Add more RAM = Use more RAM??

I'm running a laptop with 3GB of RAM and is capable of 4GB (and I'm running 64bit). Typically I will use around 60% of what I have now...when I use some of my engineering programs (MATLAB, Simulink, SolidWorks) I can get up to 80%. Question is, is 3GB more than enough (as I'm not using it all), or if I bump it up to 4GB, will my computer start using more? How does the computer decide how much to use?...is it a percentage?...or does it always use what it can?

awenthol said:

I'm running a laptop with 3GB of RAM and is capable of 4GB (and I'm running 64bit). Typically I will use around 60% of what I have now...when I use some of my engineering programs (MATLAB, Simulink, SolidWorks) I can get up to 80%. Question is, is 3GB more than enough (as I'm not using it all), or if I bump it up to 4GB, will my computer start using more? How does the computer decide how much to use?...is it a percentage?...or does it always use what it can?

Hi and welcome

If you are running 64bit with 3 gigs its not enough for just solidworks. Minimum is 2 gigs for email, browser,etc. win 7 typically takes a % and puts it into cache for faster access. I have 4 gigs and win 7 takes 2 off the top. Thata a good thing. You want the fastest access for your data. Ram that isnt being used is wasted.

So the question add more use more is YES. thats what its for RAm is cheap get it. You will not regrat it. Not getting it wyou will regret


Ken J

Okay...that's all I needed to know. I just didn't want to buy more and let it sit there because 7 won't use it because it doesn't need it!