ChrisB

Versions of Windows using the 9x core (95, 98, ME) can't use more than 256MB that well. It just gets allocated to system cache IIRC.

NT / W2000 / XP are far better handling large amounts of RAM. As I type this I have 4 IE Windows open + Outlook and I have ~320MB out of 512MB free.

Given today's pricing, I say 512MB is the sweet spot and only go beyond that if you're a hardcore Photoshop person (or a.n. other specific application).

[Edited by ChrisB - 11/5/2002 12:16:08 AM]

Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

Erm, I don't do it for benchmarks, I do it for performance in general, with the pagefile disabled, far more stuff is run purely in ram with noticibly less disk thrashing. Windows of various flavours tends to use the pagefile too regardless of how much ram you are using and how much you physically have. It has always been messy in this way.

Example:

My gf's machine is a athlon 1400@1533
768MB crucial c2 pc133
Maxtor ata133 7200rpm drive @ata100
XP Pro
0 pagefile

Mine.
2.83Ghz P4
512mhz Corsair XMS3200-c2 ram(would be 1024, but issues with intels current AGP inf prevent this)
Twin IBM120GXP drives striped
System managed pagefile

Her machine opens up outlook, media player IE etc as quickly as my rig, if not faster. With her pagefile enabled and still the same amount of RAM,it is slower, with noticibly more disk thrashing.

I run a PIII-450 at work with 768mb ram, Highpoint ata100 card, ibm 5400rpm ata100 drive and 0 pagefile and it completely whips my workmate's machines, who are all running at least pIII-800 rigs and above, obviously not for compiling code in general, but they are all jealous of it . Performs way better in general.


Cheers,

Nick


[Edited by Mr Footlong - 11/6/2002 4:14:33 PM]

DARREN

Just got a right good deal off E bay!!!!!!!

2 x 256 meg of RD Rambus pc800 memory for £70 the pair

I am now running 768 meg of Ram with a 1.4 P4 Processor.

With a 128 meg graphics card is this far more than i need???

Cheers
Darren

suba

all depends on what apps you are running. if it's only the normal everyday office application and a bit of this and a bit of that, then it will level off after 512mb. that's according to a test done by a computer magazine in the US.

super_si

ive seen bench tests, my memory(512MB)against 1024MB and ive only just being beaten.

Si

Barnaby

If you have Windows 2k or xp have a look at the performance manager or task manager to see how much RAM you have free.

If it's a lot and you have all your usual apps running then not much point getting more RAM

Mr.Cookie

Interesting article here but basically guy tested one machine with various memory configs and found that after 384 meg it machine actually slows down system having more.


Si

P1Fanatic

I have 768mb but only bought it as it was so cheap at the time (£74 all in from Crucial). Cant see any diff from 512mb but I dont really push my PC in the memory stakes.

dogmaul

i have 824mb free out of 1024 the only reason i have that much is because dell put it in infact this was a free pc from dell they gave it to us as a trial and never came back for it

GaryK

nah you cant have too much, you only need gigs of RAM as it gives you something to boast about to other people

Gary

Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

Winxp with 768mb ram or above running with no pagefile absolutely stonks along.

shunty

Dogmaul, what's your tag ref number & what's the number for Dell??

shunty

DARREN

Cheers for that chaps,i am just about to install XP from ME

Regards
Darren

Dr Nick

I recently upgraded from 256 to 512.

I ran Sysmark immediately before and immediately after. I got a 4% increase in speed.

Maybe if I wasnt running on ME there would have been a little more of a difference.

Daz34

FAO MR Footlong:

What are the advantages of disabling the Page File & how do you do it?

Darren

Mr Footlong

iTrader: (7)

I am not one to explain the why's of why it works better, because I forgot and cant be @rsed to stfw, but for normal day to day running, as in email, web, office media playing, gaming etc, it works perfectly and with 768mb's or above you will be hard pushed to still need a page file.

NOW, if you are into hardcore DV editing or manipulation of many/large images then you could poss push past your total physical RAM, so disabling the pagefile might not be advisable.

When you are running say a gig or more though and doing dv stuff etc, I would deffo give it a try and start out editing some stuff etc that you can handle losing changes to if it croaks. then simply put it back.

Let some of the other guys answer this before altering it mate.

Cheers,

Nick

towzer

if you really, really have to disable the page file to disk for performance reasons then you could do the following:

1. create a RAM disk of say 512MB
2. set the page file to use the RAM disk, but specify say 512MB rather than using the dynamic page file setting

I suspect Windows won't be too happy if you are running lots of apps, but it's a great way of improving benchmarks.

Phil