How much RAM is a good amount?

Bartmasta

Bartmasta

banned
I see lots of people on this forum with 4GB of RAM and I think to myself: "Why do people need 4GB of RAM?".

I have 2GB and while gaming and having firefox, itunes open etc the memory usage doesn't go past 70%. So how would the extra memory benefit?

It's true that vista requires more RAM, and I have XP, but even so 4gb still seems like a lot.

What do you guys think?
 
2 gb is a very good amount for xp. if my thinking is correct xp cant even use 4 gb of ram so itd be pointless to have that much unless you're running vista. it really just depends on what you use your computer for though. if you're a gamer or a person taht uses high powered graphical programs then you'll need more memory than a person who only goes on their computer to check their emails and surf the internet or someone that just makes spreadsheets.
 
4 gig is a lot. Usually 2 gigs is enough for people. However, a lot of people get 4 because it's just so darn cheap.
 
Windows XP x86 (32bit) will only have a max ram of 3.25gb. Where as x64 bit OS will handle up to the max on a motherboard. Like mine will handle 8gb max for my board.
I am running Windows xp pro x64, Windows xp pro 32 bit in a duel boot on my desktop computer. I mainly stay in the x64 bit mode most of the time tho, And I have 6gb of Patriots Extreme in mine machine.
 
You can get a 4GB set of DDR2 right now for like $45...why would you spend $40 on a 2GB set? Might as well get an extra 2GB for like 5 or 10 dollars more.

I was doing some testing with my rig for stability...I am gone a lot and my wife can't fix it if it crashes, I have to have a super stable system. With 2GB Windows takes 13 seconds longer to load than if I have in all 4GB. I am running Vista 64bit and I can actually see a performance difference between the two RAM setups, 2GB vs. 4GB.
 
Bartmasta said:
I see lots of people on this forum with 4GB of RAM and I think to myself: "Why do people need 4GB of RAM?".

I have 2GB and while gaming and having firefox, itunes open etc the memory usage doesn't go past 70%. So how would the extra memory benefit?

It's true that vista requires more RAM, and I have XP, but even so 4gb still seems like a lot.

What do you guys think?
Click to expand...



the reason for it not hitting more than 70% because xp has a memory reserve limit (for many reasons) for 2GB ram for example: your memory usage hits a certain percentage, e.g 70%, windows will 'bounce down' things from the memory to the pageing file on your hard disk. it takes common sence to realise that this would impact on performance because the bounced data would need to be put back into main memory to be executed again e.c.t.

with more than 2 gig of ram. e.g 4GB, the need to bounce from memory to page file is reduced thus improving performance.


so even tho you may only see 3.25 GB of memory under 32 bit Xp, i would highly reccomend using 4GB. you will then also have more headroom if you decide to get vista :) if you do upgrade your RAM, remember less is better.... 2 X 2 GB modules is better than 4 X 1 GB modules:)

out of interest, what is your spec?

ross.
 
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