Use of internal memory

[Guest]

I recently increased my internal memory from 384MB to 512MB; 512MB is the
maximum internal memory supported by my computer (H-P 7855).

I'm currently running WindowsXP Home, and I'm at the latest update level.

Is there a way for me to determine If my computer is actually taking
advantage of the additional 128MB of memory?

Thanks

 

[GRAND_POOBAH]

Something like that would be hard to determine. Is your computer
running a bit faster? Are browser windows opening sooner? The addition
of just 128MB is a good thing to do but more would have been better.

I am not familiar with that particular computer. Is the limitation on
RAM a total-size problem, or is it the actual size of the RAM stick you
can insert?

GP

--->

 

[Guest]

The 512MB limitation is on the computer, itself -- that's all it supports.

I believe that there are some programs available that let you monitor and
have a degree of control over how memory is used. I was wondering if XP comes
with some sort of monitoring tool..

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I recently increased my internal memory from 384MB to 512MB; 512MB is
the maximum internal memory supported by my computer (H-P 7855).

I'm currently running WindowsXP Home, and I'm at the latest update
level.

Is there a way for me to determine If my computer is actually taking
advantage of the additional 128MB of memory?

If the memory is installed, Windows is using it. It's automatic. There's
nothing to do and nothing that needs to be checked.

Your asking the question makes it sound like adding the additional RAM
didn't result in a percepible speed increase for you. If that's the case, it
isn't necessarily surprising. Despite what many people will tell you, more
memory is *not* necessarily better (although it never hurts).

You get good performance if the amount of RAM you have keeps you from using
the page file, and that depends on what apps you run. Most people running a
typical range of business applications find that somewhere around 256-384MB
works well, others need 512MB. Almost anyone will see poor performance with
less than 256MB. Some people, particularly those doing things like editing
large photographic images, can see a performance boost by adding even more
than 512MB--sometimes much more.

So if you saw no speedup as a result of adding more RAM, it's likely that
the 384MB you started with was adequate for the mix of apps *you* run.

 

[Shaun]

Does your bios see the memory....?
Go to control pan and click system and on that screen see how much xp
reports.
Do alt ctl del to bring up task manager and under preformance see how much
it shows their.

 

[Gerry Cornell]

Use of RAM memory is preferable to using the pagefile (virtual memory)
because it is quicker to read and write to RAM memory.

Try Ctrl+Alt+Delete to select Task Manager and click the Performance
Tab. Under Commit Charge what is the Total, the Limit and the Peak?
Please post these details.



--

Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your help on this. The computer does report that it sees the full
memory. One of the apps in which I was hopeful fora performance improvement
is Adobe Photoshop Elements 5. Could be that I'm processor-bound for that at
only 1 gigahertz.

Ken

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Thanks for your help on this. The computer does report that it sees
the full memory. One of the apps in which I was hopeful fora
performance improvement is Adobe Photoshop Elements 5. Could be that
I'm processor-bound for that at only 1 gigahertz.

You're welcome. Glad to help. Yes, Photohop Elements is the kind of app
where extra RAM can make a big difference. And I would expect that RAM would
be more important than the processor speed.

If you haven't seen any improvement in Elements performance after going from
384 to 512MB, my *guess* is that the additional 128MB is just not a
significant-enough increment.