The Dell site shows your computer with 512 megs of RAM, perhaps that is an issue. Part of that, perhaps as much as 128 megs is used by the onboard graphics card How often to you reboot the computer? Perhaps a couple of your games are not closing properly and retaining some of the memory.

Have you upgraded to Service Pack 3 for XP? Have you ever visited the Dell site linked below for newer drivers for this computer?

If you have never done it before it might be worth saving all your personal data and programs and returning the computer to factory defaults with the Dell recovery program you got with the computer. Remember this is a drastic step and it may take you a few days to get everything back to your liking. The basic computer will work better but you then need all the updates. SP3 would need to be downloaded and installed and there have now been over 100 updates and patches since SP3 arrived on the scene.

Here is a link that might be useful: Dell driver download site

Has the case ever been opened to have the dust blown out? Maybe the video card is overheating. Does the system unit sit on a desk or on the floor? If you do take the cover off, you should take a close look at the motherboard for anything obvious-anything singed-loose-capacitors leaking. Does it make any unusual noise?

If you are running with only the 512MB of original RAM, I feel very confident that this is at least part of your problem. Owbist's suggestions are good. The reload of the OS is a drastic step and one I'd take only after trying the other suggestions. However, doing that will make a world of difference for you.

Thanks, all. You've given me food for thought and I appreciate it. Several years ago I put in a 1.2gb RAM card. I did service pack3 long ago.

My computer is on a desk. It's been a good while since I blew out the inside and thanks to you I'll get to that today. I turn it on around 8AM and off around 7PM. Overall I use the computer less than four hours a day.

On booting up, or sometimes when moving between applications, or when my AV program is running, or when it or MS is updating I hear a very, very faint continuous noise. It's hard to discribe. Maybe like a very faint sound of hearing water pouring down a drain pipe.

A few years ago I tried updating with new Dell drivers but got screwed up and quit. I'll keep what you said in mind. Just the thought of redoing an OS scares me. I'd probably just get a new computer. Now, where did I put that air cannister. Thanks again, Gene

that noise could be a fan kicking in, the pc has many fans in it and some have special ones that kick in when more tasks are being done so as to keep it cooler when tasked.

If you do not hear the sound anytime the hard drive is working then I would not think it is a hard drive noise.

when you added your monitor did you make sure you set the resolution to the specs for that particular monitor? That can cause weird things to happen on a monitor if it is not set properly.

Hello. I now feel a little better about my computer. I didn't even think of a special fan noise. I don't always hear a noise when doing things like switching between programs. It's been longer than I thought for opening the case. Forced air stirred up more than expected. I'm on my second system restore in three weeks. When doing so I guess all of us tend to wait for the other shoe to drop. Thanks again. Gene