How much ram is enough???

[BChico]

I am using 133 SDRAM and was wondering if i shouuld get 128 or 256 with my new computer?

 

[Duckers]

128 is enough for most users. What kind of applications are you going to be running ?

 

[LXi]

It depends on the kinda of applications you're going to use. If you play around a lot with Photoshop and alike, 256MB is the best for you. You should also note that 128MB is enough for most casual users, but if you multitask a lot(like opening 5 IEs and 2 Netscapes, with ICQ/AIM open, Winamp/Sonqiue playing in the background.... all at once), you might wanna consider 256MB, because 128MB will run out of resource very quickly.

 

[John]

128MB is usually plenty in a Win9X OS, but if you go Win2K then you should have 256MB+ IMHO.

 

[BChico]

I use Photoshop alot, scanning software, internet, 3d intensive games

 

[Gatsby]

Since all the software you list is memory intensive esp. adobe get the extra 128. I personally have 256 and it runs like a dream.. just need to get some new processors and a vid card.

Gatsby

 

[BChico]

How much will an extra 128 of 133 SDRAM cost?

 

[RSI]

Check pricewatch, http://www.pricewatch.com

 

[Duckers]

around $100

 

[Sir Fredrick]

128 is "enough", if there is such a thing as enough, but 256 is definitely better, especially if you're ever going to use Win2k.

 

[TGCid]

Easy answer. There can never be enough ram.

 

[Livin4Real]

Duckers: Please tell me where your getting 128mb of PC133 for $100?

 

[genova]

You can never have enough ram.

 

[Blain]

Another vote for 256mb, for what you're running.

 

[ds23]

Get 128mb

Then see if your computer seems like it's swapping a lot.

Then wait a couple months and buy some more ram if it's cheap.

That's an easy solution.

 

[Rellik]

Since Memory prices are increasing and will be increasing more rather
then dropping down for the next years, it would be a wise precaution
to go with 256MB. Even better, get more if your budget allows it. Trust me, now is the time to get that ram before the 128MB stick costs
250 bucks(that is my prognosis for Q1 2001)

and yes: YOU CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH RAM!

 

[Prodigy^]

yeah get 256, especially when you're making graphics

 

[Ulysses]

See:
http://www.kingston.com/tools/assess/default.asp

BTW, you can have too much RAM. Test have shown that above certain levels the performance increase is miniscule. But it varies with the OS and the apps.

 

[Xtremist]

Running Win98 I noticed an increase in performance when I went from 128 to 256. However, when I went to 384, there was hardly ANY, if any at all, performance gain that I could judge without using special programs and whatnot. The only thing I noticed is I didn't have to reboot my computer quite as often due to it becoming "sluggish". That was the only advantage I noticed, so I sold it

Now I kinda wish I had kept it, cuz even 256 doesn't seem to ever make UltraDev, Fireworks, and Winamp happy As for what kind of apps I run, here's a screen shot of what's open currently... normally I'd have more IE's open if I wasn't working

<EDIT>
Heh, forgot the link:
http://www.xtremist.net/snapshot.gif
</EDIT>

 

[Rankor]

Grab the 256 MB.

Why?

B/c it's sounds cooler bragging that one has a quarter Gig of RAM in their rig as opposed to have an eighth Gig of RAM in their rig . How 'bout half a Gig of RAM?

Honestly for what I do on my system(s) it's nice to have &quot;a quarter Gig of RAM under the hood.&quot; I could have a couple of spreadsheets, a couple of documents, a couple of browser windows up, my system ripping cds on CD-ROM drive, and playing a DVD in the DVD-ROM drive at the same time. Resources are in the low 40s but it keeps chugging away.

I don't recommend running like this but it this is only an example.

 

[LongTimePCUser]

If you are doing serious high end web development (Websphere + VisualAge For Java + servlets + EJBs etc.) then you need 256 MB. PCs with 128 MB are much slower for this stuff than those with 256 MB.

 

[BChico]

Thanks for all your help guys i decided to get 256 mb, should work nice with that 64mb Geforce 2...

 

[Pete]

Erm--you really think 128MB RAM will cost $250? You remember, we'll all be moving to DDR soon, so I'd think the cost would go down. I highly doubt memory price will double.

 

[sov05]

64 to 128 is a big step
128 to 256 is a big step

However, above 256 it usually isn't anything too big, just a minor increase.

 

[Noriaki]

256 definately, especially if you use Photoshop or any sort of CAD tools.

I have 128MB, and I'm buying 128MB as soon as I have my next pay cheque.

When I'm playing Diablo2 it thrashes. That's not exaclty Quake3, UT, SOF etc. Just Diablo.

Now I'm running ICQ, Apollo (Mp3 player), and it is a Diablo2 TCP/IP server, but still that's not exactly heavy duty multitasking and my hard drive goes nuts.