SLF.
I have a system that needs pc100 but its getting increasingly difficult to get a hold of as everywhere I ask in Glasgow or Edinburgh says its now old hat !.
Generic PC133 memory should do the trick. The faster gate speed will just mean that the memory will be waiting for the m/b to catch up. I've used this on a few 100MHz boards with no problems. Failing that
www.scan.co.uk They are one of the localish firms I use for parts.
Binoculars.
Now I'm sure the computer magazines with their performance measuring equipment could make a mockery of my argument, but in the long run, does it matter whether your search takes one second or three seconds?
The time difference doesn't matter as we would not realistically notice it.
As regards the Magazines...... They publish and promote what they want you to hear, see and buy. It looks good as a headline and helps to sell more copies. When you look at them they are only like the daily red tops - lacking in editorial and crammed with adverts.
Fast Find. First came across this on a friends pc that would not scandisk or defrag. FF continually writing to the disk was the cause.
The Office Toolbar, as Tinstaafl notes, is another drain on cpu time.
I only go to the lengths I do with this machine due to some of the work I do with it. When I built this, the old one had developed a m/b fault and blew the cpu, it was a top spec unit but 12 months later I bought an 'Entry level built unit' with the same spec for £265 for my wife so that she can do her clients accounts and payroll. Cheaper to buy it than build it. Very annoying.
I only replace a system when I am forced to. Examples being m/b or cpu failure and the needs of a -new- required software package. The old units that are still working are given to friends/relatives or put to other work. I still have 1 unit on data analysis for SETI and 1 on Computational Chemistry doing LigandFit with Smallpox and Cancer proteins. It's a good cause and well worth 20p per week in electricity.