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#11
Hi there
Not always true
This depends on what applications are running / how many concurrent applications etc etc.
For typical web surfing, running simple Office Apps (Word etc) email, audio applications etc 2GB RAM could be plenty -- you could put 32 GB RAM in a such a machine and it wouldn't run even one microsec faster -- in fact it might actually run SLOWER since with all that amount of RAM Windows would probably pre-fetch everything and a significant part of the OS woould be doing "memory Management".
(If you are running memory hogging apps such as photoshop with large files, Video editing etc then it's a different matter).
From what I've seen on a huge number of users machines is that a 4GB RAM machine is plenty -- the bottle neck on 99.9% of "Domestic" machines purchased ready built from stores etc is in the usually appalingly slow I/O sub system (slow disks).
If you have 4GB RAM it does make better sense to use W7 X-64 - not necessariily because the performance will be any better -- it won't in all cases - (note it CAN be better in some) but think of your NEXT machine - it will make your NEXT upgrade a lot less painful.
Cheers
jimbo
My lappie has two slot, one slot is empty and another slot contain 2gb ram, i plan to add 2 gb to that empty slot and run 32 bit W7, will the 2 chanel run?? in this condition (the 2+2 Gb will usable only 3,2 GB)?? my lappie spec :BYON (local brand), Intel C2D P8700 2,5 Ghz, Intel Cantiga PM45, Nvidia GF 9300M GS (discrete)
Dual channel will only run if the RAM sticks are identically the same, can't go wrong if they come in pairs.
and yes 32bit Windows 7 will only detect about 3.5GB or so.
Also need to check the laptop manual, or the Internet for that matter, to see if your motherboard is capable of handling that much RAM.
And again, nothing to do with the ram and everything to do with the memory controller. "Dual channel ram" is nothing more than a marketing gimmick, if the memory controller doesn't support running the ram in dual channel, the most expensive dual kit won't make a difference.
The main reason for using a a matched pair is for compatibilities sake, and even then it isn't guaranteed.
as said above, it is possible to run ''dual channel'' with non matching sticks....... most newer boards will compensate for the lac of matching sticks, older ones will default odd sticks to ''single channel''
ive personally run 3GB in my machine in (dual channel'' *symmetric*), if you have matching sticks your board will run them in (dual channel *interleaved*)
for all...thanks ..... this is great info for me, n very usefull ...., thanks3x.....
For 32-bit I can't see the point. If you install 7 x64 yes, otherwise you'll spend money on something that won't be used. What is the type/brand/timing of the RAM you have now? Use HWInfo32 to find out.
Install another 2GB Apacer PC-6400 stick or buy a matched 4GB pair and replace the stick with those.