Why is my memory usage nearly maxed out???

[spock0149]

Hey folks,


I'm running VISTA on a laptop with 1GB DDR2 and a pentium dual core 1.73GHZ.

I have plenty of hard drive space.

My computers been running a little slow recently and when I go to the task manager, even with NOTHING running my memory usage is 805 MB! (78% of my physical memory.)

When I go to the task manager, there is nothing obvious extra thats running.

WTF?? I've run a couple of anti virus software but they havent found anything (avast and AVG) and I've used CC cleaner.

What might the problem be??

 

[Tuffie]

I'm running VISTA on a laptop with 1GB DDR2

There's your problem.

 

[Cromewell]

Vista takes a lot of RAM, it likes to cache of lot of things so that they load up faster. 2GB is what I'd recommend as the minimum amount of RAM. If you turn off some features (like Aero, the widget sidebar thing, etc) that will help.

 

[spock0149]

Hmmmm. I dont' mind upgrading to 2Gb.

I've built a PC before, but have never messed around inside a laptop.

Is it pretty straightforward to perform your own upgradges on RAM?

I have an Acer Extensa if that helps.

Also, can I just go to newegg say and pick up any old 2Gb RAM stick, or do I have to get something specific??

 

[Bacon]

Hmmmm. I dont' mind upgrading to 2Gb.

I've built a PC before, but have never messed around inside a laptop.

Is it pretty straightforward to perform your own upgradges on RAM?

I have an Acer Extensa if that helps.

Also, can I just go to newegg say and pick up any old 2Gb RAM stick, or do I have to get something specific??

RAM upgrades are pretty simple on laptops, and yes you need a specific type of RAM.

On newegg when you look for ram you need to choose laptop memory then go from there based on the specifications of your laptop.

 

[spock0149]

Great, thanks for the info.

Btw...these forum is awesome!

I posted my question less than 10 mins ago and already 3 or 4 responses. really impressive.

:good:

 

[spock0149]

Ok - so here is a link to my Laptop:

http://reviews.cnet.com/laptops/acer-extensa-5620-4025/4507-3121_7-33089598.html?tag=mncol;psum

As you can see, my Ram technology is DDR2 SDRAM - 667.0 MHz , and I have installed 2 x 512 MB.

So, does that mean if I order the following:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231147

(2GB 200-Pin DDR2 SO-DIMM DDR2 667 (PC2 5300) )

...then I could actually install 2 of them in my laptop for some real bad-ass memory upgrade?? e.g 4Gb.

 

[3uL]

Make sure your laptop support 1 slot 2gb or else it will a waste.

 

[laznz1]

1GB is not enough to run vista correctly you need at least 1.5 - 2 GB Vista tend to be a real resource hog

 

[spock0149]

Make sure your laptop support 1 slot 2gb or else it will a waste.

Hmmm, how?

Is this a google search...or something deeper?

e.g. my knowledge extends to:

Google Search
"Does Extensa 5620-4025 support 1 slot 2Gb"

 

[spock0149]

I just received 2x2Gb ram and inserted them into my laptop.

Upon Restart I got the Blue Screen of Death.

I removed and re-inserted my old 2 x 512Mb.

Startup repair has been going about 5 mins now and still laptop hasn't booted.

Any words of advice???

 

[Backwoods166]

AHH BSOD! Don't fret to much. What is startup repair? Anyways, common issues with RAM are that it is read wrong by the motherboard, usualy it will work fine and just be underclocked and you will need to change the speed in the bios. Although you may have purchased the correct RAM, sometimes motherboards can be picky and not like a certain brand of RAM. This is most common with brand name PCs like Dell. Also, RAM can be DOA (dead on arrival). Unless you installed the new RAM with a hammer I doubt you broke anything so your pc should be fine.

I really don't feel i can help to much but I would recommend creating a new thread. It is much more common for people to look at a new thread rather than browse to page 2 of an old one.

 

[Cromewell]

I just received 2x2Gb ram and inserted them into my laptop.

Upon Restart I got the Blue Screen of Death.

Install the 2x2GB and start the windows memory diagnostic (basically a built in memtest). http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/tutorials/tutorial146.html

 

[spock0149]

AHH BSOD! Don't fret to much. What is startup repair? Anyways, common issues with RAM are that it is read wrong by the motherboard, usualy it will work fine and just be underclocked and you will need to change the speed in the bios. Although you may have purchased the correct RAM, sometimes motherboards can be picky and not like a certain brand of RAM. This is most common with brand name PCs like Dell. Also, RAM can be DOA (dead on arrival). Unless you installed the new RAM with a hammer I doubt you broke anything so your pc should be fine.

I really don't feel i can help to much but I would recommend creating a new thread. It is much more common for people to look at a new thread rather than browse to page 2 of an old one.

Yuck...messing with the BIOS!

Well, I eventually got the 2x2Gb working in my wifes Dell Inspirion, but just couldn't get it to work in my ACER extensa. However, I did get just a single 2Gb to work!

So now:

Wifes computer upgraded from 1Gb to 4Gb.
My laptop upgraded from 1Gb to 2Gb.

Oh well. We are both up!

 

[Cromewell]

Well if they are both working and you're happy with it then that's good.

 

[spock0149]

Well if they are both working and you're happy with it then that's good.

Yup, its an overall win.