More RAM? System commit and physical

I'm trying to decide how much more memory to get for my Win7 Pro x64 computer, currently with 4gb. I've watching Process Explorer.

At the moment, it's showing 3.1gb System Commit and 2.5 gb Physical Memory. Does this mean that the OS is using some virtual memory and therefore more physical memory would help, even though both numbers are below the 4gb installed?

The highest I've seen physical usage is when running Lightroom and Photoshop, when it hit 85-90%.

Another 4gb is rather cheap (plus there are suggestions that two memory sticks improve performance). I'm just wondering how to interpret the numbers and how to figure out if more than 4gb would help.

 

If you are using photo shop, then I would upgrade to 8 gigs of ram. Yes, your computer will always utilize some page filing or virtual memory on your hard drive to perform it's tasks. If you do upgrade, your ram, your computer will utilize less page filing for virtual memory, and your computer will be WAY faster.

I always upgrade my ram if I use at least 3/4 of it, so I won't be using page filing. I currently have 4 gigs in my alienware laptop, and I don't need much more because I don't play graphic intense games or RAM intense programs like Photo shop, Architectural software, movie editing, etc. Just web browsing, movies, and games older than 2009.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

If you are going to upgrade your ram, go 8GB.

 

For everything so far other than photo editing, it's been at about 66% ram.

Movie work (handbrake, avidemux) uses lots of CPU but not much RAM.

 

I was thinking about 8gb as a minimum, not a maximum.

 

feed the x220 these

Newegg.com - CORSAIR 16GB (2 x 8G) 204-Pin DDR3 SO-DIMM DDR3 1333 Laptop Memory Model CMSO16GX3M2A1333C9

im fairly certain the i5 version likes them too, a bunch of us use them in the i7's, now they are WAY under $1400 each like 1.5 years ago.

 

Yeah the Core i5's (assuming its Sandy Bridge) will happily take those RAMs recommended by KCETech1. Verified working in my T420 with Core i5-2520M.

 

works in many non SB units such as the Elutebook 8740w in sig

 

Honestly, 16GB is indeed nice, but if you don't need it, don't buy it. The benefits diminish rapidly when you go up in size, meaning you won't really see an improvement from 8 to 16 compared to 4 to 8. That being said, there are still some benefits to having 16GB, but in most cases it isn't worth the price. If you have the money for it though, you might as well do the upgrade.

I'm the kind of person that opens a crazy amount of tabs in my browser, leave it open when i game, have my media playr always running etc, and i've never went over 8GB in those situations. I do need the extra RAM for CFD simulations though.

 

8gb seems like it would be more than enough for what I do

CFD simulations sound like serious business

 

I have 6GB. The perfect compromise.