RAM upgrade question and a page file issue

Hello

I have an HP dv2500t, WinXP pro 32bit, with 2GB RAM (1 stick).
Will adding another stick of 512MB for a total of 2.5GB work on my machine?Will it perform better, or worse (since it will not utilize the symmetrical dual channel advantage)?

Another question: if the above works fine, should I disable virtual memory (page file)? I remember seeing somewhere that if you have more than 2GB of RAM, it is actually better not to use cached memory.

Thank you for any advice

 

It will work fine, and yes you will lose partial dual channel, but that doesn't matter.

No don't disable the page file. No matter how much ram you have, the OS and several programs need/require and active page file. So keep it, or at the most lower it.

 

It will run 1GB in "True Dual Channel" so it will improve also more is better. Unless you already have the 512MB stick recommend 1GB stick. Right now you are running GB Single Channel no downside adding any stick. 1GB stick would give you 2GB in "True Dual Channel".

You cannot disable VM if you could boy would you have problems! Do not disable pagefile either as it will be used less with more RAM and if XP needs it it will be there. Also this is XP not 98 so pagefile works much better no reason to mess with it.

 

Not to be a prick, but how does a stick of 2gb + a stick of 512mb run "1gb in true dual channel"?

 

Not thinking you were being a prick But when you pair (Dual) 2 sticks together and one is 512MB what is the total amount that matches up? 1GB

 

The only reason that I think is legit for the deletion of page file is if you're hurting for space. Like on an Eee PC where you only have 4GB to begin with, deleting page file is a good idea.

 

I never heard that in my life before, but if you say so...

 

In my opinion, you should add another 2gb module. 32bit XP will not be able to utilize all of the total 4gb but, it will "see"about 3.5gb of it which is a huge increase over your current 2gb.

Also, if the system will revert to single channel, you idea of adding a 512mb module might work but, it is not a good idea. If it tries to run them in dual channel, you will likely see 1gb total memory (2 + 512mb) as the smaller of the 2 modules will dictate what the controller can address on each channel. It may be able to run in an assymetrical dual mode but, in some cases this is not as stable as symmetrical dual channel mode. The manual for your notebook advises to add identical modules for dual channel.

As far as the page file, you may want to tweak it but, don't turn it off. In spite of what many users will say, there is rarely any advantage to disabling it.

 

Thanks guys for your replies!

As prices of laptop RAM have dropped recently, I guess I won't install the extra 0.5GB, and go for another 2GB stick (although it will use only ~3.5GB, it is still a fair ammount! another reason is that if I upgrade one day to Vista 64Bit, I will get the full 4GB).

cheers all!

btw: Regarding the page file issue, I have opened a new thread asking for advice about the proper ammount I should allocate to it. see it here:
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=2968920#post2968920