Web Browsers and System Resources

[Synyster Shadows]

Hey everyone. So recently, as I browse the web using Firefox, I've noticed that my RAM usage spikes. I have 2 GB of RAM, but only 1.73 GB are usable (my dad and I suspect the chip might be slightly damaged), and it uses like 1.2-1.3 GB of RAM. I usually only have one, maybe two, tabs open at once and my PC still struggles. Pages aren't loading quickly, it might freeze, lag when I type, etc. Is there a good browser that uses both low RAM and CPU or do I just need more RAM? I'm currently using IE10 and the memory usage is good, but it takes a lot of CPU when loading pages (that's the problem with that; FF uses low CPU, unless I'm listening to music on YouTube). Thanks in advance, everyone.

[Silicate Wielder]

It may not necessarily be your ram, it could also be your graphics, I think it's probably on-board. And if it is the case that your graphics card is on board your probably needing a new laptop.

there may have been a recent update for Firefox too that has caused these lag spikes, do other applications lag when you run them without Firefox open? check your system processes for anything out of the norm.

[Synyster Shadows]

I do have an onboard graphics card, but it's not a laptop. It's one of those really compact desktops (I forget what they're called), if that makes any difference. It's an Acer Revo 70.

No, lag only occurs when FF is open, unless I'm multitasking with several resource-intensive programs open at once (not often)

[Typhlosion]

Go with chrome :P

Check if you have any rescource-intensive add-ons or extensions that run with FFox and uninstall them. If that fails, try to reinstall it. Also check hardware acceleration off if it's on.

[Synyster Shadows]

Also check hardware acceleration off if it's on.

How do I check the hardware acceleration?

[Ammyneac]

How do I check the hardware acceleration?

For IE go to the gear > preferences > advanced > Unbox the first one

Try if that works

[TheMatrix]

I've found Opera to be very resource-friendly and better overall. in comparison to Firefox(but on Windows only).

The fact that only 1.73GB are usable is not surprising, per se, see this explanation (http://superuser.com/a/54072) for more details.

[Synyster Shadows]

I've found Opera to be very resource-friendly and better overall. in comparison to Firefox(but on Windows only).

The fact that only 1.73GB are usable is not surprising, per se, see this explanation (http://superuser.com/a/54072) for more details.

Ok I'll try Opera. Would adding that second RAM chip also help?

[CosmicNoodle]

Try switching between a few different browsers to find the least taxing one, and you said it lagged when you did a lot of multitasking. From the PC name I managed to find the CPU model, its the AMD E-450, correct?. Its an APU, (an APU is both a CPU and a graphics chip in one) but it's a very poor processor. If it's problems with multi tasking your having, it may very well be from that. After all, its got a low clock speed, and its only dual core. It cant handle much at once.

Adding more RAM is out of the question unfortunately my friend, your PC has a max of 2GB of ram, and both your slots are full anyway, they will have two 1GB sticks.
And only 1.7GB of usable Ram may be usable because some is reserved for the OS to stop it crashing. But the RAM is DDR3 anyway meaning that it is likely too be 1333MHz(Speed), fairly fast and 2GB is plenty for web browsing I think.

Unfortunately, if my suspicions are correct, you cant change out that APU as its soldered straight onto the Motherboard I think.

This shows how powerful your APU is, it is only just better than a mobile one...: http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu_lookup.php?cpu=AMD+E-450+APU[/URL]

The only other upgrades I can think of would be too replace the HDD with an SSD, that would mean also reinstalling your OS (Pain in the arse), or too use faster RAM such as 1600MHz as that may deliver some small speed increase. But apart from that there is not much you can do :(

Whilst not much can be said about performance from the R70, it still looks freaking badass :)

Sources: Long term PC builder, teck geek, and general nerd.