So, just upgraded... (RAM concern)

Hello,

So i just upgraded my XP to windows 7 as ive been hearing many good things about it. I'm a little concerned though.

After installing windows 7 professional x64 (only one available to me from our department) on a sager np5796 with 2GB ddr3 RAM and penryn core 2 at 2.3ghz, with minimal programs installed (antivirus and drivers) it seems my system is constantly using 1GB memory.

I heard this system could run on 512mb stable, its a little concerning to see it constantly using 1GB or more for regular idling. When i check the task manager and try to close programs it still doesnt do much for RAM useage, it doesnt seem to go much gher or lower then 50% be it adding or closing programs.

Does this sound normal to u guys? should i be thinking about upgrading to 4GB ddr3?

Thanks for any help in advance.

 

This is pretty much normal for Win 7. My desktop system, with 8G of ram, starts out with 1.2-1.4G consumed.

It will run fine on 2G, but with 4G it will seem a little bit "snappier".

 

64 bit has a min. requirement of 2GBs for the most part. Once you go to 4GB you'll see a sig difference in a couple of days.

 

Yes, it seems to make sense to go to 4GB, although to save money i might be downgrading to DDR2, 4GB of that should do better than 2 DDR3 as much as i hurts to say .

Thanks alot though, it makes sense anyway to upgrade its not a huge investment for a much better improvement

 

That's about right. On my X200 it usually uses 60% RAM while idle. On my T400 it usually uses around 40% while idle. I read somewhere that the more RAM you have, the more Windows is able to allocate. So, if you don't have that much, Windows will just make do with what it has.

 

This is how modern Windows workstation operating systems work—AND THIS IS THE EXPECTED/DESIREABLE BEHAVIOR. Windows will use unused RAM as a cache to speed up file operations—so I’m quite thankful Windows is usually using over 3.5 out of my 4GB RAM. When an application requires RAM, Windows will reduce the size of the cache.

What good is RAM if it is not being used?

 

Unused RAM is wasted RAM.

Furthermore, if you are not in need of more RAM, don't feel you need to buy more. Are you running multiple apps? Are you paging out to swap file? If not, just run with 2gb. I have 6 PCs and only one has 4gbs of memory and most of the time I don't see any difference (but when I need it for the one machine, I am glad I have it)

 

One warning: DDR2 memory will physically not fit into a DDR3 slot, so if you already purchased/own the laptop, downgrading from DDR3 to DDR2 means buying a whole new laptop.

Precisely. Then again, people seem to suffer from the Vista paradox - they always complain about how a lack of progress and innovation in software in recent years has led to a lack of reasons for people to upgrade their hardware, and then turn around and complain that the software is "too slow and bloated" when they're finally presented with something that actually requires a powerful new PC.

 

unused ram is wasted ram
vista and win 7 use ram differently to XP
so people think its a resource hog, but its not
vista and win 7 release any used ram if n when its needed by programs etc
so dont worry about it

 

If you have 512, 1 or 2GB of RAM, Vista/7 will use about 50% at base. Above 2, it stays arround ~1.4GB

 

take out 1GB of your and your computer will reduce its ram ussage to around 512MB.
If you add 2 more GB, it'll increase the ram ussage to around 1.5-2GB.