I just installed some RAM
 

I just put a new stick of RAM in my comp, all the way up to it's max of 256 (I know, pathetic). Can some of you experts tell me specifically how this will help my comp run faster? BTW my previous RAM was 128 megs.

So far I have not noticed any difference in the speed of my comp. I know that it will help my gaming, but my main question is whether or not it will help the general speed of the computer. Also will it help reduce crashes?

if youre computer can only take up to 256 megs of ram, then no - i doubt you are going to see anything in the way of a marked improvement on functioning, especially considering what programs you run on your comp.

RAM is basically how much "STUFF" your computer can hold at any given time. So, with 256 megs of "STUFF", your computer will only be able to hold 256 megs of information at a time. You generally want to have MORE ram than you typically use. So, if I'm usually running at 256 megs, getting 374, or even 512, would make things run VERY smoothly for me.

I have 640 megs of ram, and at any given time I'm using about 350 megs of it. Games like Battlefield and MOH run FINE with that amount of memory since it has ALOT of leg room as far as RAM is concerned, and it can dump all its STUFF (information) on the computer and know it can be handled at once.

Thank you, Ed. MOHAA runs fine for my computer with textures on medium and everything else on max. I really don't think it will help the performance a whole lot but I have heard that having at least 256 megs of RAM makes your system a lot more stable.

I'm sure it would help make your system run a bit smoother if you're not coming close to the 256 meg usage barrier.

However, and 128megs isnt expensive by a long shot, but if you can id suggest just investing in upgrading the whole kit and kaboodle. At least a motherboard that can support memory usage of more than 256. I mean, god I came late in the game and haven't seen one that can support less than 512.

Dunno where you live, but I'm sure you can find a store that has sales going on for CPU/MOBO combos. Best you can get are 80-150. Good deals.

Windows needs to load some of itself in RAM and stays in there so you
don't start off with 256 megs; you might have 200 left. The more you'll
have, the more will be left after windows loads up...

You can also install a RAM optimizer if you think it might help you out...

well , I probably am going to buy a very good mobo soon, and upgrade my video card, and take all these damn Gateway logos off of my computer. biggrin: When I get the money I am going to completely turn this POS comp I have now into a beast.

You'd be suprised how far 200 dollars can take you.

Go to PRICEWATCH - they have some great deal on MOBO/CPU combos as well as prices on memory. Vid Cards for about 100 bucks for Geforce3 and 4's. Alot of good stuff.

And never, EVER buy manufactured. Kiss of death.

[quote:1c464]And never, EVER buy manufactured. Kiss of death. [/quote:1c464]

I am very, VERY aware of that now sir. I was aware of that after we bought this one a few years back. I tell EVRYBODY build from the ground up, b/c if you don't, you're SOL. Best piece of advice you could tell ANYBODY about computers.

I have a manufatured machine, two of them, and yeah I do have problems when I wish to upgrade. With the way the industry is upgrading is a neccesity.

Now I was wondering, how much does it cost to built a custom machine, versus a manufatured one? I've never looked into this, so perhaps if building a machine is cheaper, I will start doing some research.

Thanks

That's the beauty of building your own: it can cost as much or as little as you wish. My employer built me a box so I'm not sure of the prices for some components. I had to make some improvements myself:

AMD Athlon 1800+ - $100.00 (replaced AMD Athlon 950MHz)
Windows XP Home - $200.00 (replaced Windows NT 4.0)
WD 80GB HD - $130.00 (in addition to WD 20GB HD)
2 x 512MB RAM - $130.00/stick (replaced 1 x 256MB stick)
ATI R9700 Pro - $400.00 (replaced 8MB POS video card - WTF?!?)
Creative SB Audigy Gamer - $100.00 (didn't have one to begin with)
Creative Inspire 5.1 speakers - $80.00 (sound great!)
Logitech Cordless Freedom Optical mouse/keyboard combo - $100.00

TOTAL - $1370.00

Add in the case, motherboard, ethernet card, floppy drive and a CD-ROM for another $400.00 or so for a grand total of about $1800.00. This box will pound the piss out of a similarly priced manufactured PC. Reuse some components from your current PC and the price gets lower.

My advice: build your own.

The amount of improvement you'll see with added RAM has a lot to do with the OS you are using. Older OS's don't perform well, actually worse, with a lot of RAM. XP, on the other hand, loves all the RAM you can throw at it.

I"m totally with you guys on the "dont buy a dell" tip!! I built my computer, which scores 11,741 3dmarks for about 800 bucks. If you know what you're doing, you can really get something that rocks for a steal of a deal!

BANE looks like you paid store price for all these things, and got them new. Shop online, buy bare Hard Drives, etc. If I had 1800 to build my own system -

Whew.

Yeah, I paid retail for the new stuff. It wasn't all at the same time, mind you, but over the course of about a year or so.

That doesn't change the fact I'm a PC building nOOb! oOo:

Live and learn... biggrin:

Everyone has gotta start somewhere. I know the most difficult thing for me was installing the new motherboard and cpu I got nearly a year ago. I fucked up a few motherboards (thank god for FRY's return policy), before I figured out that, YES, the GROUNDING SCREWS are neccesary, and not just there for convenience.

I think I spend a total of 500 bucks getting my computer up to snuff.

I built mine for around 1400 reusing a few components. The nice thing about building your own is that its infinatly upgradible at lower cost. Say far off in the day i need that 4.0ghz CPU to replace my 2.0. Well my ram is still fine along with my CD drives and so forth. So all i really need is a new mobo, CPU, Power supply (probably), and cooling of some sort. The little things can be swaped out later on when cash is more abundant.

Dont upgrade what works fine just because theres something greater out there. I ditched my 700 for a 2.0 cause on the 700, mohaa other games ran sorta bad. So for my needs my computer was out dated.

Also dont do micro upgrades that simply waist money. If your gonna do it do it so you wont have to deal with it for some time. so dont go from 700 to 1000, thats a waist. Be careful with video cards as well. People tend to go buy the latest and greatest without need. While my G4 4200 Ti 128 is probably out proformed by a 4600 and a 9700. I dont mind simply because i maintain over 60 frames in mohaa and often hit my set limit of 250 indoors. Other games dont have isuess so why spend the money to upgrade what works?

Thats the key. Dont upgrade what works for what you do!

Also are you sure your computer maxes out at 256 on the ram? You cant place a stick of 512 in there? IE take out the 2 sticks of 128 and replace them with one stick of 512. Or two sticks of 256. Cause i feel as most people who have answered this question on the board. That 512 is about all you need to game well and not have windows use all of your ram. Recommended Windows XP ram is 256. Though not all 256 is used by windows, that number allows for other items to run.

well, it says upgradeable to 256, but there is still one more slot to put some RAM in.

What is the name of your motherboard?

I find it REALLY suspect that it can only support 256 megs of ram, but will run a gig processor with no problem.

Best video card for nvidia GF3 and some 4's right now is the GF3 TI500 which is what i got, its an amazing card