Should I get 8GB RAM?

K

KMPhoto

Messages
2,406
Name
Kevin
Edit My Images
Yes
At present I have:

1055T at stock speed

4GB DDR3 1333MHz

60GB SSD

Windows 7

and wondering if I would notice much of a difference if I were to add another 4GB of the same RAM.

I use LR3 / PSE8 and both run fine but with RAM prices so low at the moment, I'm tempted!

Any thoughts?

Cheers.
 
Use the system monitor to see how much memory is in use and how much paging you are doing. If the answer is "a lot" then yes, it will help.

You are running Win7 64bit aren't you?
 
Providing it's a 64bit OS, knock yourself out, it won't do any harm.
 
2 things -

1) if it's 64 bit it can't do any harm.

2) if you're not using the full 4gb already, then there's no benefit, so check up as above.
 
Yes, I have 64bit Windows 7; I will check out how much is in use when I am running LR3.

Another question: will RAM prices drop much more? (Black art of guessing but hey, someone may know!)
 
With whats going on in Japan at the moment, I would suggest there will be a shortage in the short term, so probably not.
 
neil_g said:
its always nice knowing youve got plenty of headroom if you ever get/think about getting a new application that is memory intensive.
Click to expand...

But why waste money if you dont need to? If you want to buy a new app that uses loads of memory, buy the memory at that point.
 
the memory usage in windows 7 is much more, err, "trick" also. the more empty memory you have the more windows will use for caching and speed up your system.

thats a very basic description of it, there are much more in depth articles on windows 7 memory usage on the net :)
 
Indeed that is true, but if you're not using it now then it's not using it for caching.

For example, my work machine has 6gb of ram, of which currently 3.5gb is free. So it doesnt use up to the limit of the ram available.

If it's close to 4gb used, then its worth upgrading, but if its not using 3 in general use then I would leave it be.
 
I have a very similar setup to the OP and I was going to go for 8GB of RAM until I found out at the last minute that the laptop did only support 4. On that thought, if the OP can afford 8GB of RAM and the computer will take it, I'd advise on it.
 
Like the OP I'm also thinking of getting another 4GB (2x2). I already have 4GB but the usage monitor is showing 2.97 with Capture NX2 running.

The question is - do I need to get exactly the same make/type/model as the existing sticks (I think they're discontinued now)?

Existing - OCZ DDR2 PC2-5300 (p/n OCZ26671024ELGEGXT).
Win 7 64-bit & ASUS M3A78 Pro.
 
Last edited:
Ozei said:
Like the OP I'm also thinking of getting another 4GB (2x2). I already have 4GB but the usage monitor is showing 2.97 with Capture NX2 running.

The question is - do I need to get exactly the same make/type/model as the existing sticks (I think they're discontinued now)?

Existing - OCZ DDR2 PC2-5300 (p/n OCZ26671024ELGEGXT).
Win 7 64-bit & ASUS M378 Pro.
Click to expand...

ideally yes. in theory no, the fastest should downspeed if necessary to match latency settings etc.

if it were me id sell off what is in there and buy an 8gb kit so youre guaranteed to have matching sticks.
 
neil_g said:
ideally yes. in theory no, the fastest should downspeed if necessary to match latency settings etc.

if it were me id sell off what is in there and buy an 8gb kit so youre guaranteed to have matching sticks.
Click to expand...

Thanks Neil. I'll have to sell the existing ones anyway - I just realised (via Speccy) they're 4 x 1GB so no spare slots.

Presumably I could use 8GB of PC2-8500 instead of the existing PC2-5300?

(Apologies to the OP for hijacking!)
 
Thanks chaps. :)

The Crucial scanner suggests 8GB (4 x 2) of CT25664AA800, which is PC2-6400/800Mhz. Cost is around £100 for 8GB.

According to the manual, the Asus M3A78Pro takes PC2-8500/1066Mhz as well - but that's only for AM2+ cpu's. I have an AM2 cpu so it seems PC2-6400 is the fastest I can use.
 
I have had 8gb of ram for the last couple of years in the main machine, and never ever run out of memory or had any slow downs. The laptop has 4gb and frequently has to thrash the harddisc cacheing things. Both Win7 64bit and same processor family (c2duo).

I'm thinking of building a new system this year, and wouldn't consider anything less...Memory isn't particularly expensive as part of the overall cost.
 
I should add that I added 4G to go from 4->8G in my old system and I found it worthwhile. In my new build, I put 16G in to start with and very rarely go over 8G used.
 
It depends on what you will be using your computer for...

8GB will be useless if you only play solitare, but if you use stuff like Photoshop then it would be worthwhile as Photoshop can use crazy amounts of memory....
 
trencheel303 said:
What is it that you are doing on a laptop that causes so much memory to be used up?
Click to expand...

CAD...various Real Time systems... I certainly can't run other programs (Office / Lightroom /PS) at the same time as them on the laptop without it crawling - although to be fair, the laptop is a slightly slower CPU and has a slower harddisc, so disc caching is more obvious
 
Nice build, but not for me - too big to fit where my PC lives :D
 
Got mine, installed along with current 4GB, booted up and got a BSOD :(

Installed just the new two and the same problem so going back to Novatech. At least they are good guys to deal with when a problem occurs!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top