Will adding 2GB of RAM for a total of 4GB improve performance?

[Leythos]

8859-15?Q?_db_=3F=AF`=B7.._=3E=3C=29=29=29=BA=3E`_.._.?= <databaseben at
hotmail dot com> says...

nothing has been provided
validating your faulty theory
that the o.p.'s computer is
referring to a home pc or
that of a receptionists.

perhaps, it is because
you are a receptionist.

And nothing was stated to suggest that the OP's message was about
either, it's called covering the bases - ignorant people like you post
half-backed ideas and distract the solution.

 

[db ?¯`·.. >]

unfortunately, you are
wrong again because
you did not cover all
the bases, just two that
you are familiar with

furthermore, if you read
my post, I was in fact
suggesting that you are
nothing more than a
receptionist

sitting behind a counter
trolling around at your
receptionist computer.

then you go home, likely to
an old stump in the woods
or underneath a bridge
where you continue the
charade and your regular
offensive behavior.


--

db·?¯`·...?><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[db ?¯`·.. >]

my information is appropriate
for computers deemed to have
insufficient memory and there
is a need for more for buffering
or caching dvd movies or
making them.

--

db·?¯`·...?><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Leythos]

8859-15?Q?_db_=3F=AF`=B7.._=3E=3C=29=29=29=BA=3E`_.._.?= <databaseben at
hotmail dot com> says...

my information is appropriate
for computers deemed to have
insufficient memory and there
is a need for more for buffering
or caching dvd movies or
making them.

No, it's not. 2GB of RAM, which the OP mentioned, is more than enough to
play any DVD movie on a PC. Any half-experienced tech would know that
already.

Your information is misleading and wrong.

 

[Lil' Dave]

Along with that don't buy name brand memory from other than the maker. You
could be getting what's called "seconds". If the maker doesn't retail sell,
you can never tell what you're getting.

--
Dave

CDOs are how we got here.
A modified version, new taxes in the future, is how Congress will get us
out?

 

[Unknown]

Sorry, but that is absolute hogwash. Buy memory from Crucial. They
manufacture it for computer manufacturers and what's more, they guarantee
it. And, I might add it is far cheaper than from computer manufacturers.

 

[Thee Chicago Wolf (MVP)]

Along with that don't buy name brand memory from other than the maker. You

could be getting what's called "seconds". If the maker doesn't retail sell,
you can never tell what you're getting.

Complete and utter bunkum. Ever seen what HP tries to pull with
printer memory made by "HP"? It's just re-branded and priced 500% over
MSRP.

- Thee Chicago Wolf (MVP)

 

[Uncle Ben]

From: "Uncle Ben" <[email protected]>
Newsgroups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2009 10:50 AM
Subject: Will adding 2GB of RAM for a total of 4GB improve performance?


Quote ...SNIP
On a routine call with Dell Customer Support regarding a stubborn DVD
drive,
once that problem solved, the tech recommended that I increase the physical
RAM from 2 to 4 GB, that doing so would produce a significant performance
boost. Is that so, even though Xp won't be using all of the 4GB but
allocate some for the video card and other components, leaving perhaps 3 to
3.4 GB for the OS. Not that this purchase will break the bank ... just
don't want to do it if the benefits aren't there.

TIA for your help!
Unquote

Once again, many thanks to all who have come to the rescue. I very very
much appreciate it. Based on the advice I received here, I ran an all-day
test yesterday, doing picture editing (some with very large files), video
production/editing, etc. Guess what - the commit charge never exceeded 1 GB
(always running between 600-850 MB). So it turns out that I don't need the
RAM upgrade. I remember the days when one could actually count on genuine
professional advice on the tech support call to Dell. I remember the days
where Dell would never in a million years recommend an upgrade that isn't
absolutely necessary. I'm glad I looked into it, I'm glad that they're
folks out there like yourselves who willingly share their know-how to help
others like me; and I'm sorry if my OP gave sparked some animosity. What I
think is important to remember here is that everyone that answered my OP
meant well, they had their best foot forward, they were trying to help. My
computer, incidentally, is used in a home office environment - we run a
family bakery business and while the computers are used primarily for
business purposes, I spend my leisure time doing those DVDs of the kids and
grandkids.

Cheers! And have a grand day!

 

[db ´¯`·.. >]

conflict breeds creativity

and we are all glad you
found the solution.

--

db·´¯`·...¸><)))º>
DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
- Database Developer
- Accountancy
- Veteran of the Armed Forces

"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[JS]

You're welcome and happy editing!

 

[Peter Foldes]

Bullcrapola. You just pay more for the name and nothing else

 

[Daniel Jameson]

To know which brands to buy, go to NewEgg.com and peruse the reviews, even
if you don't buy from NewEgg.

--
Thank you,

Daniel Jameson
SQL Server DBA
Children's Oncology Group
www.childrensoncologygroup.org

 

[Leythos]

To know which brands to buy, go to NewEgg.com and peruse the reviews, even
if you don't buy from NewEgg.

I've bought Server and Workstation memory and Printer memory using that
listed at www.crucial.com and have never had a problem with their
selections.

Their memory selection tool makes life easy.

I've had customers that bought memory, were shipped the wrong memory,
and they were overnighted the correct memory - they also sent a return
ticket for the incorrect memory - something that not every vendor does.

 

[John John (MVP)]

You're welcome. You do have a tested backup routine and you are
prepared for disaster recovery, right?

John

 

[Guest]

FWIW, I can tell you from personal experience. I recently upgraded my RAM
from 2G to 4G to "improve performance" on an XP Media Center laptop and
noticed no difference in speed. None.

It was from crucial ram on a Toshiba satellite laptop.

Jeff

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

FWIW, I can tell you from personal experience. I recently upgraded my RAM
from 2G to 4G to "improve performance" on an XP Media Center laptop and
noticed no difference in speed. None.

I'm not surprised, but unfortunately, *your* personal experience may
or may not be meaningful to Uncle Ben. As I said in a previous message
in this thread, "How much RAM you need for good performance is *not* a
one-size-fits-all situation." It depends on what apps you run.

However, there's a good chance that Uncle Ben would have a very
similar experience to yours. Even 2GB is considerably more than most
people need, and even *decreasing* RAM from 2GB to 1GB would likely
produce no difference in speed for most people.

 

[Uncle Ben]

You're welcome. You do have a tested backup routine and you are prepared
for disaster recovery, right?

John

You bet! ;-)

 

[Guest]

System: Dell Dimension 9150, Intel Pentium D CPR 3.00GHz, 2.0 RAM
OS: Windows Xp MCE 2002 SP3
Plenty of HD space 250GB boot drive, + two external USB drives (500 GB + 160
GB)

On a routine call with Dell Customer Support regarding a stubborn DVD drive,
once that problem solved, the tech recommended that I increase the physical
RAM from 2 to 4 GB, that doing so would produce a significant performance
boost. Is that so, even though Xp won't be using all of the 4GB but
allocate some for the video card and other components, leaving perhaps 3 to
3.4 GB for the OS. Not that this purchase will break the bank ... just
don't want to do it if the benefits aren't there.

TIA for your help!

If you run task manager, it will tell you how much of your memory is in use.
If you're not using it all, more won't help.
Vista gives you a lot of info. Don't remember how much info you can glean
from xp task manager.
If you're using the 4 slots, you have to toss out 2GB and add 4GB.
FWIW, I run Vista on 2GB with the swap file turned off.
Only time I have a problem is when I try to open multiple virtual machines.
mike