dumb RAM question (somebody hit me with the ignorence stick)

I have an e1505
it is reported that it supports up to 2GB RAM.
What causes this limitation?
Is it the OS or the actual harware?
If it's the OS, would getting vista allow me to get 4GB of RAM?

I probably sound quite lacking in computer knowledge by saying this...but oh well.....It's been a while since My last IT classes and I can't remember everything....how ironic...my last two classes were computer architecture.

 

Nah...it is a hardware limitation on the part of the motherboard and chipset. Dell went cheap (again).

 

I kinda figured that...just wanted to double check as usuall...oh well...better start saving up about $2400 so I can get a new laptop that supports 4GB RAM.

 

What do you need 4GB ram for?

 

Vista....future games....and other high ram consuming programs.....plus saying I have 4GB of ram sounds so much cooler than saying I have 1GB.

 

I think that 2 GB is plenty for most applications these days. 1 GB may be a little limited in gaming, but certainly 2 Gb is more than enough. I think you'll only need 4 GB when programs get really hungry for RAM, but not at the moment.

 

2GB is almost overkill. I have 2GB in my laptop, and I can't come close to using all of it, and I do major 3D rendering and gaming on it. Don't worry about it. Look at getting more than 2GB of memory in 4-5 years, when it'll be more useful.

 

And when it's reasonably priced...

 

OK....OK....but i still think it would be cool to have 4GB....even if there really isn't a purpose for having it right now.

 

Yea...it sounds cool, but so does having a Hummer 3 (gas chugging monster of a vehicle).

Needless to say, I'll probably upgrade to 4GB if/when it becomes practical.

 

Got $2000 odd to throw away? Sure get 4Gb ram! lol

 

Having a Nvidia 8800 plug into the laptop sounds cooler than having 4gb... ^^

 

why not both lol

 

I have a desktop with 4gb of RAM and an x1950xtx just to run Solidworks, and I can only have 5 files open at once. I have had windows tell me that it has run out of RAM. There is a reason for that much RAM if you do Solidworks or other things that require lots and lots of RAM. I have been able to play FEAR and HL2 at fps at 100+ no problem. I don't think that anyone will need 4gb for RAM for the next 2 years at least. Granted that Vista is going to take up 400+mb of RAM just by itself. And of course ou have to have a firewall, antivirus and other things to fix the holes in the OS.

 

so wait you need 4GB of RAM but everyone esle won't need it at least until 2 years from now....Granted you did mention that you have RAM hungry programs.....that still can't rule out the fact that other people don't need 4GB's...look at some of the custom rigs being built by forum memebers...there's one in particular that could possibly move to as much as 8GB that comes to mind...I won't mention his name but I will say he has built the most impressive rigs I have ever seen.....anyways....I probably won't need 4GB just yet but that's not to say I won't need it in a couple of years or so.....or maybe even this year if by some miracleI find myself with a large sum of cash lol.

 

I'm sure there are applications for 4Gb ram but at the cost of a 2Gb sodimm right now you have to be minted and have very specialised usage to justify it!

 

nobody said you didn't

 

i agree i think its cool when ya say 'i got 4gm ram man'

 

Ok! How does that one work with the ladies?

 

I have known people that build custom computers for people, and the have things like 12gb RAM, just to say that they do. There is no reason for more then 2 right now, besides you are best off buying a computer that already has Vista on it because all the computers now are set up to use XP. I love to have that much 4gb RAM, but that computer costs about $3500, and is build for only running Solidworks. I can have around 100 FF2 windows open, but there is no need. You are best to stick with 2gb until that becames the equivalent to 1gb now, which is going to be a while.

 

price of last three computers: $2200, $3000, $2050....but that's irrelivent I suppose...anyway, I never said I needed 4GB....the original prupose of this thread was to findout if I could mod my laptop to support 4GB hence the phrase" (somebody hit me with the ignorence stick)"....by posting this thread I was double checking whether or not I would need to buy a new laptop and if so, how soon.

 

well dell offers 4gb of ram in their notebooks, but its like a $3500 upgrade just for the ram. I guess they use 2X2gb sticks instead of using a chipset/mainboard that has 4 ram slots instead of 2. besides, XP and all microsoft OS's that came before it was limited to 4GB of ram. and then it would only use 3Gb of that 4GB unless you hacked the registery or something.

 

To answer your question, the e1505 is only capable of 2 GB of RAM. There are systems available today that are capable of 4 GB though.

 

phillip, when people say they need 4gb they obviously are professional digital artists or engineers who run multiple array calculations. when do you run these? never? im assuming youre a casual gamer, just want to show off the specs and play some games like hl2, fear, etc, which can run no problem even on 1gb. i dont even know why you want 4gb as it is a complete waste of money and material. even with vista coming out, 2gb is sufficient running it. if you going with 4gb, youre probably going to have 3gb of memory sitting there doing nothing.

 

Are you running 64bit on that machine? You know that a single application under Windows (32bit) can only address up to 2GB of RAM, right? Do you start Solidworks twice? Solidworks apparently released a 64bit version of their software a few months ago... you may get more performance from your 4GB if you migrate.

I apologize if you already knew all this, but it's still info many people seem to be unaware of

 

You obviously didn't read what I posted.....I didn't say I wanted to get 4GB...I just wanted to know what It would take to get 4GB on a laptop....I know that companies like dell already offer 4GB but at the price of 2 mid/high range laptops just for the RAM upgrade....BTW....I have read few reports that Oblivion can choke on 2GB so one would need more RAM to prevent such a thing......I do plan on getting a Vista running laptop....porbably shortly after the release of Santa Rosa....I am FYI tying to get into HD video editing and coding programs in Java and C++ but I'm waiting until I can get a system that will allow me to do so and be capable of running 64bit programs and do so for years to follow and not fall too far behind the times.....And one last thing...I'm not highly interested in showing off my specs....I problably wouldn't even make my new specs, when I get them that is, public until months if not a year after aquireing such a system and got board one day.
another thing....define casual gamer.....If it is a person who likes to play the latest game with the settings maxed out to achieve the best quality experience possible while playing the game then I suppose I'm a casual gammer...but if that's not you definition then I would have to be what I consider to be a borderline hardcore to hardcore gamer on a limited budget.

 

would a mod close this thread... I'm tired of being talked down to.