How much RAM for Windows 7?


  1. Posts : 21
    Windows 7 ultimate 64bit
       #1

    How much RAM for Windows 7?


    Hello,
    I am running Wn 7 32 bit Ultimate. I am thinking of upgrading my RAM. Currently it is only one GB.
    the motherboard is Intel D945GCNL. I hear that this board supports only a maximum of 2GB RAM. The question is, can I increase the RAM beyond this limit to, say, 3GB? Will it increase performance? Will there be any negative effects if we go beyond the manufacturer's recommendations? Or should I just stick to 2 GB? Can someone please help?
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  2. Posts : 2,164
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit
       #2

    You can try it but it looks like 2GB is the limit,
    http://downloadmirror.intel.com/1511...chProdSpec.pdf
    • Two 240-pin DDR2 SDRAM Dual Inline Memory Module (DIMM) sockets
    • Support for DDR2 667 or DDR2 533 MHz DIMMs
    • Support for up to 2 GB of system memory
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  3. Posts : 7,878
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #3

    Unless there is a BIOS update, I don't think your mobo will utilize any more than 2GB of RAM.
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  4. Posts : 184
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
       #4

    32-bit OS won't support more than about 3GB. 2GB is more than enough.
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  5. Posts : 7,730
    Windows 7 Ultimate SP1 64-Bit
       #5

    Windows 7 specifies a minimum requirement of 1GB of RAM.

    You should be fine with the 2GB you've got. If you feel you need more, it looks like you'll need to upgrade your motherboard.
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  6. Posts : 7,466
    Windows 10 Home Premium 64bit sp1
       #6

    2GB is fine

    Most of the time systems won't reach more then 1.5 Gb in actual use

    Gaming or not you will run smooth
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  7. Posts : 370
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #7

    Solarstarshines said:
    2GB is fine

    Most of the time systems won't reach more then 1.5 Gb in actual use
    I find that the more RAM a system has, the more Windows will use.
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  8. Posts : 31,242
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
       #8

    CreepinJesus said:
    Solarstarshines said:
    2GB is fine

    Most of the time systems won't reach more then 1.5 Gb in actual use
    I find that the more RAM a system has, the more Windows will use.
    Correct :)

    Win7 is designed to make use of unused ram for the storage of system code and predicted user code. this improves the system responsiveness, but should the system need this used memory for user programs it is instantly released.
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  9. Posts : 5,795
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
       #9

    You will see a difference between 1 GB and 2 GB, but if the board only supports 2 GB, it won't see, and possibly won't boot with anything more installed.
    Comp Cmndo said:
    32-bit OS won't support more than about 3GB. 2GB is more than enough.
    It will support up to just about 4 GB, minus some reserved for hardware usage and some reserved for video card memory as well, depending on the card. You will see a little over 3 GB with x86, but that isn't a concern of the OP considering the board tops at at 2 GB, so our discussion is going somewhat off-topic.
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