how do you know when you need more ram?

draiken · 10-31-2006, 10:40 PM

this computer im working at is slow as hell and i dont know whats wrong with it. I thought it might need more ram as it only has 256 right now...it has a 1.8ghz p4 cpu.

lynx6200 · 10-31-2006, 10:42 PM

512mb certainly woulnt hurt. Can you give us your total computer specs, and what kind of stuff you do with it? That can make a big difference.

draiken · 10-31-2006, 10:43 PM

1.8 ghz p4 with 256 ram and 30 gig hard drive. running xp. Is that what you need ?

**The_Other_One** · 10-31-2006, 10:49 PM

As lynx said, more certainlly wouldn't hurt anything. He probably wanted more specs, but that helps

A good way I tell people to see if they need more RAM is to watch how active the hard drive is. Not always the best method, but when you don't have enough RAM, your system uses a swap file, ore basically a portion of your hard drive as RAM. Your hard drive is MUCH slower than RAM, so this really slows a computer down. If you have around 1GB of RAM, you can disable the swap file(well, you could now, but you'll run out of RAM...and sometimes even 1G isn't enough...) But anyway, people usally see a HUGE increase in performace.

Just to clearify, you will not see things running faster as much as loading more quickly.

draiken · 10-31-2006, 10:53 PM

what other specs should I post? and would my pc really use a gig of ram all we do is spreadsheets and internet.

Emperor_nero · 10-31-2006, 10:54 PM

then you most likey have spyware or some other form of malware that is hoging resources.

draiken · 10-31-2006, 10:57 PM

Yeah i figured as much, what would be the best approch to rid my computer of these problems?

Nevakonaza · 10-31-2006, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Other_One

A good way I tell people to see if they need more RAM is to watch how active the hard drive is. Not always the best method, but when you don't have enough RAM, your system uses a swap file, ore basically a portion of your hard drive as RAM. Your hard drive is MUCH slower than RAM, so this really slows a computer down.

Yes my hard drive goes like crazy when loading games and stuff.

Thats why i need more ram and i have 512mb of ram at the moment so i would hate to immagine whats its like with you having 256Mb mate.

I say definatly get more ram.

draiken · 10-31-2006, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMD

Yes my hard drive goes like crazy when loading games and stuff.

Thats why i need more ram and i have 512mb of ram at the moment so i would hate to immagine whats its like with you having 256Mb mate.

I say definatly get more ram.

I agree but i dont need that much RAM when i am just using the computer for word processing and spreadsheets...

If there a application that is able to let me know if i need more RAM? If thats the case..

Impr3ssiv3 · 11-01-2006, 12:02 AM

u know u need more ram when u keep gettings "windows is low on virtual memory"

10-31-2006, 10:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
draiken Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 30	how do you know when you need more ram? this computer im working at is slow as hell and i dont know whats wrong with it. I thought it might need more ram as it only has 256 right now...it has a 1.8ghz p4 cpu.

10-31-2006, 10:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
lynx6200 Platinum Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: NC Age: 26 Posts: 787	512mb certainly woulnt hurt. Can you give us your total computer specs, and what kind of stuff you do with it? That can make a big difference. __________________ [size=2][size=1][color=DarkGreen][color=Navy] CoolerMaster Case Asus A8N SLI- Deluxe AMD athlon 64 3400+ 1GB Ultra DDR ram XFX 7600 GT 256mb videe 230GB SATA HD Combo drive

10-31-2006, 10:49 PM	#4 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	As lynx said, more certainlly wouldn't hurt anything. He probably wanted more specs, but that helps A good way I tell people to see if they need more RAM is to watch how active the hard drive is. Not always the best method, but when you don't have enough RAM, your system uses a swap file, ore basically a portion of your hard drive as RAM. Your hard drive is MUCH slower than RAM, so this really slows a computer down. If you have around 1GB of RAM, you can disable the swap file(well, you could now, but you'll run out of RAM...and sometimes even 1G isn't enough...) But anyway, people usally see a HUGE increase in performace. Just to clearify, you will not see things running faster as much as loading more quickly. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

10-31-2006, 10:54 PM	#6 (permalink)
Emperor_nero Diamond Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: 127.0.0.1 Posts: 2,313	then you most likey have spyware or some other form of malware that is hoging resources. __________________ I play Rugby, and no its not like it's sissy cousin with the pads.

11-01-2006, 12:02 AM	#10 (permalink)
Impr3ssiv3 Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 1,231	u know u need more ram when u keep gettings "windows is low on virtual memory" __________________ The Shit: Antec P180B ASUS M2N-SLI Deluxe AM2 nForce 570 AMD X2 4200+ AM2 @ 2.42 CORSAIR XMS2 DDR2 800 2X1GB eVGA 256MB 7900GT KO BenQ 19" 2ms LCD Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS 3DMark03~19601

10-31-2006, 10:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
draiken Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 30	1.8 ghz p4 with 256 ram and 30 gig hard drive. running xp. Is that what you need ?

10-31-2006, 10:53 PM	#5 (permalink)
draiken Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 30	what other specs should I post? and would my pc really use a gig of ram all we do is spreadsheets and internet.

10-31-2006, 10:57 PM	#7 (permalink)
draiken Bronze Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 30	Yeah i figured as much, what would be the best approch to rid my computer of these problems?

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