X40: RAM vs CPU speed

[wjbmd48]

Hi All:

I have what might seem a silly question about X40 performance, namely, which is more critical for overall performance? CPU speed or memory? I.e., which should perform better: a 1.6 GHz/0.5G RAM unit or a 1.2GHz/1.5G RAM unit?

Bill

[Cigarguy]

Hard to say. That all depends on your usage pattern. Need something CPU intensive? Then the CPU is more important. Need something RAM intensive? Then RAM is more important. Ideally you want to max out both.

[Neil]

On an X40 the HDD speed will probably make more difference than either RAM or CPU as far as how it "feels". If either, or both, have the original equipment HDD, just be warned: they are extremely slow. I own (and use daily) two X40 that are spec'ed about like the two you're looking at, and they don't feel much different since I boot both from CF cards, but the 512MB RAM can run out pretty fast when several apps are open, and several web browser tabs are open at the same time.

[Temetka]

For those machines it's going to be in this order

1. Hard Disk
2. RAM
3. CPU

The hard disk on the X40/X41 series is just slow. So replacing the slow HD is a priority. However, I would still upgrade the RAM first. Why? It's cheaper. You can find a 1GB or 2GB DDR stick pretty much anywhere used for about $20. Then I would replace the HD with one of the alternatives as detailed elsewhere in on these forums. The CPU is the one thing you can't replace. So buy the fastest CPU specced X40 or X41 you can get your hands on. Then max out the RAM and if funds for an older machine allow it, replace the HD.

Good luck.