How much RAM for Windows 7?

[Winston2001]

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?

 

[Zepher]

You can try it but it looks like 2GB is the limit,
http://downloadmirror.intel.com/15115/eng/D945GCNL_TechProdSpec.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

 

[pparks1]

Unless there is a BIOS update, I don't think your mobo will utilize any more than 2GB of RAM.

 

[Comp Cmndo]

32-bit OS won't support more than about 3GB. 2GB is more than enough.

 

[seavixen32]

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.

 

[Solarstarshines]

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

 

[CreepinJesus]

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.

 

[Barman58]

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.

 

[DeaconFrost]

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.

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.