Will I notice a big difference between 768MB RAM and 1GB RAM?

[TazExprez]

I am about to upgrade from 256MB RAM and wonder if I will notice a big difference if I decide to go with 768MB RAM, instead of 1GB RAM? Thanks for your help.

 

[TazExprez]

I will just be playing games and running Macromedia Dreamweaver and Adobe Photoshop, btw.

 

[Bleep]

It really depends on what you use your machine for. I do a lot of audio editing and play some games and I could not tell the difference from 512.
Some will say the more ram the better or you cannot have to much but for me anything over 512 has not showed any increase in productivity,

Bleep

 

[beatle]

Between 512 and 1024, maybe. Between 768 and 1024, almost assuredly no.

 

[TazExprez]

Thanks guys.

I just bought a Dell Inspiron 8600 with the minimum amount of RAM, 256MB, because they rip you off if you get more. I was thinking of either buying 1, or maybe 2, sticks of 512MB RAM. Now I will only be getting 1, for a total of 768MB RAM. Later on, I may get the other 512MB stick.

 

[Auric]

E-Z to find out. With typical usage, open Task Manger and compare the Commit Charge Peak to the Total Physical Memory, and perhaps the usage graph. If it goes over a lot then slower HDD paging is holding ya back from maximum possible performance.

 

[jdogg707]

Ya, I would say you would notice very little difference. But look at the cost and if it doesn't cost too much to grab 1GB, go for it, otherwise 768 is going to be plenty.

 

[Camofrog]

what kind of mobo did they give ya in that Dell ??
if it is a Dual channel motherboard then i would reccomend get a pair of RAM or just another stick of identical 256mb
I found if you running WinXP or Win2K it likes 1024mb of RAM much better expecially if you do alot of multi-tasking, and gaming, otherwise you force windows to use your swap file on HD, and there is no way your HD is faster than your RAM.

 

[crazygal]

I think 512 is plenty fine, you'll never notice the difference

 

[InlineFive]

However if you play MMORPG games 1GB really helps out since some of them take up 800MBs of memory! :Q

 

[Amused]

Originally posted by: Camofrog
what kind of mobo did they give ya in that Dell ??
if it is a Dual channel motherboard then i would reccomend get a pair of RAM or just another stick of identical 256mb
I found if you running WinXP or Win2K it likes 1024mb of RAM much better expecially if you do alot of multi-tasking, and gaming, otherwise you force windows to use your swap file on HD, and there is no way your HD is faster than your RAM.

I wasn't aware Intel made a dual channel lappy mobo. Do they?

 

[PanzerIV]

In my old machine that I gave my kids I have 768MB of RAM. In my new system I have 1 gig and there's no difference in loading times of games such as BF1942 and such. Unless you do a lot of encoding or graphics work you would be hard pressed to notice a difference either but for future proofing you might as well just bite the bullet and get a gig now.

However, you most certainly WILL notice a very nice difference in going from that 256MB to either the 768MB or 1 gig

 

[chocoruacal]

Originally posted by: beatle
Between 512 and 1024, maybe. Between 768 and 1024, almost assuredly no.

Yup. And I still say that anyone who says they can 'feel' the difference between 512 and 1024 is just trying to make themselves feel better about spending the $$

 

[TazExprez]

Originally posted by: chocoruacal

Originally posted by: beatle
Between 512 and 1024, maybe. Between 768 and 1024, almost assuredly no.

Yup. And I still say that anyone who says they can 'feel' the difference between 512 and 1024 is just trying to make themselves feel better about spending the $$

I agree. I had 1GB RAM in one of my PC's and then I removed 512MB RAM from it in order to build another one. I didn't notice much difference, if any. But like it has been stated, it's nice to have 1GB, specially for future requirements.

 

[TazExprez]

I guess I'll buy 1 512MB SODIMM right now, and if I get a game that requires more, then I'll upgrade from 768MB RAM to 1GB RAM. Also, I may just wait and get the other 512MB SODIMM later.

 

[InlineFive]

Originally posted by: TazExprez
I guess I'll buy 1 512MB SODIMM right now, and if I get a game that requires more, then I'll upgrade from 768MB RAM to 1GB RAM. Also, I may just wait and get the other 512MB SODIMM later.

SODIMM? Is this a laptop? If that's the case you might need a better video card, processor, etc. instead!

EDIT: Now I see that this is a Dimension 8600 Desktop. You will need DDR memory instead. Better know your parts before you start buying stuff!

 

[TazExprez]

Originally posted by: PorBleemo

Originally posted by: TazExprez
I guess I'll buy 1 512MB SODIMM right now, and if I get a game that requires more, then I'll upgrade from 768MB RAM to 1GB RAM. Also, I may just wait and get the other 512MB SODIMM later.

SODIMM? Is this a laptop? If that's the case you might need a better video card, processor, etc. instead!

EDIT: Now I see that this is a Dimension 8600 Desktop. You will need DDR memory instead. Better know your parts before you start buying stuff!

It's a Dell Inspiron 8600 laptop, actually.

 

[oalvarez]

I feel the difference, especially during Everquest gameplay. i don't care what anyone says about the $, relative value, etc, i feel the difference and that's all that matters to me.

 

[Auric]

Originally posted by: TazExprez

Originally posted by: chocoruacal

Originally posted by: beatle
Between 512 and 1024, maybe. Between 768 and 1024, almost assuredly no.

Yup. And I still say that anyone who says they can 'feel' the difference between 512 and 1024 is just trying to make themselves feel better about spending the $$

I agree. I had 1GB RAM in one of my PC's and then I removed 512MB RAM from it in order to build another one. I didn't notice much difference, if any. But like it has been stated, it's nice to have 1GB, specially for future requirements.

Then you most assuredly have not played the hog known as DesertCombat!

 

[TazExprez]

Originally posted by: Auric

Originally posted by: TazExprez

Originally posted by: chocoruacal

Originally posted by: beatle
Between 512 and 1024, maybe. Between 768 and 1024, almost assuredly no.

Yup. And I still say that anyone who says they can 'feel' the difference between 512 and 1024 is just trying to make themselves feel better about spending the $$

I agree. I had 1GB RAM in one of my PC's and then I removed 512MB RAM from it in order to build another one. I didn't notice much difference, if any. But like it has been stated, it's nice to have 1GB, specially for future requirements.

Then you most assuredly have not played the hog known as DesertCombat!

No I haven't. I guess I'll be upgrading to 1GB RAM pretty soon, then.