The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Will 1GB ram hurt XPpro performance if you don't need it?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by nickr, Jul 25, 2006.

  1. nickr

    nickr Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    20
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    For my computer needs, I only require 512MB ram. I plan on keeping XP pro for future (not upgrading to vista). I read too much ram will do nothing if you don't need it. I don't need it. But will getting 1GB still be the wise move? It won't hurt performance if you don't need it right?
     
    nickr, Jul 25, 2006
    #1
  2. Ur ex-wife

    Ur ex-wife Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    249
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    why would it be bad/hurt performance? its extra memory that your cpu uses, so, anything you do will be noticably faster.

    someone else can better explin what ram is...so im not even going to try ;)
     
    Ur ex-wife, Jul 25, 2006
    #2
  3. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

    Reputations:
    22,339
    Messages:
    36,639
    Likes Received:
    5,080
    Trophy Points:
    931
    It won't hurt your performance, no. For any sort of multitasking in XP Pro (or even if you have multiple programs open), 512MB is the bare minimum - having 1GB would be best.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Jul 25, 2006
    #3
  4. KrispyKreme50

    KrispyKreme50 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    41
    Messages:
    678
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    1 GB is highly recommended but beyond that, I have heard that there is a tradeoff. The CPU has to use a certain number of clock cycles to page all the possible addresses on the memory and if the extra memory is rarely used, then you will see better performance with just 1 GB.
     
    KrispyKreme50, Jul 25, 2006
    #4
  5. Thaenatos

    Thaenatos Zero Cool

    Reputations:
    1,581
    Messages:
    5,346
    Likes Received:
    126
    Trophy Points:
    231
    adding more ram will always out wiegh any loss. Basically the only way ram could hurt you is if you went to a higher cas and/or slower speed.
     
    Thaenatos, Jul 25, 2006
    #5
  6. Sirius

    Sirius Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    170
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    if you dont need it, dont get it. But if you do get it, your performance will only remain the same or improve rather than hurt the performance.
     
    Sirius, Jul 25, 2006
    #6
  7. compaq64

    compaq64 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    144
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Go for the gig. I couldnt use a computer for the stuff I do without at least a gig.
     
    compaq64, Jul 25, 2006
    #7
  8. SVTWannabe

    SVTWannabe Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    52
    Messages:
    148
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I'd get the upgrade to 1 GB of RAM as well.

    You'll find the added RAM comes in handy when you suddenly have a few really intensive documents, movies, mp3s, graphics etc. all happening at the same time. It seems a lot of the pre-configured systems are coming with 1 GB of RAM to help people accomodate the newer, larger, more intensive programs, as well as offer people some buffer room whereby they don't have to upgrade their machines for a while.
     
    SVTWannabe, Jul 25, 2006
    #8
  9. KrispyKreme50

    KrispyKreme50 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    41
    Messages:
    678
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    KrispyKreme50, Jul 25, 2006
    #9
  10. kannansalem

    kannansalem Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Ofcourse it will not hurt the performance. its better to invest in non upgradable stuff first then you can upgrade RAM later.
     
    kannansalem, Jul 26, 2006
    #10