Upgrading ram, 2GB vs 4GB in Windows 7 64-bit? Dual channel vs single channel?

Ok I have a few questions about upgrading ram. I ordered a laptop that comes with 2GB DDR3 ram (2x1GB). Right now my current laptop has 2GB DDR2 ram (2x1GB), but it hardly ever uses more that 800MB or so. However, I'm running Windows 7 32-bit, and when I get my new laptop I will more than likely be running Windows 7 64-bit on it. I have heard 4GB is generally the minimum for 64-bit since it uses more ram, and that the differences between 2GB and 4GB in 64-bit is like night and day. I am considering upgrading the ram to 4GB, if 2GB is not enough. I have heard that the difference between dual channel and single channel, for example 2x2GB and 1x4GB, is hardly noticeable. Is this true? I'd rather get the 1x4GB stick since it will be cheaper to upgrade later. Also, the ram that comes with my laptop will be either 1066 MHz or 1333 MHz, but running at 800 MHz, since that is what the processor supports. Will it make any (noticeable) difference which type of ram I get since it will run at 800 MHz either way?

 

You are correct.

A 64bit OS will use a bit more ram as the memory address is larger.
The Dual Channel performance increase isn't significant.
As for memory speed, your right it won't matter since you won't be able to take advantage of it. The faster ram maybe able to run at a lower cas timing at 800MHZ, but your laptop probably won't allow you to configure that manually in the bios.

 

I think dual channel doubles the transfer per clock cycle. Truthfully 99% of people won't use over 4GBs. If it was me I'd get 4GB(2x2GB). Right now i'm running Windows 7 64 bit, with 2GBs memory. I have 3 tabs on Google Chrome up and I'm using only 750MB of memory. I also have Avast Anti-Virus running. 4 gigs should be plenty. heres a link about dual channel memory: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual-channel

 

First line is untrue, I'm on 64-bit with <4GB memory, and it's working just fine. There isn't any performance difference between 32-bit and 64-bit with the same amount of memory, but obviously there will be a big difference between 2GB and 4GB no matter what version of the same OS you're using. Unless you have a specific use, don't bother with more than 4GB, so just get your system with 2x2GB at most. Also, the memory that comes with your system is DDR3 (1066 and 1333) and not interchangeable with DDR2 (800).

 

Why get 1x4GB? That 4GB stick costs a lot. I would get 2x2GB to save money. 1X4GB has 2GB running dual channel.

You do know your DDR2 and 3 do not work together.

 

Yes I know the difference between DDR2 and DDR3. The 4GB stick I was looking at is only $119.99, about the same price if not just a bit more than 2x2GB, you can find it here...

Newegg.com - OCZ 4GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Laptop Memory Model OCZ3M13334G

I'm thinking either that, or two of these...

Newegg.com - Mushkin Enhanced 2GB 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1066 (PC3 8500) Laptop Memory Model 991643

 

Prices have gone up for the 2GB a lot and down for the 4GB. But unless you know you a particular application that you will use, more than 4GB won't give better performance.

 

I have no plans of upgrading to 8GB right now or in the near future, I meant like in a year or two when/if it becomes more practical to have 8GB it'll be easier to just add another stick than to have to buy two new sticks and throw out two old ones, kind of a waste in my opinion. I just want to know if there will be a noticeable difference between 2GB and 4GB. I will test out the new laptop when I get it before I decide to upgrade or not.

 

Yes, there will be a difference between 2 and 4, but none to majority of users from 4 to 8.

 

I would get the 2x2GB. My thoughts are 4GB is fine for most as sg said. You are talking about a maybe in the future. You are not certain you will even do in the future.

 

To be honest, only if you use more than what you have. Some headroom is best, but only when you approach the limit.

 

Additionally, it is not funny to wake up from hibernation with >4 GB installed. This is roughly the point, where a shutdown/restart sequence is faster than entering/leaving hibernation mode.

Michael

 

By the time 8GB is needed and affordable, that laptop will be ancient and obsolete. Well not quite obsolete.

 

I would personally recommend you get the 4 GB.
You are using a x64 OS which is capable of using that to the fullest, and the more RAM you have, the more programs you'll be able to use at the same time.
Obviously, this won't make that much difference if you are not using that much RAM right now, still, for contemporary computers, it really doesn't hurt.

I'm using 4GB of RAM right now, but I'd personally prefer if I had 6 or 8GB because I tend to use 3dsMax (which of course is by no means something used by all computers).

 

I got a question about RAM but didn't want to start a separate thread, so I'm asking here. I currently have 4gb of RAM and was thinking about upgrading it to 4gb of HyperX RAM. Would this upgrade benefit me, in it's gaming performance?
If not what would I gain from upgrading my stock RAM to the HyperX brand of RAM?

 

i would get 4GB at least... for windows 7 64 bit... 4GB is usually the max u need but really depends..

 

No and no.

 

To be more specific--it depends on your application. That means you bought your computer to perform a specific duty or task above all else. If that were the case, you'd typically know if it needed more. Otherwise, few of us would tax our computers to the point that it would be necessary to have more.


Think of your computer like a utility vehicle: If you only intend to use it as a daily driver and will rarely haul anything--other than an occasional sofa or some gardening supplies--then a heavy duty suspension system and trailer hauling package would be wasted. Which is to say, most people would know before they buy the truck how they're going to use it. Otherwise, just get the standard version and leave it at that.

 

Hi,

I bought a HP dv6-3181ss (i7-720QM - HM55 Chipset - ATI HD Radeon 5650 1Gb - 4Gb DDR3 RAM 1333 1 single slot), and I want to upgrade RAM with an extra 4Gb (in the 2nd slot).

Would you recommend this? I mean, is there any REAL difference (principally for virtualization, maybe 2 or 3 with windows 7 as the host).
I've read about the dual channel technology but I dont know wich RAM stick to buy. HP has a Hynix 4GB 2RX8 PC3 10600S-9-10-FC RAM module but is so expensive buy the same at HP (500$+).

So, my another question is: Wich DDR3 of this 3 can improve my new laptop?

ALTERNATE - HARDWARE - Módulos de memoria - DDR3 - DDR3 SO-DIMM - G.Skill SO-DIMM 4 GB DDR3-1333

ALTERNATE - HARDWARE - Módulos de memoria - DDR3 - DDR3 SO-DIMM - Kingston ValueRAM SO-DIMM 4 GB DDR3-1333

ALTERNATE - HARDWARE - Módulos de memoria - DDR3 - DDR3 SO-DIMM - Team Group SO-DIMM 4 GB DDR3-1333


Thanks in advance

 

Next time, search the forum first. The answer is, memory specs don't matter - just get the cheapest memory with lifetime warranty (the latter usually means a reputable company). Dual channel makes no practical difference either (except for gaming on an integrated card).

 

Not necessary true. I can resume from hibernation for a 6GB machine in 30 seconds or so which is using a 7k320(I think it max out @ 80MB/s or so sequential read speed).

Another data point, I can resume a 2GB system under 15s where the HDD is HM160C(again I think around 50-60MB/s).

Both beat out restart by quite a margin, not to mention that by the time I get to my login, all those task has resumed as well unlike reboot where they are still starting in the background even though I can already login.

Microsoft performs compression on the memory before hibernation and I am not sure if they only write 'occupied' RAM as well.

 

Thank you for your answer and sorry for put the question here. (And for my english too!!!)

 

I was recently testing hardware where I accidentially installed Win7x64u on a system with 1GB RAM.

I was surprised how fast it worked (I thought it wouldn't work at all! I'm used to 8GB RAM for the last two years now...) and how slow the system was - at the same time.

(In almost all tasks I performed on this 1GB 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo system, it took considerably longer to do than with a netbook with 2GB RAM and a 1.2GHz C-30 AMD cpu).

I still say that Win7x64 really shines with greater than 4GB RAM and that requirement will only increase over time (more programs installed, more Windows Updates, more SP's, etc.).

Seeing how much your RAM is used is not a good/accurate indication of needing more or not. Windows configures itself differently with different hardware - give it more than 4GB RAM and see it use ~2GB or more for 'itself', at idle. The responsiveness of the system is very noticeable (to me) with more RAM; especially when the system is being pushed a little.

Spending ~$60 to ~$120 (depending if you need one 4GB module or two) to get the benefits of 8GB of RAM is very cost effective if you are planning to keep the system for anything over 2 years.

Of course, testing more RAM in your actual system with your specific usage pattern and comparing to your current RAM capacity is the best way of knowing what will work for you.

Make sure you test/buy when you'll have the time to try within the return period - (a return period with no re-stocking fee, preferrably).

What 'test' should you do to compare? Simply: just use your system normally for about a week and see if adding more RAM was noticeable.

To me, I notice less HDD usage, quieter system (fans, etc.), cooler and of course the capability to run all my programs at once with 8GB of RAM.

With Sandy Bridge platforms, I suspect 16GB will be the sweet spot for matching the RAM to the brute power of the CPU (Many Core 2 Duo's are outclassed by being paired with greater than 8GB RAM, even most i3's and i5's are too - though I haven't played with that as extensively).

Good luck.