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    8 GB vs 4 GB of RAM - should I bother?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by jonnybardo, Jun 16, 2012.

  1. jonnybardo

    jonnybardo Notebook Consultant

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    I don't play games or use complex programs, mainly just use Office, internet, music, some streaming video, although I often have many windows open at once (e.g. multiple Word and Excel documents, plus Windows Media, Firefox, etc). I currently have a single 4 gig stick installed but have an extra 4 gig stick laying around from a deceased laptop. Would I notice any difference? Is there any reason NOT to install the extra stick? In other words, is there any adverse effect in having more RAM than necessary?

    Thanks!
     
    jonnybardo, Jun 16, 2012
    #1
  2. saturnotaku

    saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Only reason not to install it is if it's a different type of memory than what you have now. If you currently use DDR3 and the stick you have lying around is DDR2, it will not work.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    saturnotaku, Jun 16, 2012
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  3. TANWare

    TANWare Just This Side of Senile, I think. Super Moderator

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    Actually not just the size of the memory but you will also enable dual channel. counting on your usage pattern this could he a huge help as well.................
     
    TANWare, Jun 16, 2012
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  4. Cloudfire

    Cloudfire (Really odd person)

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    The more RAM you have, the more data will be cached on your RAM instead of the HDD for faster access because RAM is much faster than HDD.

    Thats the theory. I have no idea if you will notice it though.

    If you have the money and don`t own a SSD, go buy one! (instead of RAM) THAT is something you will notice
     
    Cloudfire, Jun 16, 2012
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  5. StormJumper

    StormJumper Notebook Virtuoso

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    That's a big plus for having more ram but if you have x64 O/S the programs that use 4Gig or more will benefit from running it. Otherwise if you have x86 O/S it limited to most 3.5Gig or 2.5Gigs only. But more Ram is good for x64 O/S except those that share Ram and Video that you will loose some Ram because of it. But that is still good as that extra helping of Ram helps with Video.
     
    StormJumper, Jun 17, 2012
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  6. tommytwin

    tommytwin Notebook Enthusiast

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    Here's one way to tell if you'd benefit from more ram:

    Start: type Task Manager
    Click on Task Manager
    Click on Performance tab

    Look for the amount of Free memory.

    Now, open all the programs you normally use; load up a few tabs in your web browser, open a few documents, check your e-mail, and push your machine by running media (watch a youtube video, listen to an mp3, etc.).

    Look at the amout of Free memory again; if it is below 100mb, then you would very likely notice a performance increase by installing more ram.

    If you open all your normal programs and your Free ram is high, over 500mb, then adding more ram would not likely give you a noticeable boost.

    I also use mainly office applications, and when I have a few tabs in Firefox, a few documents open, etc., my Free ram gets down to about 1.5gb (out of 8gb installed). If I had only 4gb of ram, the computer would have to keep swapping data to the pagefile.
     
    tommytwin, Jun 17, 2012
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  7. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    OP based on what you said, I would say no.

    I have 8GB of RAM in my notebook and a few months ago I installed a new SSD. I did a fresh install of Windows 7 in the process and it was only a short time ago that I realized I installed the 32-bit version which only recognizes up to 4GB (previously I had the 64-bit version which recognized all 8GB). I never noticed any difference. I do a lot of Photoshop work too.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Jun 17, 2012
    #5