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    Does it makes sense to upgrade memory to 2GB?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by phidik, Jun 16, 2006.

  1. phidik

    phidik Notebook Enthusiast

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    Hi,
    Yesterday I added 1 GB RAM to my notebook. My notebook came with 2x256MB RAM.
    I kept one 256MB stick and replaced the other one with 1GB stick making the total RAM to 1256MB.

    I'm now thinking whether is makes sense to buy one more 1GB stick bumping the total RAM to 2GB.

    Can somebody enlighten me of any situation where I need that much RAM?
    I do photoshop, Visual Studio, games like HL2. need for speed. Some editing of my home video too.

    Another question: is it wise to mix old RAM (256MB) with new RAM (1GB)?

    TIA!
     
    phidik, Jun 16, 2006
    #1
  2. Odin5578

    Odin5578 Notebook Evangelist

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    I mixed a 512 with a gig the other day and I havn't found any problems. I also done the same on my desktop a few years ago and no problem. I think it's fine. I've acutally been thinking about going for 2 GB as well. The question I imagine other people are going to ask you is what are the other specs of your system?

    Processor:?
    GPU:?
     
    Odin5578, Jun 16, 2006
    #2
  3. sheff159

    sheff159 Notebook Deity

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    If your doing things like photoshop and video editing, the more RAM the better. Video editing especally is a demanding thing, that takes alot of memory.

    Its also good to plan for the future. If your planning on putting Windows Vista on that machine, and then do other things like game and edit videos, 2GB would be needed. Vista now, although still in the Beta stages, uses about a gig of ram by its self.
     
    sheff159, Jun 16, 2006
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  4. Tim

    Tim Notebook Virtuoso

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    I wouldn't hurt to get 2GB of ram since you use photoshop. That program is really a ram hogger. :p Also 2GB of ram is good for newer games like BF2.
    Tim
     
    Tim, Jun 16, 2006
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  5. sheff159

    sheff159 Notebook Deity

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    Yeah BF2 is a RAM hog, I would know, I currently have 768MB of RAM... But BF2 really isnt that new of a game. Now a game like Oblivion, likley the or in the top 3 best graphical games out there, I also know that games needs alot of RAM...
     
    sheff159, Jun 16, 2006
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  6. phidik

    phidik Notebook Enthusiast

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    Ah yes, sorry I forgot to give the notebook specs.
    It's an outdated (by this forum standard) Fujitsu N6010.
    It's P4 3.2GHz
    ATI Radeon 9700 128MB
    4200rpm 60Gig HD

    Original RAM are PC2700.
    New RAM is PC3200. So far the speed difference doesn't cause any conflicts.

    I have the first BF and it's running great.

    So, the general consensus is to go with 2GB....... mainly because of Windows Vista. I hope by the time Vista is released, my notebook is still viable :(
     
    phidik, Jun 16, 2006
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  7. Iter

    Iter Notebook Evangelist

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    wow~~ P4 3.2Ghz cpu for running laptop, it is fast and very hot. If you spend the money to upgrade the memory, to upgrade a 7200rpm HD is better than memory. Faster speed of HD will help and run the Windows and application smoothly.
     
    Iter, Jun 17, 2006
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  8. phidik

    phidik Notebook Enthusiast

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    @Iter
    HD upgrade is actually in-the-process, pending on the email response from the store. I'm looking for a Hitachi 80GB 7200rpm. Price is $165 canadian.
    For 30 dollars for I could get 100GB...... maybe I can sacrifice my McDonald's happy meal lunch :D

    Now the only thing that stop me from ordering is that I want to be sure that it is 7K100, and not E7K100.
     
    phidik, Jun 17, 2006
    #8