Will Upgrading Memory (>8GB) or GPU Substantially Improve Chrome Performance?

smilejack1

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I am a habitual opener of multiple Chrome Windows and tabs, and am temperamentally incapable of stopping. I use the Great Suspender in an attempt to limit the damage, but still grow frustrated when my browser slows to a standstill. This is especially true when I quickly open multiple pages with many already open; thereby causing page loading times to become painfully slow, and often causing all the pages in that window to crash.

I have Googled and implemented any number of settings and flag changes, have uninstalled all extensions I can live without (I still have too many, but I can't help myself), and have even tried cussing at it (and I cuss wit great dexterity), but am still unsatisfied.

See below various system hardware and software specs which I believe may be relevant. Will upgrading my memory and/or GPU, or any other hardware upgrades/software tweaks/hexes and spells, substantially improve my performance? Or am I doomed to suffer the consequences of my own excesses? All advice is greatly appreciated.

Win 10 Home Premium x64
P8B75-M MoBo (using on-board graphics)
Core i5-2400 3.10 GHz
Vengeance DDR3 8GB 1600MHz
Newest Version of Chrome
AT&T 45MBPS Internet
Pace 5268AC Router
Profanity supplied by BA, English Lit, Univ of Dallas, 2005
 
Solution
This thinks will surely increase your "browsing" performance:
1. A newer CPU with faster clock speeds:
https://www.amazon.com/Intel-BX80677I37300-Core-Desktop-Processors/dp/B01N59LL8R/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484080052&sr=8-1&keywords=i3+7300
2. DDR4 memory (16 GB):
https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-2133MHz-PC4-17000-Memory/dp/B0123ZCD36/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1484080102&sr=8-11&keywords=corsair+ddr4+16gb
3. Faster internet maybe? :)
4. Using another browser like Firefox. Google Chrome is know for eating a lot of RAM.

Now I don't know your budget but 300$ would be enough for all things that I listed :)

ZaneDragon

Commendable
Jan 4, 2017
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This thinks will surely increase your "browsing" performance:
1. A newer CPU with faster clock speeds:
https://www.amazon.com/Intel-BX80677I37300-Core-Desktop-Processors/dp/B01N59LL8R/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484080052&sr=8-1&keywords=i3+7300
2. DDR4 memory (16 GB):
https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Vengeance-2133MHz-PC4-17000-Memory/dp/B0123ZCD36/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1484080102&sr=8-11&keywords=corsair+ddr4+16gb
3. Faster internet maybe? :)
4. Using another browser like Firefox. Google Chrome is know for eating a lot of RAM.

Now I don't know your budget but 300$ would be enough for all things that I listed :)
 
Solution

smilejack1

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SSD. OCZ Vertex 3.
 

SgtScream

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What's your memory utilization?

 

smilejack1

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Thanks for the input, ZaneDragon. Unfortunately, faster Internet isn't possible right now, and I'm committed to Chrome despite its complexities, as I find it superior to FF, which I used for many years. And Google suggests that my mobo isn't compatible with DDR4, and doesn't have the socket which the CPU you suggested requires (although if someone smarter than me wants to check my math, I would appreciate it).

But I can increase my DDR3 to 16GB, ad the reason my primary question above is about memory is because I am aware that Chrome is a memory hog, and what's more, I've gotten the idea that browsing in general is more RAM-intensive than CPU-intensive.

If I am correct in that - please tell me if I am not - than it would seem that I can get the most bang for my upgrade buck by adding more memory. What's more, my general computer usage strikes me as being more RAM-intensive (lots of multi-tasking - many open windows, lots of utilities running in the background) than CPU-intensive (I don't game or do much video-editing/3D), which also suggests that memory is the place to start (or so it seems to me).

It takes the Jaws of Life to get my wallet open; I would prefer to upgrade components one at a time, beginning with the component most likely to be impactful, and moving on to other components only if the first upgrade does not deliver adequate results. So, to the point: Will adding memory be the most likely to improve my Chrome experience, and will the improvement be likely to justify the cost?

 

smilejack1

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Just shy of 3300MB available with 14 tabs open in 3 Chrome windows.

 

ZaneDragon

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Jan 4, 2017
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Yes of course you'll have to upgrade your board if yoi dedice to go for a new CPU and DDR4 memory.
You are also right about RAM being more important then CPU
so you can try and add more RAM but I think that also speed of the RAM is important. DDR3 memory normaly runs at 1666Hz while DDR4 runs at 2133Hz. That's 25% increase which means better performance.
Please if someone else could confirm this :)