Will more RAM help Video display?

[johnnyb58]

My Video display is slowed and blurry since the addition of a duel monitor. At first I thought the news videos were just blurry and out of focus, but then I noticed that I was having the same problem with YouTube. They were also taking a lot of time loading up and then I thought maybe it was my internet connection or possibly malware, which I ruled that out by running all the cleaning programs.

I use second monitor to run my security cameras through my home computer network and I’m now suspecting that it’s the second monitor that’s slowing things down.

The problem is on my HP Pavilion m8400f and I really don’t know how much I want to put into it at the moment. A coworker sold me a couple of video cards that I installed in another computer that I don’t use for the internet and I think I still have the old card. I’m just not sure if it would help by exchanging it with the one in the HP.

Anyway I’m now thinking about maybe increasing the ram in the HP to see if that would help.

I have 3GB and the maximum allowed is 8 GB (4 x 2 GB) (64-bit OS) or 4 GB* (4 x 1 GB) (32-bit OS). I’m running on 32-bit and I’m confused by the difference between 64-bit OS and 32-bit OS.

What does that mean, can I only upgrade to 4 GB?

 

[Aastii]

With your system specs, you shouldn't have any issues running two monitors.

Additional memory may help, since you have shared video memory. This means that your memory is used for both your system and graphics, as opposed to having RAM and VRAM, where the RAM is used just for the system and your graphics has dedicated memory of it's own. However, you have plenty of RAM for browsing the net, even watching Youtube videos, and using a 2 displays.


As you are on 3GB of RAM now and only on a 32-bit OS, there is not much point in upgrading the memory without upgrading to a 64 bit OS too.

The difference between a 32 and 64 bit OS is the way that the CPU handles instructions and processes your data. As a user sat behind the monitor, the only major difference between the two that is of concern to you is the maximum amount of memory that the system can utilise. In theory a 32 bit OS can use up to 4GB, in practice it is less, usually around 3.5GB give or take. 64-bit however has, for all intents and purposes, no limit. It can use up to 16.4 PB, over 17 billion GB, of memory. There are limitations to what the OS can use, but that is going a bit too deep here.

I would first check both monitors on both video outputs on your computer first if you have not already. If both are fine, then both the monitors and your GPU should be fine and we can try to go from there

 

[G80FTW]

In theory a 32 bit OS can use up to 4GB, in practice it is less, usually around 3.5GB give or take. 64-bit however has, for all intents and purposes, no limit. It can use up to 16.4 PB, over 17 billion GB, of memory. There are limitations to what the OS can use, but that is going a bit too deep here.

I wouldnt speak so soon. Technology is not only advancing, but advancing at faster rates each year. Within 10 years, we may see RAM approaching the 1PB area. Never know. Although imagining needing a billion times what I currently have in my system in 10 years seems a bit extreme haha.

 

[johnnyb58]

I would first check both monitors on both video outputs on your computer first if you have not already. If both are fine, then both the monitors and your GPU should be fine and we can try to go from there

Thanks Aastii, you really cleared that up for me.

One one of the reasons I was thinking it might be memory is that every so often after coming out of sleep mode, the second monitor is not displaying at all even though my security cameras are still running on that monitor. Plus I can move my pointer over to it although I can't see it.

Every time it happens, I have to open NVIDA control Panel and reset it for 2 monitors.