Guest Richard in AZ Posted August 13, 2008 Posted August 13, 2008 Re: what is the maximum memory capacity that a computer should have? More than yours if you think this is enough information for an answer. "locky" <locky-non@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:1BB892B0-58C2-42F1-BA1D-99886D60A147@microsoft.com... | What could be a good rate of memory
Guest Patrick Keenan Posted August 13, 2008 Posted August 13, 2008 Re: what is the maximum memory capacity that a computer should have? "locky" <locky-non@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:1BB892B0-58C2-42F1-BA1D-99886D60A147@microsoft.com... > What could be a good rate of memory Sorry but the question as phrased isn't answerable. The desred maximum capacity is related to the purpose of the computer. In addition, "rate of memory" doesn't mean anything at all. Only recently have non-server motherboards that can hold more than 2 or 4 gig of RAM become commonly available. Note that 32-bit operating systems can't use memory beyond 4 gig, and in addition, many 32-bit operating systems reserve a block of memory below the 4 gig mark for system use; so if you install 4 gig RAM on an 32-bit XP system, your applications will have access to around 3.25 gig of it. If you want a better answer, you'll have to ask a clear question. HTH -pk
Guest Ken Blake, MVP Posted August 13, 2008 Posted August 13, 2008 Re: what is the maximum memory capacity that a computer should have? On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 15:06:02 -0700, locky <locky-non@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote: > What could be a good rate of memory Memory doesn't come in "rates." It comes in sizes. And the question shouldn't be about a "maximum," but about how much *you* need. How much you should have depends on what operating system you run and on what applications you run. Here's my standard post on this subject for XP: How much RAM you need for good performance is *not* a one-size-fits-all situation. You get good performance if the amount of RAM you have keeps you from using the page file, and that depends on what apps you run. Most people running a typical range of business applications find that somewhere around 256-384MB works well, others need 512MB. Almost anyone will see poor performance with less than 256MB. Some people, particularly those doing things like editing large photographic images, can see a performance boost by adding even more than 512MB--sometimes much more. If you are currently using the page file significantly, more memory will decrease or eliminate that usage, and improve your performance. If you are not using the page file significantly, more memory will do nothing for you. Go to http://billsway.com/notes%5Fpublic/winxp%5Ftweaks/ and download WinXP-2K_Pagefile.zip and monitor your pagefile usage. That should give you a good idea of whether more memory can help, and if so, how much more. -- Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience Please Reply to the Newsgroup
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