Acer Aspire ES1-431-C9D6 14" Laptop - Upgrade Advice

Tafe on 05/07/2019 - 17:54
Last edited 05/07/2019 - 18:03

Hi All, I purchased this a while back for browsing and basic spreadsheet work.

I'm finding it almost unusable. Painfully slow/laggy.

I don't think it's user error - the only thing I've installed are Chrome/Opera browsers. I can have only application and one tab open and it's the same.

Did a clean out of any start up items and initial 'bloatware' too.

Is this just for a cheap computer these days?

Could it be a case of "chuck an SSD in it"? And if that will help is there something here that I could buy?

Computing

Comments

  • Nutrino on 05/07/2019 - 18:12
    +1

    8gb at least, ssd will boost performace. 120gb will do.

  • theHMASfriendship on 05/07/2019 - 18:40
    +1

    It's also a potato of a processor, but an SSD will help things and they are cheap at the moment.

  • Clear on 06/07/2019 - 00:06
    -1

    For upgrades it's normally best to start with an SSD to improve performance. I started using this oldie with a weaker CPU that I at the time upgraded with an SSD and it's definitely fast.

  • mbck on 06/07/2019 - 00:44

    Cpu…

  • Tafe on 06/07/2019 - 07:43

    Noob alert but once the computer cover is off I'm pretty illiterate. I can't upgrade the CPU can I? Whereas SSD I can just swap it in?

    • Clear on 06/07/2019 - 11:33

      That's correct no upgrading of the CPU. SSD would be a swap but you'll need to clone Windows onto it or reinstall.

  • Tafe on 07/07/2019 - 07:28

    Is this

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/468655

    appropriate?

    • dcep on 07/07/2019 - 15:13
      +1

      Yes, if you need that 480gb. Total $75 shipped if you don't have ebay Plus membership.
      Else you're better off getting 240gb BX500 from your local umart, pick it up for $35 now.
      So check your current HDD usage, how many space left from that 500gb HDD.
      It's the lowest end of cheapest SSD but does the job for replacing HDD.

      This guide below might helps,
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNdZwTnetYU

      You can try this 1st before upgrading.
      I assume you've upgraded your win8.1 to win10 ?

      Right click "This PC"
      Go to "Properties"
      Go to "Advanced System Settings"
      On Advanced tab, click "Settings" under the Performance.
      Click "Advanced" tab at top
      Click "Change" under the Virtual Memory
      Check there should be only 1 drive C: already pre-selected
      Click "Custom Size"
      Click "No paging file"
      Click "Set" Click "OK" or "Apply" whatever.
      Restart your laptop.

      It should startup faster. And feels smoother on desktop/app.
      This will work fine if you don't open too many things at once. Use Opera if it uses less memory than Chrome and close them after use.
      Also reschedule windows update download/install only when you're not using your laptop to make sure it's not hogging on background.

      If you get system/program crash, or got error message "System running out of memory"
      Then no choice but to revert everything back to before by following the same steps above and choose "System managed size" or whatever custom size that you had before on "Initial"/"Max" size.

      Then go pick up the SSD from your local Umart store. https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/468830
      You also need a cheapass USB 2.5" HDD case for the new SSD to clone over your current HDD using free software like Macrium.

      • Tafe on 07/07/2019 - 16:25

        Thank you, I will give all of this a go - I'm very appreciative.

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