I overlooked my RAM completely.
I overlooked my RAM completely.
I ignored your brief account, but here are some concerns I noticed. With only 4GB of RAM left after your 12GB setup, it’s unusual for performance to drop so much. The issues you mentioned—slow internet, sluggish apps, and drastically reduced game FPS—suggest a significant strain on your system. Low RAM definitely impacts performance, especially when running demanding applications or games. Your CPU speed is also affected, which aligns with the problems you’re experiencing. The download speeds you described are typical for older hardware under load. It’s clear your PC is struggling, and upgrading RAM would make a big difference. This experience has changed how I view the importance of memory in everyday computing.
If your computer struggles with heavy virtual memory use—particularly on a mechanical drive—it may experience performance problems. Consider switching to a lighter operating system like Lubuntu, which should improve everyday performance significantly.
There might be additional problems, but improving the limited RAM could assist, particularly if your typical tasks require more than 4GB before the system crashes. If you play games and handle multiple activities at once, consider upgrading to 16GB of RAM for better performance. This should help you run smoothly for a longer period.