More RAM?

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 7:56 pm

I have a win7 64bit OS with 2GB of RAM. Will I benefit much if I put in 4GB? if yes, where will I see improvements in?

thx

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 8:37 pm

Without question..yes Win7 will run much better. I start Win7 systems with 4 gigs of RAM. One some ultra budget systems...3 gigs is OK..but 2 gigs..yikes..ouch!

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Tue Jan 10, 2012 9:29 pm

Ram is so cheap right now I would definately install as much as you can afford. You can get 8 gig for under $70

Mark · Post by **Mark** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 5:49 am

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820233144

8GB for 40

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 8:48 am

^^ what he said ^^

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 2:47 pm

Is that RAM compatible with my pc of HP CQ5600Y? Thx Mark for pointing that out.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 3:32 pm

24giovanni wrote:Is that RAM compatible with my pc of HP CQ5600Y? Thx Mark for pointing that out.

Just go to http://www.crucial.com and run the memory check scan tool..see what it says. You'll see the type of memory it determines your exact systems needs...takes about 30 seconds..and gives you a definitive answer.

Judging on the vintage that I "think" your system is..I doubt it's PC3 like linked above..most likely PC2 5300 or 6400....but still dirt cheap.

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Wed Jan 11, 2012 4:33 pm

YeOldeStonecat wrote:Just go to http://www.crucial.com and run the memory check scan tool..see what it says. You'll see the type of memory it determines your exact systems needs...takes about 30 seconds..and gives you a definitive answer.

Judging on the vintage that I "think" your system is..I doubt it's PC3 like linked above..most likely PC2 5300 or 6400....but still dirt cheap.

As usual, you are correct Cat and this PC only supports 4Gb of RAM. thx

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 10:18 am

YeOldeStonecat wrote:One some ultra budget systems...3 gigs is OK..

What if they just run IE, Firefox, Adobe Reader and Word and Excel Viewers? Is that doable (Just the 3 Gigs)?

Easto · Post by **Easto** » Sat Jan 14, 2012 11:48 am

CableDude wrote:What if they just run IE, Firefox, Adobe Reader and Word and Excel Viewers? Is that doable (Just the 3 Gigs)?

My wife and another friend are running Win 7 64 bit with only 3 gig and everything runs just fine. They are not by any means "power users". When you're only browsing and doing email etc it runs just fine. If you start editing pictures and video (including playing some game) it's nice to have the extra memory. My experience with systems that only have small amounts of memory is that they also have 5400rpm drives. Installing a 7200rpm drive gives you a more than noticable boost. The thing is, memory is so damn cheap right now it's hard to make an argument not to install more memory, period.

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Wed Mar 07, 2012 10:27 pm

Is this RAM compatible with my pc of HP CQ5600Y ? Plz let me know.

http://www.frys.com/product/6011558?

thx

According to this link it supports up to 4 gb for a 32bit system but what about 64bit which I have. Any ideas?

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu ... 00412#N284

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 5:28 am

24giovanni wrote:Is this RAM compatible with my pc of HP CQ5600Y ? Plz let me know.

http://www.frys.com/product/6011558?

thx

According to this link it supports up to 4 gb for a 32bit system but what about 64bit which I have. Any ideas?

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu ... 00412#N284

It will probably work...hard to tell for sure. I always order memory specifically tested/approved for a system (IE....what you get at http://www.crucial.com after going through the selection guide). That way I'm pretty much guaranteed to know it will work problem free.

The memory won't care about 32 bit or 64 bit OS.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 7:05 am

24giovanni wrote:Is this RAM compatible with my pc of HP CQ5600Y ? Plz let me know.

http://www.frys.com/product/6011558?

thx

According to this link it supports up to 4 gb for a 32bit system but what about 64bit which I have. Any ideas?

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/docu ... 00412#N284

The way I read it, your PC supports 2 gig per slot for 4 gigs total. They mention only 4 gig max for 32 bit windows only because your usable RAM will end up being less than 4 gigs. 32 bit Windows can only address 4 gigs max. Address space used by add-in cards gets subtracted.

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 10:17 am

YeOldeStonecat wrote:It will probably work...hard to tell for sure. I always order memory specifically tested/approved for a system (IE....what you get at http://www.crucial.com after going through the selection guide). That way I'm pretty much guaranteed to know it will work problem free.

The memory won't care about 32 bit or 64 bit OS.

Thx Cat. Since t is a good deal and I am low on funds goona go with it. Appreciate it as always.

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 10:18 am

The Dude wrote:The way I read it, your PC supports 2 gig per slot for 4 gigs total. They mention only 4 gig max for 32 bit windows only because your usable RAM will end up being less than 4 gigs. 32 bit Windows can only address 4 gigs max. Address space used by add-in cards gets subtracted.

thank you so much for your resopnse.

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 10:19 am

Thx all for your help.

RoundEye · Post by **RoundEye** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:25 am

Your PC will benefit greatly stepping up to four. I run Win7 64 bit also, I noticed it takes up one gig just booting to the desktop. I put 24 gigs of ram in my PC. Overkill I know, my mobo has six ram slots and can handle more ram then that. So, why not?

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Thu Mar 08, 2012 11:47 am

RoundEye wrote:Your PC will benefit greatly stepping up to four. I run Win7 64 bit also, I noticed it takes up one gig just booting to the desktop. I put 24 gigs of ram in my PC. Overkill I know, my mobo has six ram slots and can handle more ram then that. So, why not?

Thx for your opinion roundeye. I appreciate it.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 12:33 am

Related question...
Older mobo w/ 4 slots, running Win 7 Home Premium

Better to use 2 x 1GB PC3200 and 2 x 2700, 4 GB all at the lower speed
or
2 x 1GB PC3200 and 2 x 512MB PC3200... 3 GB but at a faster speed?

Lots of threads out there, read a couple dozen, and I know it all depends on what you're using the system for...little to no gaming, more just surfing, photo editing, and watching NetFlix :rolleyes.

Just curious on your take on it.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 2:46 am

I'd go with the 4GB option.

The Dude · Post by **The Dude** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 7:05 am

If 4 1 gig moduels will get you Dual Channel mode I'd go that route, even at the lower speed.

CableDude · Post by **CableDude** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 8:00 am

CableDude wrote:What if they just run IE, Firefox, Adobe Reader and Word and Excel Viewers? Is that doable (Just the 3 Gigs)?

These units run much nicer with Windows 7 then they did with Vista.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 1:19 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:I'd go with the 4GB option.

That's what I've been doing but a friend just gave me some 6lb OCZ sticks

PC3200 512MB

It's 32bit Win7, even though it sees all 4 GB doesn't it only utilize 3 or 3.5?

Easiest thing is to benchmark both configurations but SiSoft was crashing last night and haven't had a chance to try another one yet.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 3:21 pm

Benchmarks wont really matter. Ya, you wont have use of it all, depending on how much video ram your graphics card has, But Id rather have more RAM at 2700 than a bit less at 3200.

Now like The Dude mentioned, If you can run 1 set in dual channel, but not the other, go with the ones that will run in dual channel. But based on your needs, either way would meet them.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Sat Mar 10, 2012 3:28 pm

YARDofSTUF wrote:Benchmarks wont really matter. Ya, you wont have use of it all, depending on how much video ram your graphics card has, But Id rather have more RAM at 2700 than a bit less at 3200.

Now like The Dude mentioned, If you can run 1 set in dual channel, but not the other, go with the ones that will run in dual channel. But based on your needs, either way would meet them.

Yeah, dual-channel board and all the memory is in matched pairs.

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Sun Mar 11, 2012 12:56 pm

I'd go with 4 gigs and run it all at 400 on the motherboard (which is what PC3200 runs at)...the motherboard allows manual setting of the memory speed. So basically you're overclocking the 2700 memory a little bit.

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Mon Mar 12, 2012 9:53 pm

Is there a way to tell if RAM is new and not been used since it was "opened and didn't know I couldn't reseal it" ?

thx

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 11:20 am

Someone anyone?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 12:31 pm

The fact that the memory is no longer in a factory sealed and branded farrady cage (the anti static bag) would logically be my first clue.....

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Sat Mar 17, 2012 9:33 pm

I currently have this RAM stick on my mobo

http://www.memory4less.com/m4l_itemdeta ... 1447598306 and I am thinking adding one of these stick and wondering if it is compatible with my memory module?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820161482

OR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820178220

Plz let me know.

thx

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Sun Mar 18, 2012 12:39 pm

Anyone???????

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Mon Mar 19, 2012 8:40 am

24giovanni wrote:I currently have this RAM stick on my mobo

http://www.memory4less.com/m4l_itemdeta ... 1447598306 and I am thinking adding one of these stick and wondering if it is compatible with my memory module?

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820161482

OR

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6820178220

Plz let me know.

thx

It will "probably work"....although I wouldn't get "Wintec" or "PNY" brand stuff. The memory type of your computer appears to be PC2 6400...so those above sticks you linked will probably work fine. No guarantee though....because there are subtle differences that can affect you in a negative way....and these problems are avoided when you go and get memory specifically tested on/approved compatible with your system..such as the memory you'd get if you went to a memory manufacturers site and ran through a memory select guide, resulting in a list of memory stick that you KNOW 100% WILL WORK WITH YOUR SYSTEM.

Or...take a chance...just get any old stick of some bargain brand stuff...cross your fingers and hope that it works well with your system. But if your system locks up like..once a month..once a week, or even once every 6 months...was it because of that "any old stick of generic value ram" that you got? You'll never know.

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:47 am

Went with crucial pc2-6400 ddr2. 800MHz http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs. ... 25664aa800

is that better?

thx

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 11:57 am

24giovanni wrote:Went with crucial pc2-6400 ddr2. 800MHz http://www.crucial.com/store/partspecs. ... 25664aa800

is that better?

thx

Is that one of the products that the Crucial advisor tool suggested after checking your exact system? If so..."Yes". If not....why so resistant towards running their advisor tool?

24giovanni · Post by **24giovanni** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 2:54 pm

YeOldeStonecat wrote:Is that one of the products that the Crucial advisor tool suggested after checking your exact system? If so..."Yes". If not....why so resistant towards running their advisor tool?

Same specs as they recommend.

YARDofSTUF · Post by **YARDofSTUF** » Tue Mar 20, 2012 3:09 pm

24giovanni wrote:Same specs as they recommend.

Same specs or the same stick the advisor tool told you was guaranteed?

Post by **YeOldeStonecat** » Thu Dec 26, 2013 7:00 am

MichaelPhillipis wrote:I don't believe a 64-bit will make any noticeable changes to your games since it would depend more on the CPU and GPU..

Strongly disagree....many of todays games are much happier with large amounts of memory, some games run SOOOOO much smoother on systems with 8 gigs of RAM versus just 3 or 4 gigs of RAM. Of course you need a 64 bit Windows OS to be able to use RAM above 4 gigs.....