you want but, how long will MS continue to support it is another question.

[dobhar]

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One problem about upgrading a PC is that Vista is what you get these days pre-loaded and I don't want Vista. I do understand Dell will put XP Pro on a system if you want but, how long will MS continue to support it is another question.

Many of us do like Vista as much as we like XP.

You could dual boot Vista and XP so you would still have XP and be able to play with Vista. You could also keep your old PC with XP around for day to day stuff (e-mail, surfing internet, etc) and have your new PC for the heavy processing stuff. You have many, many options David. If I were in your position I would keep your old PC as a day to day\pic storage PC and buy a new PC with Vista or the new Mac you've been thinking of to run your heavy proggies on.

I have 7 (4 Laptop's and 3 PC's) units and each has their role...
* 1 - Dell XPS M1710 Laptop - Intel Centrino Duo 2.00GHz with 4GB RAM and 17" screen - Running Vista Ultimate SP1. This is my main Laptop that I use on a daily basis that I bought brand new from Dell.
* 1 - Dell Latitude D620 Laptop - Intel Core Duo 1.83 GHz with 2.0GB Ram and 14.1" Widescreen - Running WinXP SP3 - This is my secondary Laptop that I use daily...mainly upstairs (Vista Laptop is in my office downstairs) or outside when the weather gets nice http://www.smartestc...tyle_emoticons/default/tongue.gif I bought this off lease from Dell
* 1 - Dell Latitude D610 Laptop - Intel Pentium M 1.86 GHz with 1.0GB RAM and 14" screen - Running Linux Ubuntu 8.10 - Using to play with Linux. I bought this off lease from Dell
* 1 - Dell Inspiron Laptop - P4 Ghz with 768MB RAM and 15" screen - Running Windows XP SP2 - My first Laptop...it's role is now "For the kids"...when the nieces and nephews come over they use this. I bought this off lease from Dell
* 1 - Home built (by me) P4 2.0 GHz with 1.5GB Ram and 2 - 22" LCD Monitors - Running WinXP SP3 - My main day to day PC
* 1 - Dell Optiplex 280 PC - P4 2.8GHz with 1.5 GB RAM and 20" LCD Monitor - Running Ubuntu Linux 8.10 - My play box. I bought this off lease from local store
* 1 - Dell Optiplex 260 PC - P4 3.2 GHz with 1.0 GB Ram and 17" LCD Monitor - The wife's day to day PC. I bought this off lease from Dell

Yes, it seems I have a lot but each unit has it's role and all are used regularily. A pic of most of the hardware can be found here

[DAVID E]

I guess I've heard of many problems with Vista when it first came out and I don't know if those problems have been rectified to date. Plus, I'm sure there's a learning curve with it as well and i don't know how much longer it will hang around. I'd hate to buy something and it be defunct in a few years.

Just for the heck of it, I tallied up just how much space my digital pics are taking up on this large 80G drive I have and it's about 15g's of space. That's quite a bit for an 80G hard drive not to mention probably close to another gig for my post processing programs. I've got a new WD 320G drive laying around and I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it at this point. I could use it to transfer all those folders with the digital files in them (about 54 folders) and get back that 15-18G's that I lost and just use it to house digital pics only. That should give me some speed back.

I've been looking at two different computers. One is the iMac with 4G of Ram and a 500G drive. The other is the Dell XPS with the same size drive and memory.As you said, too many choices. I've gotten so burned out with the forever and never ending barrage of security updates from MS I had considered going with the mac. I've often wondered why I just couldn't delete some of the old updates from 2005 and 2006 or earlier to give some more space but I'm not sure about that. Either way, it will probably be quite the hassle to transfer programs I want to keep like my music files to a new computer. To date, I haven't had to deal with that.

That's quite an array of computers you have there, Kent!! And here my concern is but over one.

[DAVID E]

I found this interesting but I'm not sure what all he means but according to this guy you can add 2G of Ram to the Dimension 4500. I found it on a website while looking for the possibility of adding more memory yesterday. Someone had apparently asked the same question I was concerned about.

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Your Dell 4550 ABSOLUTELY WILL accept two 1Gb memory sticks, for a total of 2Gb.

You do not need a BIOS update.

When the PC was built, there weren't 1Gb memory DIMMS available, so the stated maximum capacity is 1Gb. However, I have had 2Gb installed in my Dell 4550 for a year, and it's recognized by either Windows XP or Linux (I dual boot).

Yet, this being said, you have to be careful. You need to install what's known as "Low Density" memory, which consists of 128Mx64 bit chips on the DIMMS.

So, you need to find: 184-pin DDR, Non-ECC, Non-Registered, LOW DENSITY PC-2700 RAM

DId I remember to say LOW DENSITY?

That link you posted was an incentive to at least try and I ordered two Kinsgston 1G sticks to see if it would help for the time being. I've updated the BIOS from A05 to A08 so, that should take care of that. Hopefully it will be a simple matter of just replacing the two 512 sticks with the 1G ones. I'll keep you updated. Thanks for the tips, Kent.