How much RAM do you have in your notebook? 2010-2011 EDITION

This is a new poll -- the old one is here.

So, how much RAM do you have in your notebook? Please vote. If you have an odd amount of RAM e.g. 2.5GB, just round as necessary.

Also, please leave comments and let us know what is your OS, what programs you run, how much memory you use on average, and other details.

 

8gb for me, I really need that for Vmachines and simulations. I use windows 7 home premium x64.

 

4GB on a 32Bit OS - appr. 3GB useable, Vaio SZ on Vista Business.

RAM usage... varies a lot - between around 1,5GB to easily up to 2,8 when using Photoshop.

Right now under light usage - 1,78GB

 

Coming to the end of 2010, most of my notebooks are at least 4GB RAM. Running Windows 7 Professional x64 and mainly do graphic designs on Photoshop, web browsing, video playback and music listening.

However I do use Virtual Machines, as I tend to run at least 2 VMs (allocated 2GB each - WinXP/Linux) at the same time I need at least 8GB RAM. Right now thats restricted to my desktop but hopefully getting a new notebook in 2011 with a fair chunk of RAM to allow me to do this on the move!

 

Been happy with 2GB since 2007... my XP installs usually use about 500 to 600MB and my 7 installs usually do about double that. I'm sure I've maxed it out occasionally, but not yet enough that I care.

 

Kind of wierd that 2 and 3 gb are in the same vote option (i'd expect many people to have 3gb in 32 bit windows versions because 2 is a bit to litle, and 4gb can't be used fully anyway).

IMO 3gb is perfect for my 32 bit windows vista, not that it improved my gaming experience visibly, but I do like the fact that SIW starts about 2-4 seconds faster compared to when I had 2 gb.

Even when gaming it rarely goes above 70% of usage (while my cpu is @100% all the time when playing modern games like mafia2 and AC2).

 

currently running 16GB in my Elitebook 8740W, ( windows 7, A-CAD CS5, propriatory oifield software for test purposes and a few games )
I may upgrade to 32 one time when its needed and not as expensive.

I think except for my netbook ( 2GB )and old Toughbooks (1.5GB) I run 4 GB or more in everything now.

 

4 GB in my Vostro 1500, 4 GB in my Inspiron E1405, 2 GB in my Inspiron 6000.

If my notebooks would support 8 GB RAM, I'd buy it though =)

 

I wonder when the 8GB sticks are going to be cheap enough for and available for everbody.

 

I have 8GB of RAM, Windows 7 Pro 64-bit. My typical RAM usage is around 1.8 - 2.0GB idle; it can go up to 4GB+ when using Photoshop with a few ~12MP images open. I have 8GB of RAM mainly because it's cheap. I only paid about $72/4GB stick for Corsair.

My other notebooks have 2GB and 4GB of RAM, respectively; the 2GB machine has W7 Pro 32-bit and hovers around ~600MB usage idle; I have seen it go up to 800-900MB doing a few basic things like web surfing. I have found that W7 is very good with memory management and adapting to the amount of memory you have.

 

3gb is enough for what I do with the laptops I have. Running Vista x86 or W7 x86 on all laptops because the added security isn't enough to outweigh the finicky nature of drivers and programs under x64.

I agree that 2gb and 3gb need to be separate options.

What I do the most with my 3gb? DL teh pronz mainly. Watch lolcats videos and lookie da pix. Play teh Fallout 3 and teh CnC Generals ZH with teh Shockwave mod. Oh, and emails, I checkz da emailz.

 

Double tap, my bad.

 

I have 2GB installed on my laptop but I've played with 4GB every now and then. It is a GM45 laptop with Pentium Dual Core. Even running the 4GB on a 32-bit OS makes it a lot smoother for lots of browser windows, music, videos, and a little photo editing here and there. But I've been using it a lot less than I used to so it isn't such a big deal. With 2GB installed, I never see all ram used at any one time, but more ram definitely keeps things a lot smoother and notice a lot less disk usage.

I agree. I feel like the options should be:
less than 2
2
3
4
6
8
16 or more

With rounding up if you are at least 50% of the way to the next level and rounding down otherwise.

Edit: I see the poll was modified to separate 2 and 3GB

Anyway, if a user has 4GB installed but is using a 32-bit OS, should they select 3GB since that is all they can practically use anyway?

 

6 Gb (DDR2 PC2-6400)

Win 7 (x64) Professional (MAIN OS)

Win 7 (x32) Professional (USB) *


* Eboostr and some RAM disk software will manage memory above the x32 limitation

 

8GB RAM across the board - from my 'digital notebook' the U30Jc, to my notebook and desktop workstations.

With SB around the corner, I am preparing myself for the shock ($$$) of standardizing on 16GB RAM sometime in 2011 on all future purchases.

RAW Photo editing workflow with Capture NX, CS5, Bibble and LR (usually concurrently) being the main culprits for such voracious RAM usage.


I also agree with a 4GB setup in a 32bit O/S. If for nothing else than populating the RAM slots with identical memory modules for ultimate system stability and a very slight (feel good) boost because of full, dual channel mode. Even XP responds positively with this setup - and using eBoostr as mentioned will make full use of your RAM too.

 

4GB for 32 bit OS
6GB for 64 bit OS

Does anyone know if and when 8GB stick will be available for DDR3 and if standard notebook chasis can handle the heat with 2 of them ?

The reason I ask is that I would mostly skip the Sandy Bridge generation and go for Ivy Bridge where Quad would be the standard offering. But to balance that things out, I would like to pair it with 12-16GB RAM(and hopefully a 120-200GB SSD would be in reasonable price range by then).

 

If i answered this seven days ago i would have said-

4GB in my SZ- OS W7 32bit Professional. Of course only like 3GB is available.
Also, 8GB in my Sony TT (ultraportable).

However, right now i've removed a 4GB module from my Sony TT OS W7 Pro 64 bit (but still own it) because it appears that for me downgrading to 4GB and using a single module (so single channel mode) has given me a noticeable increase in battery life.

In this laptop i've used 4GB (symmetric dual channel mode), 6GB (asymmetric), 8GB and now 4GB single channel mode and i cannot tell a difference.

 

8gb of ram in each of my Thinkpads. Running Win7 Ultimate. Usually use around 1.8 to 2gb, but running VM, up to 6gb. Sometimes around 4gb or so using Photoshop.

 

I have two Dell M1330's, one is the primary PC and the other is a back-up, and each has 4GB RAM. Both use Windows Vista Home Premium. I don't have use many programs and most are freeware--both have Windows Office Home and Student Edition 2007, Adobe Reader, Apple iTunes, QuickTime (primarily for short home videos taken on my digital camera), VideoLAN media player, DIVXPlus media player, CPUID PC monitor, BlueScreenView, Microsoft Security Essentials, and Malwarebytes. I also have the game Ubisoft IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 installed on both PCs, although I haven't played it for 6 months.

I don't know my average RAM usage--I chagrinedly admit I don't know how to check this and would be appreciative for advice to do this.

 

I put 8GB in my Macbook because I wanted to see 12% memory usage in Windows 7. And it was cheap-ish.

My Windows 7 Professional X64, with only MSSE uses 1.08GB, while with steam and itunes helper and suff it uses 1.2GB

 

8GB cheap on a mac? Doubt it.

 

4GB, but that's cause its hard for me to get cash. :x
Would have 8 if I just had like 30 more dollars

 

8 GB

Man 16 GB would be nice. Especially with a i7 Extreme Quad. Oh Boy

 

What notebook has 16 GB RAM... or more? 1 poller apparently has selected that option..

 

The Dell M6500 has that option, for one example.

 

I think he means the "more" part. What laptop can have more than 16GB of ram? Is there one using desktop memory modules, or that has more than four slots?

 

4GB in my Asus, 3GB in my Vaio.

 

I paid $130 for 8GB's of Corsair PC1066 2x4GB Sodimm. Then I sold the original 4GB's for $40.

Total investment: $90.

 

Ah it was an after-market upgrade.

 

Jesus Christ you can add 32 GB RAM from Dell for the low suggested price of 8600 dollars...

 

That is chump change buddy, I happen to have twelve million dollars in the ashtray of my car, yeah hilarious.

 

Yeah chump change to a millionaire, I'd buy a new car before dropping 8600 into a laptop just for RAM..

 

The HP EliteBook 8740w supports 32GB of RAM and has been confirmed working with it by one of our forum members:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/hp-...k-8740w-owners-lounge-new-64.html#post6863854
Quad-core motherboard+CPU only however. The duals support up to 8GB but in a quad motherboard will work with 16GB.

 

I was replying to the 'more' part.

As mentioned, Dell offers 32GB on systems (4 x 8GB modules).

 

Oh snap, you're right. I didn't realize those 8GB modules were actually out in the wild. Of course 32GB is $8,594 more than 4GB.....

 

The price could be increased even more and someone will have a use and the brainpower to make a good return on that RAM; I'm sure.

Price is not the measure of what a 'tool' is worth - ROI is.

 

I got 8GB just because I had some extra cash from my scholarships.

 

I have 4 GB's on my two Latitudes, and 2 GB in my Gateway netbook/ultraportable. If I ever get around to fixing my Samsung netbook, that one will have 2 GB as well.

The only time I've exceeded 3 GB was when I was editing a RAW file in Photoshop.

 

Reviews, Price - Samsung's New SoDIMM Memory For Dell Precision Mobile Workstations Samsung’s SoDIMM Memory Allows Dell To Pack 32GB RAM in its Mobile Workstations - Reviews by TechnoTalks

lol you can't even get the Samsung SODIMMS on the retail market yet.

 

I've got a collection of DDR2 RAM chips which are pretty much useless to me now because of my DDR3 notebook.

 

4 GB with the machine in my sig. Running Win 7 x64 Professional. Enough for me.


--

 

As of now, 4GB. Come next year with a Sandy Bridge notebook, probably 8GB. I tinker with virtual machines which would be my main reason. Also planning on going with a true Desktop Replacement (DTR). My needs have changed, and a 17" DTR would suit me, so might as well bulk up!

 

Well answered 8 only because I'm a couple months from a SB notebook and it will have 8. I have 4 now and it gets 50-75% use fairly frequently gaming or 50 billion windows of stuff open trying to do it all at once

I have 12 in my desktop and it has never really gotten much above 4 used even with some heavy photo stuff in process so, for me, 8 is plenty. Having 12 and a memory tracker gives you a world of information on just what kind of a memory footprint we have day to day. Much of the time it barely gets above 3 used, and clearly Win7 could be using as much as it felt like.

 

4GB, lots of internet, music, photo editing with Lightroom 3 and Paint Shop Pro X2, recording in Media Center. Right now I am using 47%, have used almost all when had a bunch of photos opened. My OS's are 64-bit Windows 7 Ultimate and 64-bit Ubuntu 10.10.

 

8GB. Looking at task manager now I am using 1.31GB and 54 processes.

Do I feel silly having all this ram.... nope not one bit

 

Just made a 21x 12MP panorama in CS5 x64 (and couldn't save as tiff because it exceeded the 4GB maximum tiff file size restrictions) and 8GB RAM was woefully inadequate.

The benefit of the extra RAM was that I could start Outlook (with a 6.97GB pst file), browse the web and start another project in LR3. Although 4GB RAM would have allowed me to do that too (it would have taken more than three times as long - if it finished that fast).

The next best thing to a platform upgrade is maximizing the RAM in your system to increase your productivity. At least until the new platforms arrive.

 

I have 4GB in both my Thinkpads T61 and X200. I'm running Win7 Pro X64 on both and never usually get the usage above 2GB, therefore I have no need for more.

 

got 8GB on my G73 and goes to 3-4GB... had a Dv5t which used 3.2GB out of 4... DDR3 RAM certainly helps compared to DDR2 on my Dv5...

 

i have 6 gb in my gamer laptop 800 mhz

my backup unused laptop has 4gb of 1066 believe it or not its more modern and got obsoleted by an older design

I love 6 gb of ram. When it gets affordable Im sure Ill get 12gb and see what I can do to tune a ram disk

windows 7 home premium on the acer

windows 7 enterprise on the asus

 

My Asus has 2Gig with Win 7 and its been fine for a backup, never have had it get bogged down to where the hard drive was caching to keep up with what I was doing.

My Sager has 4 Gig and same thing with it. I have yet do do some of the heavier tasks that I was intending it for like Video encoding and stuff like that. With that my 4 Gigs is plenty.