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Thread: How to know if you need more RAM?

  1. #1
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    Default How to know if you need more RAM?

    On a general level, when looking at how much of your RAM is working at a given time, how would you know if you are routinely running up against memory constraints? is 80% usage too high?

    And would being short of ram cause extra work for the HDD? seems to me when I'm using a high percentage of the RAM, the hard disk is working harder too. Is it trying to move some of the cache there or something?
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    80% is too high, and yes about the cache.

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    Unless your doing crazy shit 8-16gb is plenty for daily usage. And is the norm these days.

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    Go into Task manager to see the ram usage and capacity.

    Also, what programs do you typically run and how often do you restart the computer?

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    On a related note, when upgrading ram, I think it's common to put in the same as whatever you have, but does it matter if the two sticks are different capacities if they are the same speed etc?
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    different specs sticks will typically cause the system (depends on board) to run at the slowest speeds of the RAM installed

    pay attention to the slots and their respective channels

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    so talk to me like an idiot. I current have 4gb of DDR4-2133 ram.
    Considering adding another 4gb or 8gb of the same DDR4-2133.

    Do I need to know more than that?
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    If you keep the RAM sticks identical (same brand, model, speed, latency, timing, etc.) - that would be your best/easiest course of action.

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    Yes to your questions.

    Bare minimum is 8GB these days. Even if you have a lot of Chrome tabs open or something you can easily be using 10GB just from that. 16GB is the standard these days and 32GB is the minimum I would suggest for workstation machines.

    Before you get more RAM though get an SSD if you're still on a traditional HDD. Or do them both at once since they are so cheap.

    Thankfully everything is very cheap right now unless you want the best.

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    I just bought a used Acer laptop. It only has 6GB ram
    Originally posted by GTS Jeff
    You know those bored stay at home moms who's entire lives revolve around driving their kids to soccer, various cleaning accessories, and worrying about neighbourhood rapists? The kind of people that watch the View and go "uh huh..." Those unfulfilled people who try to fill the void in their empty lives by writing whiny letters to the editor complaining about shit that no one really cares about?

    Well imagine if instead of writing that letter to the editor, she just posts on a car forum for car enthusiasts. That's Kritafo.

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    I would agree on the SSD, get that first, it would be the best bang for the buck, because even if it starts swapping (using hard drive to compensate for lack of ram) it will still be fairly quick.

    Nowadays there are more things to worry about then just speed and size. I always try to go with the number of sticks that would maximize speed. Nowadays everything runs in Tripple or Quad channel. In triple channel you would want a combination of 3s for your memory, or 4s for quad. Just get better speed from your ram. You would have to see the proc you have and the supported memory channels, and see if your mobo matches. Usually you can tell by the color of the slots on some motherboards. For example, 3 blue slots, 3 green ect...would usually imply a triple channel config.

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    I'm a big fan of SSD's and have used them before, but seems funny to get that first in this case since the task manager shows that I'm quite rarely maxing out my HDD, and often using 80-90% of my RAM.

    I also like to argue.
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    This may be obvious, but just in case.... you have to be running 64 bit Windows to use anything over 4GB of RAM.

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    Originally posted by eblend
    Nowadays there are more things to worry about then just speed and size. I always try to go with the number of sticks that would maximize speed. Nowadays everything runs in Tripple or Quad channel. In triple channel you would want a combination of 3s for your memory, or 4s for quad. Just get better speed from your ram. You would have to see the proc you have and the supported memory channels, and see if your mobo matches. Usually you can tell by the color of the slots on some motherboards. For example, 3 blue slots, 3 green ect...would usually imply a triple channel config.
    Two slots in this machine, so it's dual channel.


    Originally posted by The_Penguin
    This may be obvious, but just in case.... you have to be running 64 bit Windows to use anything over 4GB of RAM.
    Good call, I knew I was on 64 bit, but not all would and it's worth checking.
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    Originally posted by Mitsu3000gt
    Yes to your questions.

    Bare minimum is 8GB these days. Even if you have a lot of Chrome tabs open or something you can easily be using 10GB just from that. 16GB is the standard these days and 32GB is the minimum I would suggest for workstation machines.

    Before you get more RAM though get an SSD if you're still on a traditional HDD. Or do them both at once since they are so cheap.

    Thankfully everything is very cheap right now unless you want the best.
    This x 1000. Everyone browses with a ton of tabs, not hard to use over 8GB.
    Originally posted by SEANBANERJEE
    I have gone above and beyond what I should rightfully have to do to protect my good name

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    All I know is RAM is good.
    Will fuck off, again.

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    Originally posted by rage2

    This x 1000. Everyone browses with a ton of tabs, not hard to use over 8GB.
    I regularly start to max out my 8gb of ram with the amount of tabs I open in chrome. Definitely go to 16gb if you're going to upgrade.

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    Just as an example, 15 Tabs of chrome (64bit, latest version) is currently using 9.5GB of RAM for me, and it's just basic forums, a couple Memory Express tabs, and news websites - nothing heavy or unusual.

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    Originally posted by ExtraSlow
    I'm a big fan of SSD's and have used them before, but seems funny to get that first in this case since the task manager shows that I'm quite rarely maxing out my HDD, and often using 80-90% of my RAM.

    I also like to argue.
    When systems run out of RAM, the data moves back and forth between RAM/HDD through the page file. So basically having a quick HD does affect your performance even though it's not obvious.

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    Run as much RAM as you can afford.

    RAM is king





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