Will a ram upgrade solve my problems?

I've got a sager 2090(C2D 2.0, 8600GT, 160GB 5400rpm HDD, 1 GB RAM, Vista/Ubuntu dual boot) and it seems to get bogged down. It takes forever to load some games(Battlefield 2, I'm looking at you) and it gets sluggish if I get carried away programming - working on Second Life's code in Visual Studio 2005 with a couple browser tabs open and word would kill the system. Also, in Ubuntu I get pauses from rhythmbox sometimes even visiting websites. Will upping the RAM cure all that ails my laptop or is some of it due to other things(HDD, processor, etc)?

 

Yes, anything with less than 1gb will see a huge improvement with 2-4gbs.

 

I would definatley put more ram in the system, windows will take up a big slice of 1gb ram when idle. So i'm sure you will see a noticable difference.

 

As others have said, your bottleneck is definitely the memory. Considering you can put in a 2GB stick for about 20 bucks, upping you to 2.5 or 3GB depending on your current configuration, definitely worth the upgrade.

 

Get 2.5 - 3gb total, 2gb is not even enough for crysis. My desktop's hard drive goes non stop playing crysis.

 

Thanks. One last question, I don't remember if it was the 2090 or one of the other laptop I as looking at before I bought one, but one of them was picky about what RAM worked in it. Newegg has a 4 gig pair from OCZ(DDR2 667, so thats correct) for $37 after rebate, does anyone know if there isn't a reason to get it(OCZ rapes kittens, puppies and computers, better deals, etc)?

I'd post a link, but I'm 5 posts under the limit.

 

You really need to upgrade 1gb, thats like a major handicap for your rig.

2x2gb OCZ is fine.

All Modern RAM work under the JEDEC standard.

 

Just keep in mind that not all 4GB will be utilized by your 32-bit operating system - between 2.75 and 3.5, depending on your hardware.
Vista can still have issues switching between 32-bit and 64-bit versions, especially with device drivers, but Ubuntu might be an easier job to flip over and start using all 4GB with a 64-bit version. Pull the swap when Ibex comes out, maybe.

 

I started with the 64-bit versions of both

Interesting! I didn't know that existed. Thanks.

 

Well then, color me corrected.
Make sure that once you get your signature, you note that.
And although some RAM have lower latencies than others, the performance difference is statistically insignificant in normal usage. Go with the cheapest brand that backs their product with a lifetime warranty, and you should be set.