RAM question - Tech idiot here.

[Klutz]

Well, I have some games on my PC, like the Sims 3, and other newer games, and I had a question about RAM...

I think right now I have like.. 60 MB of RAM.

Video card and all that stuff is fine.. so I am just needing RAM. I want to try and run games like Dragon Age and stuff with virtually no lag. With 60 RAM it literally crawls, it's terrible.

So how much RAM should I get?

(I'd like to save some money though, I don't want to go completely overboard. I just want enough to run next-gen PC games optimally, sick of creeping along with the bare minimum. )

And any websites with cheaps computer parts would be awesome, thanks in advance!

[Cephius]

60 RAM makes no sense, you can find out your basic system specs by right clicking on my computer and clicking properties. Post what you have, and we can recommend upgrades.

[SephYuyX]

If 60MB of RAM was possible, that would be indeed very slow.

Right click My Computer, or Computer. Go to properties, and itll list how much GB of RAM you actually have.

You can go to http://www.kingston.com/ to figure out what ram you need, then buy from www.newegg.com

[Klutz]

Ok sorry, you can tell am am an idiot.

2 GB of memory.

I told you I have no idea what I am talking about here, lol.

[SephYuyX]

2GB really isnt that bad, though it is the lowest you want to have now a days. You should be fine and dandy with 4GB.

[Soupbowl]

If you go to 4 gigs you'll need a 64 bit windows.

[SephYuyX]

You dont need 64bit. XP supports 4GB, however it's dependant on what hardware you use, and how your PC is configured. Mine reads 3.75GB.

[Klutz]

Yeah I have 32 bit Vista, I am pretty sure. Will I be able to do 4 GB?

[SephYuyX]

Yes, but it depends on your hardware. If you want you can start by just adding one 1GB stick in and see how that goes.

[Klutz]

Yes, but it depends on your hardware. If you want you can start by just adding one 1GB stick in and see how that goes.

Ok thanks muffin baby. <3

[Soupbowl]

It depends on the SOFTWARE aka the OS, not the hardware. you probably have vista or win 7 that is why it is capping at 3.75, pop 4 gigs into a system running 32 bit windows xp and it often causes issues. You are going to want to get ram with the same timing and speed as your current ram also. Some older bios's don't like mix and match of all that BS.

[Isiolia]

You shouldn't have "issues" with 4GB of RAM in a 32-bit OS, even XP. It just won't all be usable in most cases. It's still often preferable to use matched pairs of memory if your system is dual channel capable (which most have been for some time).

The only time I've had issues with "too much RAM" was a hardware problem - the platform simply didn't support more than 512MB (was years ago).

Most of the time, mix & match simply means your motherboard will use the lowest common denominator in terms of settings. IE, it's pointless to mix budget RAM and high performance RAM, since your system will just run it all at what the budget RAM can do.

Not saying that motherboards never have issues with RAM, but really, they can have issues with a particular brand/model by itself too. Most of the time you can simply buy the right general spec, put it in, and it works.

[Chicomagiko]

Got 4 gigs on my 32 bit xp box and haven't had an issue in 3 years. No BSOD, no freezing, nothing. "Issues" my ass.

[vagus]

2gigs is fine, if you're planning to use it as a game machine. get a new video card.

[tyven]

hey how do i know if i have 32bit or 64bit windows

[Clauz]

Control Panel ->System and Maintenance-> System. It might be slightly different for XP/7.

[Jefe]

Having > 2 gigs of ram w/ a 32 bit OS is like driving a Porsche Carrera GT where the max speed limit is 32 km/h. Sure, it can take you from point A to point B, but so can a mule.

[Isiolia]

Having > 2 gigs of ram w/ a 32 bit OS is like driving a Porsche Carrera GT where the max speed limit is 32 km/h. Sure, it can take you from point A to point B, but so can a mule.

Eh, 3GB is more the practical limit, since past that is where the addresses tend to be used. Unless you futz with PAE n' whatnot.

Tends to just be simpler and/or better marketing to just jump to 4GB though. Use 2x2GB DIMMs instead of 2x1GB + 2x512MB or 2GB + 1GB & lose the performance boost from dual channel.
Unless you're using an X58 system with 3x1GB, of course.

[SephYuyX]

It depends on the SOFTWARE aka the OS, not the hardware. you probably have vista or win 7 that is why it is capping at 3.75, pop 4 gigs into a system running 32 bit windows xp and it often causes issues.

Uh.. no. Im running Win XP Pro fine and dandy.
Also no, if youre running a 32bit OS, with hardware that is capable of 64bit, you can in fact use all 4GB of RAM without suffering the drawbacks while tweaking the physical address extension.