Will More Ram Really Make A Difference

[UbonOz]

Following on from my previous topic - http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/544944-19gb-cannot-find-on-c-drive/page__fromsearch__1

Now that I have more space on C drive should I increase the RAM size.

I have a Compaq Presario CQ40 about two years old, running Windows 7. It only has 1GB RAM, I think.

Would I notice a significant difference? What size RAM is ideal? Approximate cost?

I like this laptop, I do not really want to change if I do not have to.

Most grateful for any opinions.

[FOODLOVER]

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/system-requirements

http://asia.cnet.com/product/compaq-presario-cq40-core-2-duo-p7350-processor-2-0ghz-2gb-ram-44217737.htm

Seems you can add up to 8 gig ram and i would do it as it will certainly increase performance. You probably have 2 slots which you will need to purchase 2, 4 gig ram and i think they are around 1000 baht each.

[rakman]

Oh, yes.. 1 GB is about the minimum for Win7.

According to this HP link: http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/document?docname=c00820047&lc=en&dlc=en&cc=us&product=4030438

xp = 1-2 GB

win7 32 bit = 2-4 GB (if you put in 4 it will see slightly more than 3

Win7 64 bit = As much as the motherboard will hold and you can afford.

While the O/S can run in a small space, it's the applications that take up memory. The more memory, the more applications you can have open and still have good performance to avoid "swapping", where the o/s swaps to disk idle programs to make room for the active program.

If you only do email and web browsing, 2GB will do. If you like to do spreadsheets or graphics, then go for 4GB... If you're a power user, go for the max with 64 bit windows, and consider using virtual machines for web browsing. Start with a known good VM, make a copy to run you browsing. If the copy gets infected, kill it and start over with another "copy" of the vm.

[MJCM]

Max memory which a 32 Bits Operating System can address is 4 GB, so going over that is useless.

Win 7 Starter only supports a Maximum of 2 GB of Memory

http://msdn.microsof...imits_windows_7

Edited April 6, 2012 by MJCM

[aarn]

Hi UbonOz,

glad you sorted the mystery of the ghost 19Gb.

Increasing my Toshiba NB305 from 1 to 2 RAM made a big difference (Win 7 starter).

I think you have a superior Win 7, so going from 1 to 4 Gb will get you flying.

To check your RAM and whether you have 32- or 64-bit system, click Start

then Control Panel

then System

In the lower right corner, should state your processor speed, 32 or 64 and installed RAM.

If you have win 7(non-starter) and 64 bit system, go the whole hog and upgrade to 8Gb.

You'll be flying! AA

[h90]

yes more RAM helps.

From 1 to 2 GB big difference

From 2 to 4 GB not much difference in usual simple work.

[KRS1]

Try using the Infineon brand of ram first, in past years that was the only brand i could find that worked with Compaq....this was over 5 years ago though.

[Pib]

Max memory which a 32 Bits Operating System can address is 4 GB, so going over that is useless.

Win 7 Starter only supports a Maximum of 2 GB of Memory

http://msdn.microsof...imits_windows_7

And only 3GB of that 4GB will be usable on Win 7 32bit for many computers. I did a google just to pull-up a link on subject...I just attached the first google link that came up since it seemed to explain the situation well. Link

Personally, I have Win 7 Home Premium running on my almost 5 year old Toshiba Core2 Intel chip laptop, have 4GB RAM installed, but only 3GB is usable.

[UbonOz]

Thanks every body, will go and check RAM supplies in Ubon.

[UbonOz]

I still have the 19GB locked and cannot seem to do anything with it. Will get it checked out sometime.

It was the EaseUS that expanded C drive, I now have more space, so the issue is not critical now.

[aarn]

More RAM will be like increasing the blood supply, so both brain and fifth appendage can run together.

But some models have brain inside fifth appendage, so more RAM will supercharge your system. AA

[UbonOz]

More RAM will be like increasing the blood supply, so both brain and fifth appendage can run together.

But some models have brain inside fifth appendage, so more RAM will supercharge your system. AA

I like that.

Can you get RAM for humans?

[ExpatOilWorker]

How do you actually see how much RAM your computer have?

[UbonOz]

I assume Post #3 meant

2 x 2GB.

I have Win 7 Ultimate 32bit, 1GB RAM

[UbonOz]

How do you actually see how much RAM your computer have?

See Post #5

[UbonOz]

More RAM will be like increasing the blood supply, so both brain and fifth appendage can run together.

But some models have brain inside fifth appendage, so more RAM will supercharge your system. AA

I have been to Ubon today and found a Thai man on the computer floor of the Sunee City Mall who was very helpful.

I bought 2x2GB RAM cards for 840baht each, Blackberry was the brand name.

He installed them and played around with settings etc for about an hour. He did not charge any fee for the service so I gave him 200baht for his help.

I could not manage to communicate the 19GB problem I have. It is not causing me any concerns now that C drive has the extra space. I will wait until I can find someone who speaks english.

Anyway, took computer home and it now goes unbelievably fast, everything just pops open in a flash. Why did I put up with 1GB RAM for so long, just got used to it I suppose.

[ronz28]

Check the your local area connection speed setting and make sure it is set for 100 MBS not 10 or less or that's all you will get even with a 300 MBS rated router, even though you may have 20 MBS service.

There is a lot of settings that will speed performance depending on your operating system, etc. Again youtube.com search is a friend.

Edited April 6, 2012 by ronz28

[UbonOz]

Check the your local area connection speed setting and make sure it is set for 100 MBS not 10 or less or that's all you will get even with a 300 MBS rated router, even though you may have 20 MBS service.

There is a lot of settings that will speed performance depending on your operating system, etc. Again youtube.com search is a friend.

Where do I check this?

Sorry, I am not very good on the technical side.

[ronz28]

I only have Windows XP so for me there are two little monitors side by side in the bottom right hand corner next to my McAfee icon and when I place by cursor over the the two monitors it tells me my local area connection speed setting is 100MBS. To change it I had to go through network connections right clicked in the monitors and selected open network connections. I could also get there through the control panel. However, I just listened to youtube at the time and followed instructions from a video there, I think or Googled it. I don't remember details from there but when I changed it, the 100 MBS setting did bump my internet speed up from 10 mbs I was getting to the 20 mbs I am paying for.

[FOODLOVER]

More RAM will be like increasing the blood supply, so both brain and fifth appendage can run together.

But some models have brain inside fifth appendage, so more RAM will supercharge your system. AA

I took 2 ram last night and waited an hour and nothing happened.

[PattayaParent]

More RAM will be like increasing the blood supply, so both brain and fifth appendage can run together.

But some models have brain inside fifth appendage, so more RAM will supercharge your system. AA

I like that.

Can you get RAM for humans?

Yes, it's called viagra.

[astral]

Yes more RAM will improve performance

The maximum RAM you can use depends on

1. The motherboard specifications

2. The version of OS 32bit or 64bit

I run Win 7 64bit and use a minimum of 3Gb out of 8Gb

I suggest you add a 2Gb memory card to take you up to 3GB

[KRS1]

Yes more RAM will improve performance

The maximum RAM you can use depends on

1. The motherboard specifications

2. The version of OS 32bit or 64bit

I run Win 7 64bit and use a minimum of 3Gb out of 8Gb

I suggest you add a 2Gb memory card to take you up to 3GB

Thinking of going up from 4gb to 8gb on Win7 Home Premium, think there will be significant difference ?

[UbonOz]

Yes more RAM will improve performance

The maximum RAM you can use depends on

1. The motherboard specifications

2. The version of OS 32bit or 64bit

I run Win 7 64bit and use a minimum of 3Gb out of 8Gb

I suggest you add a 2Gb memory card to take you up to 3GB

Thinking of going up from 4gb to 8gb on Win7 Home Premium, think there will be significant difference ?

My 2x2GB only shows 2.75GB on the system.

[KRS1]

Yes more RAM will improve performance

The maximum RAM you can use depends on

1. The motherboard specifications

2. The version of OS 32bit or 64bit

I run Win 7 64bit and use a minimum of 3Gb out of 8Gb

I suggest you add a 2Gb memory card to take you up to 3GB

Thinking of going up from 4gb to 8gb on Win7 Home Premium, think there will be significant difference ?

My 2x2GB only shows 2.75GB on the system.

Do you have 32 or 64 bit? Mine is 64 bit windows 7.

[UbonOz]

Yes more RAM will improve performance

The maximum RAM you can use depends on

1. The motherboard specifications

2. The version of OS 32bit or 64bit

I run Win 7 64bit and use a minimum of 3Gb out of 8Gb

I suggest you add a 2Gb memory card to take you up to 3GB

Thinking of going up from 4gb to 8gb on Win7 Home Premium, think there will be significant difference ?

My 2x2GB only shows 2.75GB on the system.

Do you have 32 or 64 bit? Mine is 64 bit windows 7.

32

[astral]

My 2x2GB only shows 2.75GB on the system.

I assume that is 2.75Gb used, not total?

If it is the latter you have a faulty memory module

[Jiu-Jitsu]

The 'technician' who installed your OS, should have installed the 64bit version. 32 bit will only recognise 3.25GB of RAM and it appears 0.5GB is reserved for video memory. So, you are only showing 2.75GB.

A 64bit OS will recognise all of your RAM.

So, perhaps reinstall using unmodified Windows 7 media and select the correct regional settings from the beginning. How you will activate the OS is another matter.