Win2k RAM Hype!?

[RxL77]

EVerybody says Win2k needs at least 256 Megs of RAM to be decent... Right now, I have 192 and it seems pretty good. Now is it worth it to buy a 256mB stick and pump my system up to 384? (Gotta remove that 64 meg stick though) I mean, how much speed are we talking about? 256, blah blah blah, worth it?

 

[glenn1]

256 runs fine with me. If sdram wasn't so dirt cheap now, the amount of people here on the forums who'd be running more than 256 megs would likely be around zero. As it is, since sdram is cheap, everyone figures, 'why not?' and starts buying more.

If you do decide to get some more sdram, go to Compuwiz1 to get it.

 

[erub]

i thought win2k was decent with 128 megs, but then i popped in another 128 megs and was like, wow! I added a 64 meg stick that i got for free after MIR from CompUSA, and i didnt see any difference between 256 and 320. So who knows

 

[JJ8]

For video editing, CAD/CAM, 3D modeling, audio editing, compiling, etc will all benefit from more than 256 MB RAM on W2K. The question is are you using W2K as a PC or as a workstation.

 

[RxL77]

i'm using win2k on a Dell inspiron 4000 (p3 600) as a PC of course.

 

[MrBond]

I usually max out my ram usage at 100mb while surfing, decoding mp3s, and using Dreamweaver. I have 256mb in my 1.3ghz pc

 

[dullard]

<< EVerybody says Win2k needs at least 256 Megs of RAM to be decent... Right now, I have 192 and it seems pretty good. Now is it worth it to buy a 256mB stick and pump my system up to 384? (Gotta remove that 64 meg stick though) I mean, how much speed are we talking about? 256, blah blah blah, worth it? >>



There is only one answer that will work for everyone. Load up a systems monitor program. Use your computer as you normally would. If you even occasionally use up all the memory (and start using virtual memory) then you will see a performance boost and you really should buy memory. If you always have free memory, you will see no performance boost and memory will be a waste of money. I have 1 GB of memory and want more, others are fine with 128 MB. So you must perform this test to know what YOU need.

 

[RxL77]

where do i get a systems monitor program? is it included in the system tools?

 

[OS]

My experience is like this, 128 passable, 192 significantly better than 128, 256 slightly better than 192, everything above don't really notice. I just use my system for browsing the net, MP3s, photo/audio editing sometimes, but nothing ultra intensive.

 

[AndyHui]

Right click on the Task Bar and select Task Manager. It will show you memory usage in that. Open up what you would normally do, and then open up other things to really give a maximum of what you would be doing at once, then take note of the memory usage indicated by Task Manager.

 

[benjamit]

dullard

what do you use your system for?

 

[dullard]

<< dullard

what do you use your system for? >>



I solve equations. And you? To be more specific: I model fluid flow, reactions, and heat transfer. I'm looking for 2 GB of memory as soon as that promissed RDRAM price drop occurs.

 

[JackBurton]

Dude, you can get a 128MB stick of PC800 RDRAM from MWAVE.COM for $79! That's not a bad price at all.

 

[benjamit]

dullard

something much more modest
graphics and video editing
a gig for me is more than necessary but it was under $200 shipped