wapiti Loc: round rock, texas

My operating system is as follows:
Windows 7 64 bit SP1
Intel Core i7 CPU 920@2.67GHz
9.0 GB Ram
Nvidia Ge Force 310 graphics card.
OK, here is the problem. Last June, I purchased a Nikon D800, and was very concerned about my computers ability to function, effectively, with the large files of the D800.
It seems that my worst fears have been realized as my computer is now "hamstrung" in regard to speed of operation.
Can I add ram to this system? Will that expedite my operation, and are there other factors envolved which require attention?
Your assistance, as always, is greatly appreciated.

old man 88 Loc: Palmview, TX when not on road

You have to much running in the background.

Do a clean boot and see how fast it runs.

Earworms Loc: Sacramento, California

Overall you appear to have a fairly formidable computer, and adding more RAM might not make any difference. I'm going to suggest that your bottleneck is the USB connection. What level of USB does your computer possess?

Armadillo Loc: Ventura, CA

Bill,
Your operating system is fine.
Your CPU is okay, could have been a bit better, but okay for your use.
Your RAM is good, you could have several image files opened and working at the same time.
Your video card may be the bottleneck.

You did not note the manufacture of your computer.
If you purchased a Dell and had Dell configure the system for you, see if an upgraded Nvidia card is available for your system.

If you upgrade the card be sure to have plenty of video RAM on the card, and if you want real improvement upgrade to a card with dual DVI ports to drive twin monitors. The monitors should be matched in type, model, and come with monitor calibration.

Michael G

Earworms Loc: Sacramento, California

Darn double post!

Erik_H Loc: Denham Springs, Louisiana

I'm curious how you ended up with 9 GB of ram. Ram is usually installed in even numbered increments. Anyway, whether or not you can upgrade your system memory depends on the hardware you're using. What brand and model computer are you running? Windows 7 Home Premium can utilize up to 16 GB ram, for more you would need to upgrade to Win 7 Professional or higher, if your motherboard supports it.

Kuzano

9.0 Gb of RAM is a very odd configuration for RAM, and I question that.

Is this a PC clone, home or custom build, or a brand name computer? What editing program are you using? Do you clean out the routine areas of clutter that slow a computer down?

Temp files are most often found culprit for slow operation and there are various ways to get to them and clean them out. The Disk Cleanup tool built into Windows is flawed and often misses the "the temp files"

I teach a class I call Cleanup/Speedup your computer. There are some chores in that class that are routinely done as a result of that class that "hone" performance.

The chores include:

Cleaning up TEMP files weekly
Changing performance characteristics of the graphics of windows itself to (simplifying the look of the menus, which DO impede performance)
Turning OFF file indexing on the hard drive (a proven and recommended practice)
Using an SSD hard drive for Operating System and applications, and a second hard drive, preferably on and internal interface-not external drive (conventional SATA for data and other). Not possible on most laptops.

NOTE: I recently found that a second hard drive can be added to laptops if the CD/DVD optical disk is SATA. They make a second bay type SATA interface that replaces the optical disk with a unit that incorporates a laptop hard drive into the computer, within the unit itself and uses the SATA connector for the optical disk.

As far as configuration changes in your editing software, I can't help you with that, but I read often here that there are some specific options in setting up Photoshop or Adobe CC for optimal operation.

I use a program called Ccleaner which does a number of those cleanup chores, after reconfiguring GUI performance (simpler screens in Windows, File indexing and such.

BE VERY CAREFUL downloading Ccleaner. The most safe download site is PIRIFORM.COM, and even it wants to add some GOOGLE crap during the install. Watch closely for that. The best of Ccleaner is that it does empty the TEMP files properly, and it cleans up all the cookies and temporary internet cache files (different from the TEMP files) properly.

It's become hazardous to download anything from the vast number of downoad sites on the internet. Booby traps abound, so remember what I said about Ccleaner and Piriform. And when downloading other software, download only from exact publisher sites of the software program. Even CNET which has been safe for years is compromised with spyware.

I also use the free version of Ccleaner and I avoid the "nags" for update or upgrade to the paid version. The free version does all I need to do, and has for five years.

Also, clean up spyware which is very likely on yours (everybodys) computer.

I use only ONE software for that, and I use the paid version.

That software is Malwarebytes and download it ONLY from Malwarebytes.Org.

I am very puzzled by the 9 Gb RAM still. Where are you getting that number from. It should be 4, 8,or 16 (doubles) depending on the capacity of your mother board.

More info needed on that.

The proper place to review that is to left click on Start, right click once on my computer or computer, and on the context menu left click once on Properties.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Bill, I would up the ram to 16 gigs and I suspect your video
card might also be a problem, I would go with a video card
with at least 3 gigs of ram on it. Do this and it will really
perk up your computer.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

When that happens to me, it's always the computer's fault. :D

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

It's always the computer's fault, by default.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Where is the slowdown? It will take longer to import large files, but after they're on the computer, they won't slow it down. It will take LR (and others) longer to process larger files, but that can be cured with a memory upgrade, say to 16GB or more.

As someone said, if you have a lot going on in the background, that will slow things down, but you have the same things running as always, right?

Earworms Loc: Sacramento, California

Video card has nothing to do with transferring files back and forth.

ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

You are right, but it has to get the video out to the monitor
and believe me that can slow it down a lot. I am a retired
computer tech, I think I know a little bit about it.

Haydon

If you want to remove the bottleneck, install a SSD hard drive. Having 16 gigabyte of memory would also help you.

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

A slowdown of a computer is quite often the result of programs running in the background that you are unaware of. These use up resources. To see, and control, what is starting up when you start your computer, click on "Start", then "Run". On the command line type in these 8 letters: msconfig (all lower case). Click OK and a page will come up with a number of tabs. On the right will be "Startup". Click on that and you will get a list of startup programs, the vast majority of which will be unnecessary. You are going to be surprised at how many there will be. You can shut down any of them, although ones like windows explorer, mouse configuration, video card, etc, should be left alone. If you are not sure then ask questions. Shutting down these startup programs does not disable the program. It just means that when you go to use one of them you have to wait a few extra seconds for it to start at that time, instead of being already running. You will have to do a restart and a message will appear when you do. Just check the "Don't show Again" box. If you decide to shut down programs do one or two at a time to make it easier to undo if you have to. BTW, any of the Norton virus programs are resource hogs and will slow your computer worse then some viruses! You probably have scans running in the background that you don't realize.