1 GB vs 2 GB of RAM

[jacktesterson]

Just looking for everyones opinion....


Running Windows XP Home, as most people do, how much RAM is required? Is 2 GB overkill?

I say 1 GB is the magic number to run mostly anything right now....agree?

 

[NaOH]

1gb if you do a bit more than surfing (PS CS, encoding, gaming) 512mb is decent for most web surfing, word processing stuff. 2gb for hardcore gamers (BF2142 and the like)

 

[jim1976]

Originally posted by: Bigystyle
Just looking for everyones opinion....


Running Windows XP Home, as most people do, how much RAM is required? Is 2 GB overkill?

I say 1 GB is the magic number to run mostly anything right now....agree?

Unless you wan't to game and do some video editing/creation I really don't see the point of going to 2GB.. But I guess it all depends on what is your definition of average user..

 

[LouPoir]

1gb is sufficient for most people - I have 2gb but saw very little difference between 1gb and 2gb -

Lou

 

[mechBgon]

It's going to vary depending on what you do with your system, but many people say that games like the BattleField series run much more smoothly with 2GB than with 1GB. Also, dual-core and soon quad-core CPUs are opening the door to serious multitasking that also could make use of lots of RAM (video encoding in the background, games in foreground, stuff like that).

 

[secretanchitman]

ive gotten by with 512MB (2x256MB of PC4000 though) for the past 3 years up until this past summer, when i finally jumped to 2x1GB of PC4000.

i would say 1GB just so everything in general will run smoothly.

 

[regnez]

XP Home/Pro will do just fine with one gig, provided you don't play fairly new games or do extremely heavy multi-tasking (i.e. photoshop, illustrator, the entire adobe suite open all at the same time). If you ever plan on using XP Media Center or Vista (in the future), then I would say that 2 gig is absolutely necessary, especially for Vista.

 

[Revolution09]

I'd say 1gb is enough for the average user. Right now I've got 1gb and I play fps games like CS, use Photoshop, browse the web, etc. no problem- although I'm going to be upgrading to 2gb soon because I like to do video editing as well and it will really help that.

 

[bob4432]

i routinely see over 1GB of usage in my rig in sig. with it i game coh and bf2, use the entire adobe suite and then the normal stuff.

my laptop - ibm t42, p-m @ 1.4, xp pro, 512MB rarely if ever goes over the 512MB that is in there. its uses are internet, word, email - very basic stuff.

my server machine - xp2000, win2kpro, 512MB which runs a couple websites that are db driven by mysql and some static ones, running apache, php, mysql and is also the depository for the hdd images from the other machines routinely goes over its 512MB but i have just been too lazy to add another 512MB stick in it. that machine is one 24/7 and only gets a reboot when the windows update needs it. it probably won't get a ram upgrade until i switch its primary (os/apps/dbs) and secondary (sites) hdds over to 10K scsi, which may be some time. still solid and reliable as a rock, but doe get a bit sluggish especially when it is backing up data, running a log analyzer for the sites and also getting a image all at the same time. in fact i am probably maxing the cpu way to much, so i guess when i switch to a new rig for me, my rig in sig will be the next home server rig...

 

[bob4432]

Originally posted by: Revolution09
I'd say 1gb is enough for the average user. Right now I've got 1gb and I play fps games like CS, use Photoshop, browse the web, etc. no problem- although I'm going to be upgrading to 2gb soon because I like to do video editing as well and it will really help that.

you might want to verify that the ram will help your video editing, usually when editing video you work with small chunks and don't use all that much ram. running illustrator or photoshop is a different story...

 

[Ruptga]

Originally posted by: AMDUALY
1gb if you do a bit more than surfing (PS CS, encoding, gaming) 512mb is decent for most web surfing, word processing stuff. 2gb for hardcore gamers (BF2142 and the like)

I agree with this guy. Google Earth will hardly even run with less than 1gb for cryin' out loud... However, if you really don't use it for anything but internet etc, and have deepfreeze installed so you don't need any antivirus (exactly like you would in a cheap internet cafe), you can do alright with 256mb, although when I say alright, I really mean that it's just alright.

But anyway, for the average user, yeah, exactly what amdualy said.

 

[btcomm1]

In my experience if you want to remove your paging file and be able to run many windows and games without a problem 1.5 GB's is perfect. If you run without a paging file 1 GB will work for the most part but if you open too many windows you will run out of mem. I think for newer games though 2 GB is perfect if you want to remove your paging file.

 

[alimoalem]

1gb for me. i don't game...just to student stuff on my laptop. i do go over 512mb (as seen through task manager) at times but never do i go over 1gb. a few small games can run fine at 1gb, too. if you're playing oblivion or something or do massive amounts of encoding, sure, the need for 2gb is there, but that's not average. average home user just surfs the net and listens to music

 

[HannibalX]

I have 3GB in my desktop. The only time I use all of it is when I am running Google Earth and another mapping program at the same time.

For general use, including gaming, I never seem to use more than 1.5GB at a time.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: LouPoir
1gb is sufficient for most people - I have 2gb but saw very little difference between 1gb and 2gb -

Lou

:thumbsup::laugh:

 

[tallman45]

Depends on what you do, Game, Powershop, Quickbooks, lots of apps can run better with 2gb, it depends which ones

If all you do is surf and Use Word and Excell then 1gb is far more than you will ever need

 

[NuAlphaMan]

Originally posted by: Blain

Originally posted by: LouPoir
1gb is sufficient for most people - I have 2gb but saw very little difference between 1gb and 2gb -

Lou

:thumbsup::laugh:

Well, I've just upgraded to 2GB and I can say it does help. I do a little of everything on my PC (programming, encoding, little gaming, etc). However, if you are just running XP Home/Pro to surf and play music, etc., 1GB should be more than enough.

 

[TanisHalfElven]

1gb > 2gb.
problem solved.

 

[Smartazz]

I use 2GB of RAM on my gaming system and 768MB on my laptop(not for gaming). I know people who are average users, but have the money to go for 2GB so they do it, the thought being that they never want to upgrade their system again. If you have a lot of money go for 2GB, otherwise it's pretty much a waste because you'll never use that much RAM for years to come if you're an average user.

 

[corkyg]

What's an average user? Sort of like, what is middle class? I play no games at all - but am into digital imagery a lot - and I would say the average photographer or camcorder user would definitely profit with 2 GB, If all you do is email and surf the Internet, 1 GB is sufficient. If you intend to upgrade to Vista next year - 2 GB.

 

[rudder]

Originally posted by: corkyg
What's an average user? Sort of like, what is middle class? I play no games at all - but am into digital imagery a lot - and I would say the average photographer or camcorder user would definitely profit with 2 GB, If all you do is email and surf the Internet, 1 GB is sufficient. If you intend to upgrade to Vista next year - 2 GB.

Thats my profile. Although I am a light gamer.. mostly older games (HL2 engine) but do a lot more photo work and working with videos. I have 2GB and everything stays snappy even when I have all kinds of work going on.

 

[Dave Richardson]

I think the secret is to put enough RAM in to stop paging.

If your hard disk light is always on in your favourite app add more memory till it isn't on anymore.

 

[tallman45]

Originally posted by: Dave Richardson
I think the secret is to put enough RAM in to stop paging.

If your hard disk light is always on in your favourite app add more memory till it isn't on anymore.

Photoshop does not work that way, it uses a scratch disk.