Multiplying RAM.

[Happy Grumpy]

My computer runs fine.

Can play games such as Call of Duty MW3 etc. no problem.

It only has 4GB RAM but can accept a rather large 64GB RAM.

RAM is cheap.

8GB for just over 2k baht.

What would one expect from jumping from 4GB to 12 GB of RAM when the computer runs fine anyway?

[KhunBENQ]

Start task manager, goto the "Performance" (?) tab and watch CPU and RAM (memory) usage.

Note the amount of memory used when "nothing" is actively started by you (just switching on, logging in).

How much is it?

Now use your PC as usual, start as much programs in parallel as you would usually do and use them.

If memory usage ever exceeds 3 GB (which should correspond with a "slowdown" of the PC), then adding RAM would make sense.

If you are well below this limit, then adding RAM will have little or no effect.

All depends on which kind of SW you use and how many programs run in parallel.

I am currently only running the browser and use about 950 MB (Win 7, 32 bit).

CPU is bored at a few percent.

I can change this if I use a video converter program e.g.

CPU will go north, so does RAM usage.

Edited April 18, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[Happy Grumpy]

Thanks.

I opened a movie, superantispyware, chrome and photoscape:

Then I closed them and opened up CoD MW3 (game)

So it seems that bumping up to 12GB RAM wouldn't really do anything?

[robblok]

Not exactly true.. as windows uses more when it has more. I got 16 GB and it has in use 5gb and 10gb standby and some free.

[KhunBENQ]

So it seems that bumping up to 12GB RAM wouldn't really do anything?

If you like the comfort to have multiple programs (e.g. all you mentioned) open simultaneously then an upgrade looks useful.

If you discipline yourself to have just one of the big packets open, then your current memory would be enough.

Up to you

A total of 8 GB would b enough for quite a while.

If you get 12 GB cheaper then go for it.

Edited April 18, 2015 by KhunBENQ

[Happy Grumpy]

Thanks, I just read this which also explains it.

http://lifehacker.com/5415355/do-you-really-need-more-than-4gb-of-ram

Generally. More RAM doesn't really make the computer run faster, it just allows the user to do more things at the same time.

I really only do one thing at a time.

So, I guess, no need for more RAM.

[Pib]

When I took my i7 CPU based laptop from 4GB to 8GB of RAM I noticed zero difference in performance, but I just pretty much use my laptop for internet browsing, emailing, word processing and spread sheeting, and other lite duty computering. Now if I was into gaming and video processing software then I would have probably seen a performance increase. But if the RAM is cheap and easy to install and you got your bills paid, go ahead and upgrade the RAM.

[innerspace]

Games rarely require huge memory. The tasks you mention are not memory intensive.

Photoshop or video editing could eat all the RAM you through at it.

3 screens, 2 simultanous workspaces and about 50 browser tabs open at any time, running weeks without a shutdown can comfortably fill 32GB of RAM, though a large part is in caches which are not necessary bit provide slight performance increase.

If you want real benefit for what you do get an SSD before memory.

[Pib]

A SSD can indeed give your computer a big performance boost for many tasks (not all, but many). I put a SSD in my fairly new i7 CPU based Win 8.1 laptop, an 8 year old Pentium Win 7 laptop, and a 9 year old Celoron Win 7 laptop. While the SSD made a very noticeable improvement in my i7 laptop performance for many tasks, the improvement on the two other/older laptops was very,very noticeable. It was like the two older laptops got superchargers put on them.

Yeap, a SSD can make a big performance improvement on your computer for many tasks. Larger SSDs (say 500GB and up) are still pricey in Thailand compared to many western countries (I bought all three of my SSDs from the U.S. at around a 40-50% savings over Thailand SSD prices and was fortunate enough to have them delivered by friends passing through Thailand which allowed me to avoid shipping and possible customs charges).

I agree with innerspace that a SSD would show you more performance improvement than additional RAM.

[Happy Grumpy]

With a new SSD, do you need to backup all your stuff and then reinstall your operating system etc.?

Or is it similar to a plug and play situation? No reinstalling anything.

[NeverSure]

You'd need to transfer everything one way or the other. I'd prefer an image but you could backup all of your files and install windows from scratch. Be sure to save your existing disk in case you forgot something.

Regarding ram, I have 6 gigs in my laptop Win 8.1 64 bit. I'm doing some work so I decided to look at Task Manager due to remembering this thread.

I am making a routine disk image and just for giggles I started a big copy of a bunch of video files from my 0 disk to an external. Here's a very comfortable readout from Task Manager while all of that is happening. I also have 5 tabs open in Chrome, Outlook open, and Photoshop open.

You can see that my USB external (disk 1) is maxed clear out saving the image and the videos, and my internal (disk 0) is bumping the roof once in a while. Even so, my CPU and RAM are loafing.

This would be a great place for a couple of SSD's because the HDD's are obviously the bottleneck. But I'm retired and in no hurry and too lazy to install and configure 2 new units I don't need.

Edited April 20, 2015 by NeverSure

[NeverSure]

Report on the above.

The image finished in about 20 minutes which is a little slower than normal. This was a test to see how hard I would need to push to hit a bottleneck, and what that would be. Obviously it was the external disk with the RAM and CPU not bothered at all.

I actually don't know if an SSD would speed up much in the external because I may have saturated the USB channel anyway with all of that data. I'd need to do a test or be able to find a reference on Google.

It might be that a SSD wouldn't speed it up that much IF the USB 3 channel itself is the bottleneck. I don't know. I can see that of the two disks only the external on USB got maxed out. Both are similar 7200 RPM units.

[Pib]

With a new SSD, do you need to backup all your stuff and then reinstall your operating system etc.?

Or is it similar to a plug and play situation? No reinstalling anything.

Just do a disk image or cloning process...using either method will prevent the need to reload all your software from scratch...and it will not affect any of the software activation. Depending on the speed of your computer and how much data you have to mirror/image it shouldn't take more than an hour or two with you twiddling your thumbs for most of the time as the image/clone process does its thing.

For the disk image just create a recovery disk/USB stick and then do a backup image. Now swap out the hard disk drive (HDD) for the SSD. Boot from the recovery disk/USB stick and reload the image to the SSD. You are done...a mirror image of your old HDD has now been put on the your SSD.

Or just clone the HDD to the SSD....the SSD may come with free cloning software or you can down some free cloning software like my favorite Macrium Reflect Free. But you'll need an external enclosure box to house one of the drives during the cloning process. You are done....your old HDD has been mirrored to the SSD. Those three SSDs I mentioned before...I cloned all three using Macrium Reflect Free...flawless clone in each case....a Samsung SSD...a Seagate SSD...and a Kingston SSD.

Now, with the leftover HDD, buy yourself a USB 3.0 enclosure box (approx Bt300 to Bt500) for the HDD and use it as an external drive...like maybe to store your image backups. Still plenty of USB 2.0 enclosure boxes being sold at basically the same Bt300-500 price....USB 2.0 is much slower than USB 3.0....about 3 to 4 times slower in the real world...so if your computer has a USB 3.0 port(s) be sure to get a USB 3.0 enclosure box....a USB 2.0 box will work just fine also except much slower than a USB 3.0 box.

Be sure NOT to overwrite any info on your HDD until you are satisfied the imaging/cloning process was fully successful. Just consider the info on your hold HDD as your backup disk for a short while.

[Spouse]

Does RAM still have to be paired?

My laptop has 4GB in one slot, and the other one is empty. Can I put 8GB in the other slot to make it 12GB? Or do both slots have to have the same amount in (4GB x2)?

I use Chrome with a handful of tabs open, some Google Docs, and MS Word and the laptop is super slow some days, using 100% of the 4GB RAM available. I’m using Windows 7 64 bit so it should be able to handle more RAM.

Is Memory Today at Fortune Town IT Mall still the best place to go for laptop RAM in Bangkok?

Thanks!

[RichCor]

Does RAM still have to be paired?

My laptop has 4GB in one slot, and the other one is empty. Can I put 8GB in the other slot to make it 12GB? Or do both slots have to have the same amount in (4GB x2)?

I use Chrome with a handful of tabs open, some Google Docs, and MS Word and the laptop is super slow some days, using 100% of the 4GB RAM available. I’m using Windows 7 64 bit so it should be able to handle more RAM.

Is Memory Today at Fortune Town IT Mall still the best place to go for laptop RAM in Bangkok?

Thanks!

Memory Module requirements depend on how the OEM designed the MotherBoard.

Haven't seen too many laptop MotherBoards requiring Paired Modules. But some MotherBoards are restrictive on the Memory Size, Type (DataRate and Speed) and Total populated memory.

There are several Memory Websites (like Kingston or Mr Memory) that can given a make/model can display the known requirements.

Once you know the requirements/restrictions then find the best memory module for the price.

I usually take the laptop in so any installed module can be tested, and try to get a good return policy in case issues crop up in the days that follow.

[innerspace]

No, never "needs" to be paired.

Paired memory is only needed if you want to take advantage of dual (or triple now) channel memory.

2 matching 4gb in dual channel mode will be faster "latency wise" than a 4gb and an 8gb stick alongside each other, however the 8+4 would have more capacity which could provide more or less real life speed depending on actual usage methods.

However brand name desktops and all laptops have a habit of not being upgrade friendly.... just because you can buy an 8gb stick doesnt mean your motherboard will accept it. That its preinstalled with a 4gb may or may not be because that is the per slot limit... check before buying.

However from what you mentioned 8gb total is probably plenty....save the 1k from the ram towards an ssd and you will see true benefits.

[BudRight]

I disagree with the other posters who say that you do not need to pair memory. You should buy another of the DIMM you already have, exactly the same SKU and even same lot not number if possible, and put it in the opposite slot. (Same slot number, different slot color). Add an SSD and you will be fragging like crazy on COD.

[Spouse]

Thanks guys. I got an extra 4GB stick from Memory Today at Fortune Mall Rama 9.

They fitted it on the spot and my computer is much better now. Wish I'd done it earlier!

Will think about getting an SSD and swaping it with the CD drive in the laptop.