I did a search on "CPU family 15 Model 79 Stepping 2" and this is what I found. http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/AMD-Sempron%2064%203400%2B%20-%20SDA3400IAA3CN%20%28SDA3400CNBOX%29.html And here is the benchmark I found http://www.cpubenchmark.net/cpu.php?cpu=AMD+Sempron+3400%2B I would say at least in part the cause of your computer being slow is the CPU. I'd be interested to hear if more RAM makes a difference. Of course RAM might effect performance if you are doing something that requires a lot of RAM. I assume more RAM will effect compile speed. This is a testament to Linux breathing life into old iron. On 2014-10-09 14:03, Michael Havens wrote: > bmike1@C521 ~ $ lscpu > Architecture:          x86_64 > CPU op-mode(s):        32-bit, 64-bit > Byte Order:            Little Endian > CPU(s):                1 > On-line CPU(s) list:   0 > Thread(s) per core:    1 > Core(s) per socket:    1 > Socket(s):             1 > NUMA node(s):          1 > Vendor ID:             AuthenticAMD > CPU family:            15 > Model:                 79 > Stepping:              2 > CPU MHz:               1000.000 > BogoMIPS:              2004.24 > Virtualization:        AMD-V > L1d cache:             64K > L1i cache:             64K > L2 cache:              512K > NUMA node0 CPU(s):     0 > > :-)~MIKE~(-: > > On Thu, Oct 9, 2014 at 10:04 AM, wrote: > >> what CPU does that box have? >> >> On 2014-10-09 09:36, Mark Phillips wrote: >> Michael, >> >> It seems the max memory is 4GB for that system - 4 banks of 1 GB >> sticks. >> RAM memory Capacity - 4 GB >> Memory Type - DDR2 SDRAM - DIMM 240-pin >> Data Integrity Check - Non-ECC >> Speed - 667 MHz ( PC2-5300 ) >> Features - Dual rank , unbuffered >> >> You already have 2 1GB sticks in the machines - what speed are >> they? >> You should match the speed for all four sticks. >> >> The second set you mentioned are only 533 MHz, whereas your bus is >> 667 >> MHz. If your system is slow, get the fastest memory you can afford. >> >> Mark >> >> On Wed, Oct 8, 2014 at 1:51 PM, Carruth, Rusty >> wrote: >> >> Yes, 1024 is one gig, but often some memory is stolen by the >> motherboard – for example if you have an on-board graphics card >> that uses main memory for its RAM. >> >>   >> >> Personally, if you can afford it and the 4G is less than 2x the 2G >> I’d get 4G – but if you could find 2x2G sticks then you could >> have 6G total – not bad IMHO. >> >>   >> >>   >> >> FROM: plug-discuss-bounces@lists.phxlinux.org >> [mailto:plug-discuss-bounces@lists.phxlinux.org] ON BEHALF OF >> Michael Havens >> SENT: Wednesday, October 08, 2014 1:43 PM >> TO: PLUG >> SUBJECT: memory >> >>   >> >> I know this is a stupid question but... >> >>   >> >> I got a Dell dimension c521. It is slow so I figure I should add >> memory. There are 4 memory slots with 2 being used. How much memory >> is that? Well, the cards that are in there say it they are  two >> cards with 1024 mb apiece.  'free -h' reports >> >>   >> >> free -h >> >>                    total       used       free   >>   >>        shared    buffers   cached >> >> Mem:          1.9G       1.4G       489M        18M >>        59M       535M >> >>   >> >> isn't 1024 one gig? Where is the rest? >> >>   >> >> SHould I buy this? >> >>   >> >> NEW 4GB 4X1GB DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHZ RAM MEMORY FOR DELL DIMENSION >> C521 [1] >> >>   >> >> or should I get this? >> >>   >> >> 2GB (2X1GB) RAM MEMORY CMS COMPATIBLE WITH DELL DIMENSION C521 >> DESKTOP [2] >> >> :-)~MIKE~(-: >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss [1] [3] >> >> Links: >> ------ >> [1] >> > http://www.amazon.com/4x1GB-PC2-5300-667MHz-Memory-Dimension/dp/B00KFND9SC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412798813&sr=1-1&keywords=dimension+c521+memory >> [2] >> [2] >> > http://www.amazon.com/Compatible-Dell-Dimension-C521-Desktop/dp/B00BL30RZS/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412798813&sr=1-3&keywords=dimension+c521+memory >> [3] >> [3] http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss [1] >> >> --------------------------------------------------- >> PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org >> To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: >> http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss [1] > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss [1] > > > Links: > ------ > [1] http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss > [2] > http://www.amazon.com/4x1GB-PC2-5300-667MHz-Memory-Dimension/dp/B00KFND9SC/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412798813&sr=1-1&keywords=dimension+c521+memory > [3] > http://www.amazon.com/Compatible-Dell-Dimension-C521-Desktop/dp/B00BL30RZS/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1412798813&sr=1-3&keywords=dimension+c521+memory > > --------------------------------------------------- > PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org > To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: > http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss --------------------------------------------------- PLUG-discuss mailing list - PLUG-discuss@lists.phxlinux.org To subscribe, unsubscribe, or to change your mail settings: http://lists.phxlinux.org/mailman/listinfo/plug-discuss