My older laptop is running slow please help

[AdamGrant82]

Over the last month or so my laptop has been slowing down a lot no clue what's going on it was fast but now it feels like I'm running a HDD not a SDD I checked the ram usage it's using around 40 to 66% while I'm online (Facebook, Youtube and other sites) I plan to buy a new laptop but I need this one to last for another 6 month at least should I buy more ram or would that be a waste since this laptop is already over 7 years with 20,000 hours as of last month. I know the ram is stock

Also would low voltage ram work on this laptop?  I am looking at this kit for $79  G.SKILL Ripjaws Series 16GB (2 x 8GB) DDR3  DDR3L 1600 (PC3L 12800) F3-1600C9D-16GRSL 1.35v

HP Probook 6465B

Windows 10 Pro
AMD A8 3510mx  (upgraded)
8GB 1600MHz Ram (Samsung)
Samsung 860 EVO 500GB SSD (boot drive)
Seagate FireCuda 1 TB SSHD (Data drive)

[Huffer]

No it uses 1.5 volt memory DDR3-1333. DDR3L-1600 would work but would run at 1333 mhz and 1.5 volts so you gain nothing other than DDR3L might be cheaper at this point. Seems like you either have some kind of malware on the system or a hardware issue. I assume you have run a full scan with something like ADW Cleaner so next step is to run a full UEFI diagnostic. 

If you don't have that installed on the laptop here is the download:

https://ftp.hp.com/pub/softpaq/sp65001-65500/sp65264.exe

This will let you tap esc as you power up then test all the components, focusing on HDD and memory. I would say avoid spending any money on that laptop and save it for the new machine you plan to buy soon. 

[AdamGrant82]

I do have a 16GB kit of DDR3 1600mhz ram but my laptop don't seem to like it, it seems to run slower but maybe that's just me  I never heard of the brand it's made by GB Micro  I seen a local store caries this brand so I checked it out and it shows all the brands it compatible with and HP is listed heck even Dell  is listed. it's 2 x 8GB sticks  at 1.5V  I tested that ram it's good  or I wonder if it's something else going on?  I'm running HP hardware diagnostics now then I have to test the ram as it don't seem it's included with the HP software. I did see one thing when checking the Samsung SSD with Samsung Magician software the drive used to show the drive status as excellent now it just changed about 3 weeks ago to "Good"  I shouldn't complain I don't think most newer laptops will last to reach the over 20,000 power on hours count.

[Huffer]

Agreed but this is not a consumer-grade laptop so a bit more robust. 

[AdamGrant82]

HP  software passed without problems  so I guess that means it's not the laptop the only thing left would be the ram I just checked the SSD with  SSDlife Pro it shows the SSD at 100% health  I tried to do a search on Google for  GB Micro and got next to nothing that's a shock I wonder if it's safe to use? Will test the ram next maybe I just need to do a fresh install of Windows 10 I do say this is a tuff built laptop it's not the fastest out there but it seems to be dependable I hope that don't change.

[Huffer]

I was going to suggest a clean install as a last resort. Test the RAM with memtest86. Just google it and find the download to make a bootable thumb drive. Run a couple cycles of the test and it will ferret out any problems with the memory.

[AdamGrant82]

I tested with Memtest86 and through Windows both passed so I gave up and put the 16GB kit back in and did a fresh install it's running a lot better now. My friend who gave me my laptop had the 16gb kit in when I got it he gave me the stock 8gb kit but he warned me he thinks it may have problems he just could never pin point the problem all tests passed but with it installed everything worked fine for a short time then slowed down messing up the Windows install even through the 16gb kit isn't as fast it never did that. Have you ever heard of bad ram doing this? You would get about 2 maybe 3 weeks before it got messed up with the stock ram. I have been working on computers since Windows XP and I never had ram do this unless the ram wasn't supported by the motherboard then I seen tons of weird problems.

[Huffer]

The only time I have seen something like this is with a bad motherboard with a bad capacitor. It's not the memory; otherwise memtest would catch it. The laptop is old with a lot of miles on it and not hard to understand it may have subtle troubles. The processor is actually not quite working right and over time corrupts the OS and then it slows down. That is why a clean install seems to help. 

[AdamGrant82]

I had to replace the CPU that was in this laptop it was a old A4 dual core and it was JUNK it maxed out all the time I didn't even have to do much going online was a pain it hit 100% just going on Youtube Facebook wasn't much better at 70 to 80% so I upgraded to the best one this laptop supports I know the cooling fan has also been replaced about  a few months before I got it and also the battery was replaced. I'm just worried about how much longer this laptop got cause it's on more then it's off it's only off at night when I'm sleeping. I'm still about 4 to 6 months away till I can buy a new one any suggestions on how to make the laptop last longer? I know the temps seem good it idles around 34C to 40C and never goes over 66C maxed out for the CPU I use my 40 inch tv for a monitor so the screen don't get used and it sits on my table never moved. I always make sure it's clean from dust and dirt from around the cooling vents and I always watch the temps from time to time I never had a problem there.

[Huffer]

You are on the right track. Keep it cool and keep it off as much as you can. Still, no way to prevent it from just dying one day.