Originally posted by: kukito
Consider also that memory prices are very low now. Get as much as you can afford. Even though 32 bit Windows won't recognize much more than 3 GB as soon as you upgrade to 64 bit that memory will become available.
Ditto. I just ordered 2x2GB, and have yet to have a mobo to install it in (I've been on the wrong side of "price corrections" before!). I plan to use some Linux(es) in x8-64, though...
How much do you use now? Do you feel constrained? Are you going wit Vista?
The short answers:
If 1GB is fine now, 2 will do. If 1GB isn't enough, go ahead and get 4, because applications tend to get bigger, or at least their data does. If you're going with Vista, add 1GB to whatever you need with XP.
More later: the problem is that many boards flat out won't handle all 4 sticks, and many others won't use them all at full speed (yes, even though it's the CPU that's doing the driving). Mixing RAM of different makes and models only adds another variable, and one that will more likely be bad than good. could get 4GB over again, replacing your "older" 2GB, but then there's 2 useless DIMMs, and extra cost.
Historically, RAM is very cheap right now, most especially DDR2 667 and 800.
Longer answers:
Vista (my experience is Business on an Athlon XP): the more the better. 1GB is a realistic minimum, 2GB for anyone who multitasks, and more if you're not gaming. With a bit more than you'd need for XP, it is indeed more responsive, and far less prone to HDD thrashing causing problems. Even though you can't use all 4GB, 3-3.5GB ought to be OK, even though you paid for 4.
Take what you can get and figure it'll come in handy when you can safely go 64-bit.
Gaming on Vista 32-bit: more video memory means more address space used up, so you can end up with not 3-3.5GB out of 4GB, but even as far down as 2GB. Some people who got those 320MB and 640MB SLI rigs got burned. XP at least lets you try PAE, though there's no guarantee that everything will right work right with it (I've not used PAE with enough RAM to really need it, so can't say by first-hand experience how good/bad everything works).
Keep your video card's RAM in mind as you upgrade.
Anything x64: if you have lots running at any time, go for more. I can push my 1.5GB w/ web browsers, because I never completely shut them off (session saving rocks...and makes it easy to eat RAM!). More RAM means more stuff can sit behind your game or whatever else, yet still be somewhat responsive when you're done. Both Vista and Linux will do a good job of using it up for file caching; so things should be better after the machine has been on for a few days, even if you're not eating the RAM up with apps and their data.
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