Is it worth having more than 2GB of Ram

NJNETSFAN · 05-22-2007, 02:36 AM

I bought a prebuilt computer about a month ago with 2GB memory already installed. It's Pc2 5300 memory and I have two more slots open. Since ddr2 memory is so cheap, should I upgrade to 4GB of ram since I can get 2GB from newegg for $80. I have vista and I have all those little side gadgets and I never see more than 55-60% of my ram being used, but I heard that vista has some kinda feature that uses all your memory for faster upload times and such. So should I spend the $80 on an extra 2GB of ram??

PC eye · 05-22-2007, 03:31 AM

When going to upgrade memory you first want to buy the exact same type as you already have installed to avoid problems there. If the system prebuilt as usual comes with value ram you wouldn't order Corsair xms series, Kingston Hyper X, or any other performance type memory. That would cause compatibility problems from the start. With 4gb of ram you may run into a problem with 32bit not seeing all of the memory installed. That seems to be a limitation seen in both XP and Vista alike. The 64bit versions go right past this like XP would blast right by 98's old 512mb limit there.

hotchevymanzach · 05-22-2007, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PC eye

When going to upgrade memory you first want to buy the exact same type as you already have installed to avoid problems there. If the system prebuilt as usual comes with value ram you wouldn't order Corsair xms series, Kingston Hyper X, or any other performance type memory. That would cause compatibility problems from the start. With 4gb of ram you may run into a problem with 32bit not seeing all of the memory installed. That seems to be a limitation seen in both XP and Vista alike. The 64bit versions go right past this like XP would blast right by 98's old 512mb limit there.

go to your computers manufacturers site and check specs because it should tell you the limitations to how much i know for mine it was 2gb x2 you might not see as much speed jump as in xp because vista is so sweet LOL BS and when you figure in that running vista alone takes atleast 512 and then you have the graphics card which may or may not have its own ram or shared but ne way your looking at least a gig for just the computer running

Tuffie · 05-22-2007, 08:04 AM

You might have trouble finding the same type of ram as you have now...

Kent.

NJNETSFAN · 05-22-2007, 11:22 AM

My computer has DDR 667 installed and it can take up to 4GB of memory. I see that I have the 32bit version of Vista Home Premium, think theres anyway i could get the 64bit version from The manufacturer(HP) for free?

chupacabra · 05-22-2007, 04:50 PM

Doubt it

PC eye · 05-22-2007, 10:09 PM

Dell is the one now seen offering XP as well as Vista when you specify just what you want. This is their latest effort to compete seen there. You may be able to have it put on for a service charge and cost of a recovery disk at HP by request. But it wouldn't be free there. With the 32bit version Home Premium here as a second OS I get the chance to get familiar with it while still having XP as the primary OS. But this is on a custom not prebuilt. HP and pthers use name brand memory simply relabeled. This way you usually have to buy from them when adding or replacing. It's an old trick seen there.

You will want the same unless buying all new with a name of the exact same type and speed. Knowing the make and model board and finding the actual specifications on that will go better for you. Some boards won't allow memory with fast timings better then a Latency of something like 4-4-4-6 or whatever for example there while boards you would order at newegg will take performance as well as value ram.

eric92park · 05-25-2007, 04:19 AM

Wait, so if you have XMS2 Cosair Series to begin with, its stable to get the same kind right?

PC eye · 05-25-2007, 09:31 PM

Corsair makes excellent performance and value memory. The ideal while costing more at times is buying in matched pairs from the same manufacturer's batch. But even if not pretested the same make, type, and speed usually works out the best. You run into fewer problems this way too.

05-22-2007, 02:36 AM	#1 (permalink)
NJNETSFAN Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Age: 17 Posts: 474	Is it worth having more than 2GB of Ram I bought a prebuilt computer about a month ago with 2GB memory already installed. It's Pc2 5300 memory and I have two more slots open. Since ddr2 memory is so cheap, should I upgrade to 4GB of ram since I can get 2GB from newegg for $80. I have vista and I have all those little side gadgets and I never see more than 55-60% of my ram being used, but I heard that vista has some kinda feature that uses all your memory for faster upload times and such. So should I spend the $80 on an extra 2GB of ram?? __________________ HP M8020N CPU: C2D e6420 HDD: 320GB x 2 Seagate Barracuda GPU: Nvidia 7350LE Ram: 3GB DDRII DVD-rom: 18x +/- RW w/ lightscribe Tv Tuner Vista Premium

05-22-2007, 03:31 AM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,699	When going to upgrade memory you first want to buy the exact same type as you already have installed to avoid problems there. If the system prebuilt as usual comes with value ram you wouldn't order Corsair xms series, Kingston Hyper X, or any other performance type memory. That would cause compatibility problems from the start. With 4gb of ram you may run into a problem with 32bit not seeing all of the memory installed. That seems to be a limitation seen in both XP and Vista alike. The 64bit versions go right past this like XP would blast right by 98's old 512mb limit there. __________________ Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175 Is EBay going out of the Auction Business? http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1

05-22-2007, 11:22 AM	#5 (permalink)
NJNETSFAN Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Age: 17 Posts: 474	My computer has DDR 667 installed and it can take up to 4GB of memory. I see that I have the 32bit version of Vista Home Premium, think theres anyway i could get the 64bit version from The manufacturer(HP) for free? __________________ HP M8020N CPU: C2D e6420 HDD: 320GB x 2 Seagate Barracuda GPU: Nvidia 7350LE Ram: 3GB DDRII DVD-rom: 18x +/- RW w/ lightscribe Tv Tuner Vista Premium

05-22-2007, 04:50 PM	#6 (permalink)
chupacabra Diamond Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 1,898	Doubt it __________________ My Rig e7200 @ 2.53ghz 4GB G.skill pc6400 Seagate hdd 250gb Gigabyte P35 DS3L Sapphire 4850 Corsair 750 watts Raidmax Smilodon

05-22-2007, 10:09 PM	#7 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,699	Dell is the one now seen offering XP as well as Vista when you specify just what you want. This is their latest effort to compete seen there. You may be able to have it put on for a service charge and cost of a recovery disk at HP by request. But it wouldn't be free there. With the 32bit version Home Premium here as a second OS I get the chance to get familiar with it while still having XP as the primary OS. But this is on a custom not prebuilt. HP and pthers use name brand memory simply relabeled. This way you usually have to buy from them when adding or replacing. It's an old trick seen there. You will want the same unless buying all new with a name of the exact same type and speed. Knowing the make and model board and finding the actual specifications on that will go better for you. Some boards won't allow memory with fast timings better then a Latency of something like 4-4-4-6 or whatever for example there while boards you would order at newegg will take performance as well as value ram. __________________ Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175 Is EBay going out of the Auction Business? http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1

05-25-2007, 04:19 AM	#8 (permalink)
eric92park Silver Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Area 51 Age: 26 Posts: 239	Wait, so if you have XMS2 Cosair Series to begin with, its stable to get the same kind right?

05-25-2007, 09:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 19,699	Corsair makes excellent performance and value memory. The ideal while costing more at times is buying in matched pairs from the same manufacturer's batch. But even if not pretested the same make, type, and speed usually works out the best. You run into fewer problems this way too. __________________ Turning the Tongue into a Device Controller http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Sma...ory?id=5647175 Is EBay going out of the Auction Business? http://abcnews.go.com/Business/story?id=5626840&page=1

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