PCA Forums

QUESTION:
Pretend you are an "average" computer user. You do not overclock and you are not a gamer. You use your computer for the Internet, basic home-office programs, Printshop-like programs, CD burning, etc.
You have a P4 1.6MH PC.

How noticeable would it be if you upgraded from 256 PC2100 DDR RAM to 512?

For photoshop stuff 512megs will make a worlds of difference....

What operating system are you running? If you are running Windows 9x/ME, another 256 probably won't make a big enough difference to justify the price of hte memory. If you are running XP or Win2k, it would make a noticeable difference.

What TruckStuff said

Well guys, let's get real here. He's probably running XP I'll assume since it's a new box (as said previously, if it's Win98 don't bother - 256Mb is more than enough).

XP or Win2K will both benefit from more memory. The more you throw at them the smoother they run.

Assuming you have Win2K or XP open as many apps as you normally do while working, then bring up task manager. Click on the Performance tab and check your Total Commit memory. This is the amount of physical ram you are using. If it's over 192Mb then I'd consider adding some more memory. If it never goes over 128 then you're fine as you are - you're not even using half of what you've got.

BUT since you very clearly pointed out that you're not a serious gamer and you just use it for Internet browsing, email, home office (Works or MS Office), CD burning and printshop, then REALISTICALLY you're probably not going to see all that much of an improvement.

HOWEVER, here's a caveat: nowadays most people are running WAY too much crap in the background: MSN (whether you use it or not) a dozen "startup apps" for Winamp, AOL, Works, Office, etc. Maybe you use Webshots so your wallpaper changes, and some other eye-candy crap.

All this stuff uses extra memory. Also if you're a power user (you like to have several apps and Windows open at the same time) then you'll also notice a performance boost with more memory (each instance of IE robs a few Mb for instance and when I'm doing research I'll have 8 or more IE windows running).

So the bottom line is that if you're a basic one program at a time user, and you don't have a hundred worthless background apps running, then you probably won't see any appreciable difference between 256Mb and 512.

Memory is relatively cheap, though, so if you can spare the money and wouldn't mind a snappier desktop then treat yourself.

Thanks, these are wonderful, well-thought-out responses. I especially learned a thing or 3 from the Penguin. No Photoshop here, but Windows XP and much multi-tasking. It IS cheap now, isn't it?

OK, I'll sneak in a free question. My wife has a similar system, also using XP, (this one was my kid's computer) but ALWAYS runs 5 or 6 programs at the same time plus does LOTS of photo editing with a 3.3 pixel digicam. I manage to rid her of start-up apps and taught her configsys. However, she's been know to get an occasional "out of memory" popup, but they only come from playing on "Pogo" while running all those apps.

The difference here is she ALREADY has 512 PC2100 DDR RAM.
1. Would she benefit from an additional 512?
2. When do you overdo it?

Unless you're using Photoshop or Sound Forge or some other major memory hogging app, I see no reason for an "average" user to require more than 512Mb in their computer. It's just going to waste.

I have 512 and the only time I run out of physical memory is when I'm running Photoshop AND Image Ready, both sharing the same project, and it's a huge multilayer project, and also have another 15 or 20 Windows running (normal when I'm doing web development work). I have an indicator that shows free ram and when it skirts close to 20Mb I start closing windows. I wouldn't mind sticking another 512 in there, but I'm a special case.

An NT operating system never really "runs out of memory". The error your wife is getting is for another reason. If it only happens with that app then I'd blame that app.

Assuming you have Win2K or XP open as many apps as you normally do while working, then bring up task manager. Click on the Performance tab and check your Total Commit memory. This is the amount of physical ram you are using. If it's over 192Mb then I'd consider adding some more memory. If it never goes over 128 then you're fine as you are - you're not even using half of what you've got.

Penguin, I can find performance but not "total commit memory." Can you be a bit more specific? Thanks.

In the performance tab, lower left corner there's a box labelled "Commit Charge (K)". Under that is a number for "Total". That's your total Commit memory.

Actually the more useful number is "Peak" since that will be the maximum amout of commit memory you've used that session.

Found it! Will experiment, thanks.