PC hardware: Why all the hype for installing lots of RAM?
- 10/30/09 3:38 PM
You did yourself two big favors!
by Cadillac84 - 10/31/09 6:36 AM In reply to: RAM plus faster hard drive by scleungOf the two, I think the hard drive was the best. When I bought my first laptop, I selected the Hitachi 7,200 rpm 60 GB drive. I have since purchased a Hitachi 7,200 rpm 100 GB drive and use both in that same old laptop.
I work on computers -- other people's -- and I can tell you the slow drive (often 4,200 rpm) makes for very sluggish performance.
Taking the RAM up to near maximum is a help also, especially if you like to have twenty or thirty windows open at once as I do!
If you can find a good price on RAM, take it to the max even if you have to throw your current sticks away! I bought my laptop with 512 MB and bought two 1 GB pieces from Crucial and gave my 512 to a friend who had only 256.
But, make no mistake about it: the fast hard drive is the single biggest laptop performance boost available!
C
4GB sufficient for nearly everyone
by axekick - 10/30/09 5:50 PM In reply to: In a word... by SpectrewriterTom's Hardware posted a good article where they tested a modern computer using DDR3 memory. They used 64bit Vista and the same system with 4GB, 8GB & 12GB of DDR3. The conclusion was that on average the speed gain with 12GB of memory over 4GB was about 3 Percent.(I do not remember all the programs they bench-marked but it was a well rounded set of programs, games and benchmarks.
There are graphics professionals, animators, 3D CAD Designers, etc.. that need enormous amounts of RAM but the vast majority of people do not and cannot utilize it if they have it.
I've got two words for you... virtual machine
by mlaurel--2008 - 10/31/09 3:42 AM In reply to: 4GB sufficient for nearly everyone by axekickThis all depends on your job of course and how much time you spend on a computer (I'm coming at it from a developer / test role)... but gradually more and more, people are beginning to work in a platform agnostic environment, using the right tool for the right job (OSX, Windows, Linux, etc.). OSX with VMware or Parallels brings that environment home. I find sometimes I've got 3 or 4 VM's open at once, which is where 32GB comes in handy 
I like that I can run a MacBook Pro with 6GB (haven't tested 8GB yet... anyone tried?)... but damn I'd love to see one running with 16GB.
I've been following Samsung (16GB DDR3 module)... very exciting stuff!
http://www.tomshardware.com/news/Samsung-16GB-DDR3,7323.html
Although this is more geared for server memory, I know they're angling for laptops too. Can you imagine two 16GB modules in a laptop... SOLD!
And I wouldn't say my view has changed because I can afford it now. Ever since I graduated from college in 96... I've always believed in maxing my allowable RAM, hands down! Time is money... money is time... sitting around waiting is burning up my valuable time. I can't tell you how many times I've brought in my own machine to work on because the lame corp desktop or laptop couldn't handle.
Something I would recommend to anyone working in the industry... invest in your future... max your memory!
MEM UTILIZATION
by GEO2003 - 10/23/09 5:01 PM In reply to: Why all the hype for installing lots of RAM? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello Jhampa,
The most likely reason why you don't see more utilization of RAM, is because you probably have your OS set to increase and decrease the page file created by windows. This is by default, the page file will shrink or get bigger depending on what you are doing.
I don't know the specks of your pc's and I don't know what OS you are using, but I guess it would be Vista or Win 7 on the new pc.
The more programs you have open at one time, the more memory the OS will use but also taking into account the page file.
Vista or Win 7 or XP 32 bit can only access a total of 3.5 gigabytes or RAM, but a their corresponding 64 bit would utilize all the RAM you put on the pc's.
You can change the settings of the page file to make it Static (it will not grow) hence forcing the OS to make better use of the RAM which has faster access times.
You can also turn off the page file with the 4 GB of ram to test how your system works. MS does not recommend this but I do it with 2 GB although you have to be careful because if you get close to 80 percent, your computer could freeze and or give you error messages regarding the amount of RAM lef.
To make changes to the Page File.
Click on Start
Click on Control Panel
Click on System and Maintanance
Click on System
On the Right PANE - Select Advance System Settings
Under Performance - Select - Settings - Advance Tab - Virtual Memory and CHANGE -
From here you can - Deselect Auto managing of page file.
NOTE THE WINDOWS SUGESTED PAGE FILE SIZE AT THE BOTTOM.
Use custom to set it at the same size for MAX AND MIN or set it to NO PAGE FILE - Click Save and Ok, Ok and reboot your pc.
This will force Windows to use the same size for example 1024 Min and 1024 Max and then use your RAM more -
Or if you set it to No Page File - it forces Windows to use all the accesible Ram.
Regards,
Geo
good move
by hardyboy01 - 10/31/09 11:18 AM In reply to: MEM UTILIZATION by GEO2003this will stop the memory thrashing problems
MEM UTILIZATION- APPEARS SOMEONE DELETED MY COMMENT
by GEO2003 - 10/23/09 5:10 PM In reply to: Why all the hype for installing lots of RAM? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hello Jhampa,
The most likely reason why you don't see more utilization of RAM, is because you probably have your OS set to increase and decrease the page file created by windows. This is by default, the page file will shrink or get bigger depending on what you are doing.
I don't know the specks of your pc's and I don't know what OS you are using, but I guess it would be Vista or Win 7 on the new pc.
The more programs you have open at one time, the more memory the OS will use but also taking into account the page file.
Vista or Win 7 or XP 32 bit can only access a total of 3.5 gigabytes or RAM, but a their corresponding 64 bit would utilize all the RAM you put on the pc's.
You can change the settings of the page file to make it Static (it will not grow) hence forcing the OS to make better use of the RAM which has faster access times.
You can also turn off the page file with the 4 GB of ram to test how your system works. MS does not recommend this but I do it with 2 GB although you have to be careful because if you get close to 80 percent, your computer could freeze and or give you error messages regarding the amount of RAM lef.
To make changes to the Page File.
Click on Start
Click on Control Panel
Click on System and Maintanance
Click on System
On the Right PANE - Select Advance System Settings
Under Performance - Select - Settings - Advance Tab - Virtual Memory and CHANGE -
From here you can - Deselect Auto managing of page file.
NOTE THE WINDOWS SUGESTED PAGE FILE SIZE AT THE BOTTOM.
Use custom to set it at the same size for MAX AND MIN or set it to NO PAGE FILE - Click Save and Ok, Ok and reboot your pc.
This will force Windows to use the same size for example 1024 Min and 1024 Max and then use your RAM more -
Or if you set it to No Page File - it forces Windows to use all the accesible Ram.
Regards,
Geo
(NT) Look above your post, it's right there :)
by Lee Koo (ADMIN) - 10/30/09 11:21 AM
In reply to: MEM UTILIZATION- APPEARS SOMEONE DELETED MY COMMENT by GEO2003
Always Max Your Allowable Ram
by High Desert Charlie - 10/23/09 5:10 PM In reply to: Why all the hype for installing lots of RAM? by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Given the same CPU, RAM is the least expensive method to increase/enhance the performance of your computer. Period. I always recommend to my customers to upgrade their RAM if they can afford it.
As pointed out earlier, running sufficient RAM dramatically reduces the need to use paged memory. The less you use paged memory, the longer your hard drive will last because it's not working so hard. By keeping your RAM maxed out, you also save tons of time trying to diagnose why graphics intense programs aren't working well, or why your internet connection seems slow. Your RAM effects nearly every single event that happens in your computer.
I'm suspect of the programs you're using to monitor your RAM usage levels. They aren't always the best indicators of your RAM's performance. I would look for some of the higher end benchmark programs to get accurate readings. Also, you can quickly see the difference in using more RAM in your Windows Experience Ratings. Once you've maxed out there, you're probably where you need to be, but even Widows Experience Rating has its limitations.
With RAM as cheap as it is these days, it's always a good idea to Upgrade if you can. Otherwise we'd all still be using DOS 3.0 and 5 1/4 inch floppy disks, right???
An important factor when doing hardware upgrades + RAM
by growl99 - 10/24/09 1:19 PM In reply to: Always Max Your Allowable Ram by High Desert CharlieI've found that when you increase the amount of RAM you have; you'll usually see some improvement, but if you reinstall your OS after increasing RAM you'll see a much bigger increase in performance.
So, put more RAM in you computer,
then reinstall Windows
upgrade complete!
Reinstalling is not needed
by scleung - 10/24/09 4:31 PM In reply to: An important factor when doing hardware upgrades + RAM by growl99Reinstalling your OS is not needed unless your system is full of installed software that you don't want. What you need to do is let the OS set the virtual memory size instead of using the default setting which is a fixed range. If you let the OS set the virtual memory size, it will adjust the size accordingly at bootup time.
set the virtual memory size
by growl99 - 10/24/09 8:10 PM In reply to: Reinstalling is not needed by scleungHow do you let the OS set the virtual memory size instead of a fixed range.
how to set virtual memory size
by wasyed - 10/24/09 8:31 PM In reply to: set the virtual memory size by growl99on xp, when you bring up the system properties window (either through control panel or right click "My Computer"), click on the advanced tab, then under Performance click settings. Now click the Advanced tab and below you will see a button that says Change. Click change and you can make all the changes there.
However I hear that lettings windows manage the page file has decreased performance. Some recommend setting a custom size that is just one size (and not a fixed range, for example 4000MB instead of 2000MB-4000MB). in other words instead of having an initial size and max size that is different, some say to keep both the same so that windows doesn't constantly resize (which will slow down the system).
Many people have recommended to set up the page file size fixed to be 1.5 times higher than you're total RAM size. So this means you would set both the initial size and max size to be the same.
Search google for "recommended page file size", you'll find tons of info.
virtual memory size
by scleung - 10/24/09 8:46 PM In reply to: how to set virtual memory size by wasyedwasyed could be right. However, I didn't see any slow down on my systems and they are set to let the OS manage the virtual memory size. For my system, I don't believe Windows changes the size that often so this setting is fine for me.
what if you have lots of RAM
by wasyed - 10/24/09 9:26 PM In reply to: virtual memory size by scleungDoes virtual memory size matter if lets say we have lots of RAM? I wonder if we could just disable virtual ram altogether if we have enough RAM on the system. I'm not sure if this is give me a positive performance or negative. any ideas?
RE: what if you have lots of RAM
by scleung - 10/25/09 5:43 AM In reply to: what if you have lots of RAM by wasyedwasyed
The last time I tried disabling all virtual memory (VM) and if I remember correctly, I got a system messaging saying something like "system cannot create debugging information" if I set the VM too low. Apparently, VM is stored in pagefile.sys but that file is also being used for other purposes.
My personal take on this is, having real RAM is the best. Having too much RAM won't hurt but it won't help either. Also, I see no advantage of disabling VM. If pagefile.sys is there and the system ends up not using it, it's not going to slow anything down. So it doesn't hurt to have it there.
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