The max RAM needed for a normal user?

Movitz · 10-02-2007, 02:44 AM

Is there any need whatsoever to get more than 2 Gb of RAM. What is the maximum amount of RAM Windows and games can handle nowadays?

**blackduck30** · 10-02-2007, 02:58 AM

If you are running XP it will handle just under 4G.
XP under normal use will run fine on 1G
2G is a nice option for vista tho and does not hurt in XP either.
I don't think you need more than that for every day use

permalink · 10-02-2007, 11:57 AM

I think 2GB for XP and Vista if you want to game much. If you don't play 3d games then I'd say at least 768mb for XP and at least 1GB for Vista.

**Kalim** · 10-02-2007, 12:45 PM

2GB for XP and Vista, unless you do regular heavy image/video work in a 64-bit environment, in which case more is better.

Movitz · 10-03-2007, 02:38 AM

Thanks for your input guys.

What's the maximum amount that vista handles. There is a difference between 64 and 32 bit versions right?

**blackduck30** · 10-03-2007, 02:54 AM

32 bit will be the same as 32 bit Xp as far as I know, if you want to break that barrier you have to go 64bit

VISTA 64 bit

Home Basic is limited to 8GB,
Home Premium is limited to 16GB
Business, Enterprise and Ultimate let you get all the way up to 128GB.

Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition SP2 64-bit 2 Terabytes of RAM.

**speedster123** · 10-03-2007, 11:58 AM

vista memory boost
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...eadyboost.mspx

Movitz · 10-04-2007, 03:31 AM

I cannot decide wheter to buy 2 or 4 Gb. Two is probably enough now and for a year and a half but in order to increase the life span of the machine maybe 4 is better? Last time I built myself a computer I bought 1 Gb (which 5 years ago was total overkill) but I never regretted that.

What's your general opinions in this matter?

**speedster123** · 10-04-2007, 04:09 AM

xp or vista?

Movitz · 10-04-2007, 09:35 AM

Well. vista sooner or later. Might not be from the start but once they fix most of the bugs I'll get it.

**blackduck30** · 10-05-2007, 05:13 PM

It will depend on if you are going to use 64bit or not as you will not be able to use the full 4G in 32bit.
If your board has 4 ram slots just get 2X1G sticks from a major manufacturer and then you have a better chance of buying another pair at a later date to boost up to 4G if you find you need it

macten · 10-06-2007, 10:02 PM

I took delivery of a Gateway laptop with Vista Ultimate and 2G of RAM about a week ago. After reading a lot of posts about how slow vista was, I didn't know what to expect. After using it for a week, Vista seems plenty fast with 2G of RAM. Although I also got their second best Core 2 Duo processor with 4M L2 Cache and a dedicated ATI video card, which helps quite a bit, I would imagine.

As far as glitches or problems with Vista, I haven't seen any yet....

10-02-2007, 02:44 AM	#1 (permalink)
Movitz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 40 OS: XP	The max RAM needed for a normal user? Is there any need whatsoever to get more than 2 Gb of RAM. What is the maximum amount of RAM Windows and games can handle nowadays?

10-02-2007, 02:58 AM	#2 (permalink)
blackduck30 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,230 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: The max RAM needed for a normal user? If you are running XP it will handle just under 4G. XP under normal use will run fine on 1G 2G is a nice option for vista tho and does not hurt in XP either. I don't think you need more than that for every day use __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All

10-02-2007, 11:57 AM	#3 (permalink)
chin Guest Posts: n/a OS:	Re: The max RAM needed for a normal user? I think 2GB for XP and Vista if you want to game much. If you don't play 3d games then I'd say at least 768mb for XP and at least 1GB for Vista.

10-02-2007, 12:45 PM	#4 (permalink)
Kalim Roaming To Help Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 5,642 OS: Many	Re: The max RAM needed for a normal user? 2GB for XP and Vista, unless you do regular heavy image/video work in a 64-bit environment, in which case more is better.

10-03-2007, 02:38 AM	#5 (permalink)
Movitz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 40 OS: XP	Re: The max RAM needed for a normal user? Thanks for your input guys. What's the maximum amount that vista handles. There is a difference between 64 and 32 bit versions right?

10-03-2007, 02:54 AM	#6 (permalink)
blackduck30 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,230 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: The max RAM needed for a normal user? 32 bit will be the same as 32 bit Xp as far as I know, if you want to break that barrier you have to go 64bit VISTA 64 bit Home Basic is limited to 8GB, Home Premium is limited to 16GB Business, Enterprise and Ultimate let you get all the way up to 128GB. Windows Server 2003 Enterprise Edition SP2 64-bit 2 Terabytes of RAM. __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All Last edited by blackduck30; 10-03-2007 at 02:58 AM.

10-03-2007, 11:58 AM	#7 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,223 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: The max RAM needed for a normal user? vista memory boost http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...eadyboost.mspx __________________

10-04-2007, 03:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
Movitz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 40 OS: XP	Re: The max RAM needed for a normal user? I cannot decide wheter to buy 2 or 4 Gb. Two is probably enough now and for a year and a half but in order to increase the life span of the machine maybe 4 is better? Last time I built myself a computer I bought 1 Gb (which 5 years ago was total overkill) but I never regretted that. What's your general opinions in this matter?

10-04-2007, 04:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,223 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: The max RAM needed for a normal user? xp or vista? __________________

10-04-2007, 09:35 AM	#10 (permalink)
Movitz Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 40 OS: XP	Re: The max RAM needed for a normal user? Well. vista sooner or later. Might not be from the start but once they fix most of the bugs I'll get it.

10-05-2007, 05:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
blackduck30 TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Wollongong/Australia Posts: 4,230 OS: XP pro SP3/Vista Ultimate My System	Re: The max RAM needed for a normal user? It will depend on if you are going to use 64bit or not as you will not be able to use the full 4G in 32bit. If your board has 4 ram slots just get 2X1G sticks from a major manufacturer and then you have a better chance of buying another pair at a later date to boost up to 4G if you find you need it __________________ Blackduck30 Time is like money and milk, It's always running out Any Donations Help Keep TSF Free For All

10-06-2007, 10:02 PM	#12 (permalink)
macten Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 239 OS: xp	Re: The max RAM needed for a normal user? I took delivery of a Gateway laptop with Vista Ultimate and 2G of RAM about a week ago. After reading a lot of posts about how slow vista was, I didn't know what to expect. After using it for a week, Vista seems plenty fast with 2G of RAM. Although I also got their second best Core 2 Duo processor with 4M L2 Cache and a dedicated ATI video card, which helps quite a bit, I would imagine. As far as glitches or problems with Vista, I haven't seen any yet....