Can you ever have enough RAM?

[jrwap]

Memory prices are at an all time low, so its probably the best time to stock up on a little extra RAM for the system. We know that previous versions of windows couldn't take advantage of more than 512mb of RAM, but Microsoft has addressed that in Windows 2000 and Xp.
So, how much RAM is enough? Should you stick with 128mb? Or maybe have 1gb of RAM. This issue was addressed in Maximum PC magazine a couple of months back, and the results might shock you.
Their test system was a 2Ghz P4 with 128mb, 256mb, 512mb, and 1gb or RDRAM. Tests consisted of SYSmark2001 CC, Quake III MPC, SiSoft Sandra 2001 RAM, and Photoshop 6.0.2.

The results:

SYSmark 2001 CC
- 128mb - 204
- 256mb - 204
- 512mb - 208
- 1gb - 208

Quake III MPC
- 128mb - 14fps
- 256mb - 82fps
- 512mb - 84fps
- 1gb - 84fps

SiSoft Sandra
- 128mb - 1429
- 256mb - 1365
- 512mb - 1358
- 1gb - 1350

Photoshop 6.0.2
- 128mb - FAILED!!!
- 256mb - 343 sec
- 512mb - 298 sec
- 1gb - 241 sec

The results speak for them selves. You probably shouldn't be running an XP system with anything less than 512 mb of RAM. If you do lots of video editing or gaming, go for 1gb or more.

-JRW

[NUTNDUN]

I have definately noticed a slowdown since I installed XP. When I was running 2K pro 256 was fine, but now I can definately tell I need more. Guess we know what the next item on my list is

[jrwap]

Originally posted by NUTNDUN
I have definately noticed a slowdown since I installed XP. When I was running 2K pro 256 was fine, but now I can definately tell I need more. Guess we know what the next item on my list is

Maybe you should have saved $99 and used XP Home.... then used that money to add an additional 512mb of RAM!!!



-JRW

[Dr. Avery]

I find that anything past 512MB provides only a negligable improvement. Programs aren't being written to utilize that much (yet).

[jrwap]

I have worked with 512mb and 1gb of RAM and I found a huge difference. I guess it depends on waht you are using your computer for....

I think multi-tasking and games require the most RAM.

-JRW

[RipperRoo]

Originally posted by jrwap
Maybe you should have saved $99 and used XP Home.... then used that money to add an additional 512mb of RAM!!!



-JRW

XP Home SUCKS!

[Dr. Avery]

Originally posted by jrwap
I have worked with 512mb and 1gb of RAM and I found a huge difference. I guess it depends on waht you are using your computer for....

I think multi-tasking and games require the most RAM.

-JRW

In my experience, the difference between 256 and 512 is much more pronounced than the difference between 512 and 1024. I am running 1024MB of pc2100 DDR and my ram peaks out at a little over half used. Most of my usage is high precision mathematics, so that might explain why I am not seeing the same performance increase.

Point me to a program that is a memory hog. I'd like to use that back bank sometime

[berks]

i would love to add more memory but my MOBO can't handle it

[Ryathe]

At the moment I'm running with 512 Corsair XMS PC 2700 DDR. I'm thinking of going to 1024 but I'm not really sure I'll see a large difference. Then again BF 1942 may like the extra muscle.

[enduser]

I find that 256 is pretty good for xp but it slows a little when an additional 256 is installed. The nice thing about it is that the hard drive doesn't get used as much for virtual memory. My system performance slowed a little when the additional memory was added.

[Roadblock]

From what I understand, it depends entirely on your OS and motherboard. I have heard that XP will use all you can give it, but 98, ME etc, won't take it over a certain amount. I am not sure what the actual cutoff figure is, as it depends on other factors (MB) as well.

[Wobbel]

Is there a difference in performance if you use a 2 x 256 mb or a 1 x 512 mb bank ?

I recently added 256mb to my mobo,had 256 installed,didn't notice much improvement,until i started photoshop and did some s.e with it,much faster !!

[igalan]

Originally posted by Wobbel
Is there a difference in performance if you use a 2 x 256 mb or a 1 x 512 mb bank ?

No difference, except if you use them in a dual channel system. I get a little bost using 2x256 MB DDR 333 instead of 1x512 MB DDR 333 with my mobo .

[Cirga]

I have always noticed a huge diff having 1gig over 512 when playing a game like Anarchy Online.. or EverQuest.

I think its the big games.. that will use all your RAm.. and that was even in windows 98.

But I did notice.. once I started using 2k pro.. EVERYTHING got smooother... game loading times.. etc. And I have not crashed since.

[Fister]

the short answer...nope, there is no such thing as too much. If there is then at that point you suffer damagem and that "good" becomes a "bad"~ you see why economics is "bad" no pun intended....