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    max ram usage x86 gpu shared memory etc

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by royk50, Jun 19, 2008.

  1. royk50

    royk50 times being what they are

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    Running p-6831 with the stock 3GB RAM vista x86 sp1.
    As we know the 8800m gts uses 1279MB as shard memory
    my question is whether upgrading to 4Gb RAM will have any effect on system performance (not specifically 3dmark).
     
  2. ROBO HUNTER

    ROBO HUNTER Notebook Consultant

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    stick with 3gb unless you are going to upgrade to x64 , as 4gb will be of virtualy no use with x86
     
  3. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    yes....maybe theoretically Yes....
    if the gpu is eating off memory from the ram....then if u install 4gig ram....vista wud read only something around 3.2GB....and the rest 0.8GB wud be left off for I/O devices such as the gpu itself....
    the 0.8GB left off ram wud goto the gpu + and additional 479MB from the usable ram....
    so IF ure computer is picking up 1.8GB ram after sharing it with GPU....it may show 2.8GB after installing an extra gig of ram....so ur computer shud work faster after getting an extra gig of ram to actually munch on.. :D
    I am only presuming from the facts I have read before.. :p
    U cud probably go for the extra gig since ram is the cheapest upgrade money can buy.. :p
    U may read the cause section in this link....might clear ur doubts.. :)
    Vista 4GB ram issues
     
  4. seanno

    seanno Notebook Consultant

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    Yes...............come to think of it I think you are right. I have a P6860 that of course came with Vista 64 installed. After working with it for a week or so I realized a bunch of programs and devises that I use were no compatible to it. So, I downgraded to x86 and was surprised to find that my system seemed to use less ram than it did in Vista 64. I chalked this up to a more lofty OS but maybe what youre talking about comes into play. I know that my version of Vista can't use all the ram my Pc has (4 Gig). My comparison is based on the amount of ram I had after uninstalling all the bloatware.
    Seanno
     
  5. royk50

    royk50 times being what they are

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    seanno, how about with only browser running, open task manager
    /performance
    under physical memory (mb)
    what numbers you see ?

    mine are : total 3069 cached 2322 free 33

    thanx
     
  6. seanno

    seanno Notebook Consultant

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    I'm not on my laptop so I'll have to get back to you on thatl
     
  7. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    how much ram do u have installed in ur system at the moment....??
     
  8. royk50

    royk50 times being what they are

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    6860 comes with 4gb
    6831 3 gb
     
  9. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    I didnt get this.. :confused: but it is plain and simple that vista x86 will read 4gig ram anywhere between 2.5 - 3.5GB depending upon the mobo, gpu, etc. the whole laptop itself.. :)