What's a reasonable amount of RAM for Vista?

[Charlie98]

I'm working on a friend of mine's Gateway desktop, with Vista. He only has 2x 512MB RAM modules... what does Vista need to run efficiently? My W7 machine runs at about a constant 1.6-2.2GB, but I have no idea for Vista. It takes DDR2, which I don't have any extra of, and he's trying to save money... he just had to replace the WD HDD.

 

[jjsbasmt]

My thoughts on Vista and Win 7 have been this:
1 GB = Not Good, 2 GB = Better, 3 - 4 GB = Good, 6 - 8 = Excellent, Above 8 = Gravy

Ok I'm ready for the heat........................

 

[Charlie98]

I was thinking 4GB (2x 2GB cards,) I can get that for about the same price as 2x 4GB DDR3...

 

[gmaster456]

4gb is fine. Should last him a while if he's been getting along on 1gb this long.

 

[razel]

Load it up to max. RAM is cheap. Just keep in mind that your friend will need 64 bit Vista if you go above 3GB. If I remember correctly with Vista, you can just go from 32 to 64 bit with the same key. All you need is 64 bit ISO. Microsoft doesn't care and it's completely legal to get a copy. They only care about your key.

 

[Brutus04]

Vista? 4GB...

 

[VirtualLarry]

Yeah, Vista is pretty pokey with only 2GB. 4GB is much, much better. 1GB or less, I don't know how you could bear that.

Edit: Don't forget, that if that computer is using onboard video, then it is going to steal some RAM for its own usage too.

 

[Charlie98]

Load it up to max. RAM is cheap.

DDR2 isn't cheap, and I know he doesn't have the money to dump into this thing... it's a 5-year old Gateway (albiet with an Intel board and a C2D. Oh, and a brand new WD 500GB black... )

 

[razel]

Oh DDR2 prices now are FAR cheaper than they were 5 years ago, but I don't really care whose right. Life is toooooo precious.

 

[bryanW1995]

I ran my work rig on Vista with 1gb for about a year. It was a real PITA. I was able to keep the RAM usage low, but it was very unsatisfactory. Jumping up to 2gb was much better.

 

[Charlie98]

Oh DDR2 prices now are FAR cheaper than they were 5 years ago, but I don't really care whose right. Life is toooooo precious.

Indeed they are, but relative to DDR3... it's still pretty expensive.

Sooo... if you don't mind, then... I'm right.

And, yes, life is too precious to sit around trying to prop my buddy's poor, ailing boat anchor up.

 

[Charlie98]

I ran my work rig on Vista with 1gb for about a year. It was a real PITA. I was able to keep the RAM usage low, but it was very unsatisfactory. Jumping up to 2gb was much better.

Actually, I found some mismatched DDR2 RAM I had upstairs in my junk box, I think I can pump it up another GB... anything will help.

 

[LeftSide]

The 32 bit version uses less ram. Something to consider when you only have 1 gig.

 

[Gunbuster]

4 gig or more. Microsoft really botched the vista launch by letting OEM's put it on a bunch of shitty laptops with 1gig of RAM.

If you have 64bit vista get 8gig