Question about laptop/Vista memory limits

I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop (stats below), and am debating adding another 2GB of RAM. I read somewhere that my computer will only recognize 3.5 GB (maybe it was a Vista 32 bit limit). What's my best option? I didn't want to mess up the whole dual-channel thing, but if I put in 2 2-GB sticks, will it just use 1.5 of the 2 GB of one of the cards, and will they operate in dual-channel mode? Does that even matter?

And will I see much of a difference from the upgrade? I do see performance issues from time to time but think it's because my HDD's are so full and it may need a windows reinstall/reformat.

Thanks in advance!

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Satellite X205-S7483
• Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium (32-bit version)
Processor and Chipset3
Intel® Centrino® Duo processor technology featuring:
• Intel® Core™ 2 Duo Processor T5450
o 1.66GHz, 2MB L2, 667MHz FSB
• Mobile Intel® PM965 Express Chipset

• Configured with 2048MB PC2-5300 DDR2 SDRAM (both memory slots
may be occupied). Maximum capacity 4096MB

• 240GB using two Serial ATA hard disk drives;
o Primary + Secondary drive: 120GB + 120GB
• PCI-Express™ x16 graphics subsystem, featuring:
o NVIDIA® GeForce™ 8700M GT, 256MB GDDR2 discrete
graphics memory, plus up to 255MB dynamically allocated
shared graphics memory using NVIDIA® TurboCache™
technology.
• Total Available Graphics memory 511MB

 

what kind of programs are you going to use on this laptop?

 

Your graphics card takes 256mb of memory, so you really only have 1.75Gb of memory allocated to Vista.
A memory upgrade to 4Gb will surely speed your system up.
You may want to clean up the registry on your computer using the MSCONFIG command.
Shut off any processes, services, applications which you are not using. That will free up cpu/memory/harddrive cycles, thus leaving more resources for your system, making it run faster.

Also disc cleanup and disc defragmenter can speed up your system

K-TRON

 

32 bit version of vista is what limits how much memory you can upgrade to (3.5 gb), that is the reason why people use the 64bit version because the limit is much higher if there is any.

I have read it really depends because first off your motherboard may limit the amount of memory you can have for instance, my main desktop only has 3gb available. I had to install 32bit so I could run some 360 flashing utilities may go back to 64bit so I can have my full 4gb. Vista can be a hog of memory at times so I think it is worth the upgrade.

 

I know a decent amount of stuff about computers, like cleaning up the registry (using programs) and trying to keep it lean. And if it will help, I do want to upgrade. The main question I had was ... HOW?

Do I just put in 3GB, or if I put in 4GB, will it use 3.5 or will it only use one of the modules, keeping me at 2? What's my best option?

As for programs, mostly music downloading, web surfing, watching movies, and occasionally playing games. I have Bioshock which runs great on it, but my PC has been getting slow and I think it's a result of Vista.

So do I buy the fastest ram and get 2 2GB sticks or can Windows 32Bit even do that? Will I be better off with a 1 and a 2 GB stick running in non-dual channel mode?

 

You're forgetting that the 256MB of memory are "dymanimcally allocated" thus 256MB is the maximum amount. Usually when the graphic card isn't doing a lot of 3D processing, it won't use a lot of memory. Thus the average memory ussage is around 8-32MB.

To the OP, there's no need to buy the fastest ram as almost all the ram will be run or downclocked to 667mhz ( i think). It's cheaper to upgrade to 2*2GB. You can get it under $10USD if you're lucky. Regular sale price is around $15-20.

 

The 32bit limit is 4gb of address space, what you get is what is left after the system has taken hold of "reserved" memory address space.

GPU, System Buss, PCI devices etc.

There is not set limit like "256mb for the gpu" it varies on each system based on how the bios is setup and what hardware it has in it.

If you see 3.5gb thats pretty good, most people only get about 3.3 out of 4gb after the system holds the reserved space.

There is a very very slim chance you seek to really gain anything out of unlocking use of the rest of your ram, but if you want to you just need to upgrade to a 64bit OS, you can get the beta of Windows 7 64bit for free and try that out, its almost just like Vista but maybe even faster.

Just dual boot so you dont have to lose your old OS or files.

2gb is fine for any normal/office work but I would do the 4gb upgrade for video editing/photoshop or gaming.

 

So just so we're clear, I will benefit from the upgrade, just losing 500MB of RAM to system usage? Does that happen now, keeping me at 1.5?

Crucial recommends either 5300 or 6400. Is that clock down thing definite? They're the same price ($52 total for the 2 sticks; I suppose that's too much but I don't know the best place to find GOOD RAM).

 

that's kind of expensive. the % in performance does not compensate for premium ram imo.
you will only benefit if you use more then 2gb of memory (though with dual channel you would benefit a little). that depends on what programs you use at the same time etc and how much ram they need etc etc. for example if you only use your notebook for browsing and ms office programs you will not benefit, it will be almost equal to have 2gb or 4gb. if you use 3dstudio max and photoshop and that kind of ram intensive programs you will greatly benefit.

the 1.5 doesn't happen now. you have 2024 less 256maximum, it's dymanimcally allocated like it was said before. now you have a minimum of 1768mb not 1.5.
you have 32bits you are limited to 3.5gb even if you put 2gb+4gb stick. you will always have 3.5gb that's the 32bits limitation.
With a 64bits SO you can in theory use 17.2 billion gigabytes of ram (though it can happen some motherboard limitations and today only 4gb modules are available so you can only use 8gb practically)

just buy a normal 2gb module, it's cheap stuff.
and if you don't have any compatibility problem with the programs you use just install a 64bits SO.

 

Keep in mind that there's probably no difference in having 3.5GB ram in 32bit OS or 4GB ram in 64bit OS.

Since you'll need more memory to do the same thing in 64Bit OS, memory is wasted when you're primarily executing 32bit programs in 64Bit OS. So having 4GB of ram in 64bit OS is the same thing as having 3.5GB of Ram in 32bit OS.

64bit OS is effective if you go above 4GB. E.g. 8GB ram in 64bit OS will definetly be better than 3.5GB of ram under 32bit OS.