RAM

Hello all,

I have a second machine with Vista home premium installed. I was wondering
how much RAM is recommended? I am thinking of 3Gb of DDR400 for this
machine. Its on 1GB of DDR333 at the moment, as its a machine cobbled out of
bits lying about. I can get 2x 512Mb DDR400 from a mate, and buy a 2Gb
matched job online. I briefly had Vista on my home machine (which is staying
XP for the forseeable future), but didn't try any games. 1Gb of DDR33 is
absolutely rubbish for GR:AW and Oblivion (duh! really?). I think that 3Gb
may well just do, as this machine is not going to be used regularly.

I find 2GB adequate, maybe even more than adequate for the job. I've played
most of the new games, BF2142, FEAR , Supreme Commander and I've not found a
case where 2GB wasn't getting the job done. Granted, I don't run much else
in the background when I'm playing games, my Outlook and Outlook
Express\Windows Mail. I use to run X-fire and Teamspeak, but those were
fairly light programs.

If you want to do 3GB, there isn't a reason not to I guess. With Superfetch
windows will try to cache more of what you use the most, though I don't know
that really helps much with games, Supreme Commander is a 7.2GB install. So
unless I get 8GB, I'm never going to cache the whole game. And I still don't
see any major map load difference with Superfetch on or off. So with that
said, I don't believe you *need* more than 2GB, and I presonally wouldn't
spend the money on it, unless I knew I was going to get something out of it.
But if the price is right and you just like having, it, there is no reason
not to get 3GB.

"Carl" <me@theworld.universe> wrote in message
news:qpOdnV4YJK9lhmzYnZ2dnUVZ8qqlnZ2d@bt.com...
> Hello all,
>
> I have a second machine with Vista home premium installed. I was wondering
> how much RAM is recommended? I am thinking of 3Gb of DDR400 for this
> machine. Its on 1GB of DDR333 at the moment, as its a machine cobbled out
> of bits lying about. I can get 2x 512Mb DDR400 from a mate, and buy a 2Gb
> matched job online. I briefly had Vista on my home machine (which is
> staying XP for the forseeable future), but didn't try any games. 1Gb of
> DDR33 is absolutely rubbish for GR:AW and Oblivion (duh! really?). I think
> that 3Gb may well just do, as this machine is not going to be used
> regularly.

Sounds about right, I run most of my games, Supreme Commander etc in a
window and have other things going on at the same time and the page file
isn't getting used. That's with 2GB of RAM.

If games are taking a long time to exit (in that Windows needs to be paged
back into memory) that is a good indication some more RAM will help. But
with 2GB Windows is still there in RAM, so there's still room at the moment.

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
http://www.windowsresource.net/

*Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*


"Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
news:Q8OdndeDJbG4g2zYnZ2dnUVZ_qyjnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>I find 2GB adequate, maybe even more than adequate for the job. I've played
>most of the new games, BF2142, FEAR , Supreme Commander and I've not found
>a case where 2GB wasn't getting the job done. Granted, I don't run much
>else in the background when I'm playing games, my Outlook and Outlook
>Express\Windows Mail. I use to run X-fire and Teamspeak, but those were
>fairly light programs.
>
> If you want to do 3GB, there isn't a reason not to I guess. With
> Superfetch windows will try to cache more of what you use the most, though
> I don't know that really helps much with games, Supreme Commander is a
> 7.2GB install. So unless I get 8GB, I'm never going to cache the whole
> game. And I still don't see any major map load difference with Superfetch
> on or off. So with that said, I don't believe you *need* more than 2GB,
> and I presonally wouldn't spend the money on it, unless I knew I was going
> to get something out of it. But if the price is right and you just like
> having, it, there is no reason not to get 3GB.
>
> "Carl" <me@theworld.universe> wrote in message
> news:qpOdnV4YJK9lhmzYnZ2dnUVZ8qqlnZ2d@bt.com...
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I have a second machine with Vista home premium installed. I was
>> wondering how much RAM is recommended? I am thinking of 3Gb of DDR400 for
>> this machine. Its on 1GB of DDR333 at the moment, as its a machine
>> cobbled out of bits lying about. I can get 2x 512Mb DDR400 from a mate,
>> and buy a 2Gb matched job online. I briefly had Vista on my home machine
>> (which is staying XP for the forseeable future), but didn't try any
>> games. 1Gb of DDR33 is absolutely rubbish for GR:AW and Oblivion (duh!
>> really?). I think that 3Gb may well just do, as this machine is not going
>> to be used regularly.
>
>

I have a machine with 1 GB of RAM, and a machine with 2 GB of RAM.

Don't hesitate to get the 2 GB or more. It is VERY much worth it if you do
any gaming. 1 GB works, but you have to get used to the delays and
waiting...

--
Dustin Harper
dharper@vistarip.com
http://www.vistarip.com

--
"Paul Smith" <Paul@nospam.windowsresource.net> wrote in message
news:C3220149-DDA9-4D4B-AB52-3460F3D19072@microsoft.com...
> Sounds about right, I run most of my games, Supreme Commander etc in a
> window and have other things going on at the same time and the page file
> isn't getting used. That's with 2GB of RAM.
>
> If games are taking a long time to exit (in that Windows needs to be paged
> back into memory) that is a good indication some more RAM will help. But
> with 2GB Windows is still there in RAM, so there's still room at the
> moment.
>
> --
> Paul Smith,
> Yeovil, UK.
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
> http://www.windowsresource.net/
>
> *Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*
>
>
> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
> news:Q8OdndeDJbG4g2zYnZ2dnUVZ_qyjnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>I find 2GB adequate, maybe even more than adequate for the job. I've
>>played most of the new games, BF2142, FEAR , Supreme Commander and I've
>>not found a case where 2GB wasn't getting the job done. Granted, I don't
>>run much else in the background when I'm playing games, my Outlook and
>>Outlook Express\Windows Mail. I use to run X-fire and Teamspeak, but those
>>were fairly light programs.
>>
>> If you want to do 3GB, there isn't a reason not to I guess. With
>> Superfetch windows will try to cache more of what you use the most,
>> though I don't know that really helps much with games, Supreme Commander
>> is a 7.2GB install. So unless I get 8GB, I'm never going to cache the
>> whole game. And I still don't see any major map load difference with
>> Superfetch on or off. So with that said, I don't believe you *need* more
>> than 2GB, and I presonally wouldn't spend the money on it, unless I knew
>> I was going to get something out of it. But if the price is right and you
>> just like having, it, there is no reason not to get 3GB.
>>
>> "Carl" <me@theworld.universe> wrote in message
>> news:qpOdnV4YJK9lhmzYnZ2dnUVZ8qqlnZ2d@bt.com...
>>> Hello all,
>>>
>>> I have a second machine with Vista home premium installed. I was
>>> wondering how much RAM is recommended? I am thinking of 3Gb of DDR400
>>> for this machine. Its on 1GB of DDR333 at the moment, as its a machine
>>> cobbled out of bits lying about. I can get 2x 512Mb DDR400 from a mate,
>>> and buy a 2Gb matched job online. I briefly had Vista on my home machine
>>> (which is staying XP for the forseeable future), but didn't try any
>>> games. 1Gb of DDR33 is absolutely rubbish for GR:AW and Oblivion (duh!
>>> really?). I think that 3Gb may well just do, as this machine is not
>>> going to be used regularly.
>>
>>
>

Delays ? Just check the option box "Dont' delay on start and map load" All
games have it now.


"Dustin Harper" <dharper@vistarip.com> wrote in message
news:OOfPbTnYHHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>I have a machine with 1 GB of RAM, and a machine with 2 GB of RAM.
>
> Don't hesitate to get the 2 GB or more. It is VERY much worth it if you do
> any gaming. 1 GB works, but you have to get used to the delays and
> waiting...
>
> --
> Dustin Harper
> dharper@vistarip.com
> http://www.vistarip.com
>
> --
> "Paul Smith" <Paul@nospam.windowsresource.net> wrote in message
> news:C3220149-DDA9-4D4B-AB52-3460F3D19072@microsoft.com...
>> Sounds about right, I run most of my games, Supreme Commander etc in a
>> window and have other things going on at the same time and the page file
>> isn't getting used. That's with 2GB of RAM.
>>
>> If games are taking a long time to exit (in that Windows needs to be
>> paged back into memory) that is a good indication some more RAM will
>> help. But with 2GB Windows is still there in RAM, so there's still room
>> at the moment.
>>
>> --
>> Paul Smith,
>> Yeovil, UK.
>> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
>> http://www.windowsresource.net/
>>
>> *Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*
>>
>>
>> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
>> news:Q8OdndeDJbG4g2zYnZ2dnUVZ_qyjnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>>I find 2GB adequate, maybe even more than adequate for the job. I've
>>>played most of the new games, BF2142, FEAR , Supreme Commander and I've
>>>not found a case where 2GB wasn't getting the job done. Granted, I don't
>>>run much else in the background when I'm playing games, my Outlook and
>>>Outlook Express\Windows Mail. I use to run X-fire and Teamspeak, but
>>>those were fairly light programs.
>>>
>>> If you want to do 3GB, there isn't a reason not to I guess. With
>>> Superfetch windows will try to cache more of what you use the most,
>>> though I don't know that really helps much with games, Supreme Commander
>>> is a 7.2GB install. So unless I get 8GB, I'm never going to cache the
>>> whole game. And I still don't see any major map load difference with
>>> Superfetch on or off. So with that said, I don't believe you *need* more
>>> than 2GB, and I presonally wouldn't spend the money on it, unless I knew
>>> I was going to get something out of it. But if the price is right and
>>> you just like having, it, there is no reason not to get 3GB.
>>>
>>> "Carl" <me@theworld.universe> wrote in message
>>> news:qpOdnV4YJK9lhmzYnZ2dnUVZ8qqlnZ2d@bt.com...
>>>> Hello all,
>>>>
>>>> I have a second machine with Vista home premium installed. I was
>>>> wondering how much RAM is recommended? I am thinking of 3Gb of DDR400
>>>> for this machine. Its on 1GB of DDR333 at the moment, as its a machine
>>>> cobbled out of bits lying about. I can get 2x 512Mb DDR400 from a mate,
>>>> and buy a 2Gb matched job online. I briefly had Vista on my home
>>>> machine (which is staying XP for the forseeable future), but didn't try
>>>> any games. 1Gb of DDR33 is absolutely rubbish for GR:AW and Oblivion
>>>> (duh! really?). I think that 3Gb may well just do, as this machine is
>>>> not going to be used regularly.
>>>
>>>
>>
>

More of a delay when starting or stopping a game. RAM issues while the game
is loading, ending, or whatever.

--
Dustin Harper
dharper@vistarip.com
http://www.vistarip.com

--
"Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
news:h9adnb_pmMMSLGzYnZ2dnUVZ_v2knZ2d@insightbb.com...
> Delays ? Just check the option box "Dont' delay on start and map load" All
> games have it now.
>
>
> "Dustin Harper" <dharper@vistarip.com> wrote in message
> news:OOfPbTnYHHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>I have a machine with 1 GB of RAM, and a machine with 2 GB of RAM.
>>
>> Don't hesitate to get the 2 GB or more. It is VERY much worth it if you
>> do any gaming. 1 GB works, but you have to get used to the delays and
>> waiting...
>>
>> --
>> Dustin Harper
>> dharper@vistarip.com
>> http://www.vistarip.com
>>
>> --
>> "Paul Smith" <Paul@nospam.windowsresource.net> wrote in message
>> news:C3220149-DDA9-4D4B-AB52-3460F3D19072@microsoft.com...
>>> Sounds about right, I run most of my games, Supreme Commander etc in a
>>> window and have other things going on at the same time and the page file
>>> isn't getting used. That's with 2GB of RAM.
>>>
>>> If games are taking a long time to exit (in that Windows needs to be
>>> paged back into memory) that is a good indication some more RAM will
>>> help. But with 2GB Windows is still there in RAM, so there's still room
>>> at the moment.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Paul Smith,
>>> Yeovil, UK.
>>> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
>>> http://www.windowsresource.net/
>>>
>>> *Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*
>>>
>>>
>>> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
>>> news:Q8OdndeDJbG4g2zYnZ2dnUVZ_qyjnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>>>I find 2GB adequate, maybe even more than adequate for the job. I've
>>>>played most of the new games, BF2142, FEAR , Supreme Commander and I've
>>>>not found a case where 2GB wasn't getting the job done. Granted, I don't
>>>>run much else in the background when I'm playing games, my Outlook and
>>>>Outlook Express\Windows Mail. I use to run X-fire and Teamspeak, but
>>>>those were fairly light programs.
>>>>
>>>> If you want to do 3GB, there isn't a reason not to I guess. With
>>>> Superfetch windows will try to cache more of what you use the most,
>>>> though I don't know that really helps much with games, Supreme
>>>> Commander is a 7.2GB install. So unless I get 8GB, I'm never going to
>>>> cache the whole game. And I still don't see any major map load
>>>> difference with Superfetch on or off. So with that said, I don't
>>>> believe you *need* more than 2GB, and I presonally wouldn't spend the
>>>> money on it, unless I knew I was going to get something out of it. But
>>>> if the price is right and you just like having, it, there is no reason
>>>> not to get 3GB.
>>>>
>>>> "Carl" <me@theworld.universe> wrote in message
>>>> news:qpOdnV4YJK9lhmzYnZ2dnUVZ8qqlnZ2d@bt.com...
>>>>> Hello all,
>>>>>
>>>>> I have a second machine with Vista home premium installed. I was
>>>>> wondering how much RAM is recommended? I am thinking of 3Gb of DDR400
>>>>> for this machine. Its on 1GB of DDR333 at the moment, as its a machine
>>>>> cobbled out of bits lying about. I can get 2x 512Mb DDR400 from a
>>>>> mate, and buy a 2Gb matched job online. I briefly had Vista on my home
>>>>> machine (which is staying XP for the forseeable future), but didn't
>>>>> try any games. 1Gb of DDR33 is absolutely rubbish for GR:AW and
>>>>> Oblivion (duh! really?). I think that 3Gb may well just do, as this
>>>>> machine is not going to be used regularly.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

Yeah, that's what I'm talking about, just go to Advance properties and click
the "don't delay" button. While you're at it, make sure the "run really
fast" button is checked


"Dustin Harper" <dharper@vistarip.com> wrote in message
news:8CC5D507-2D3F-4719-B275-6DA196E44F7C@microsoft.com...
> More of a delay when starting or stopping a game. RAM issues while the
> game is loading, ending, or whatever.
>
> --
> Dustin Harper
> dharper@vistarip.com
> http://www.vistarip.com
>
> --
> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
> news:h9adnb_pmMMSLGzYnZ2dnUVZ_v2knZ2d@insightbb.com...
>> Delays ? Just check the option box "Dont' delay on start and map load"
>> All games have it now.
>>
>>
>> "Dustin Harper" <dharper@vistarip.com> wrote in message
>> news:OOfPbTnYHHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>>>I have a machine with 1 GB of RAM, and a machine with 2 GB of RAM.
>>>
>>> Don't hesitate to get the 2 GB or more. It is VERY much worth it if you
>>> do any gaming. 1 GB works, but you have to get used to the delays and
>>> waiting...
>>>
>>> --
>>> Dustin Harper
>>> dharper@vistarip.com
>>> http://www.vistarip.com
>>>
>>> --
>>> "Paul Smith" <Paul@nospam.windowsresource.net> wrote in message
>>> news:C3220149-DDA9-4D4B-AB52-3460F3D19072@microsoft.com...
>>>> Sounds about right, I run most of my games, Supreme Commander etc in a
>>>> window and have other things going on at the same time and the page
>>>> file isn't getting used. That's with 2GB of RAM.
>>>>
>>>> If games are taking a long time to exit (in that Windows needs to be
>>>> paged back into memory) that is a good indication some more RAM will
>>>> help. But with 2GB Windows is still there in RAM, so there's still
>>>> room at the moment.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Paul Smith,
>>>> Yeovil, UK.
>>>> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
>>>> http://www.windowsresource.net/
>>>>
>>>> *Remove nospam. to reply by e-mail*
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Dale M. White" <dale.white@NOinsightbb.NOcom> wrote in message
>>>> news:Q8OdndeDJbG4g2zYnZ2dnUVZ_qyjnZ2d@insightbb.com...
>>>>>I find 2GB adequate, maybe even more than adequate for the job. I've
>>>>>played most of the new games, BF2142, FEAR , Supreme Commander and I've
>>>>>not found a case where 2GB wasn't getting the job done. Granted, I
>>>>>don't run much else in the background when I'm playing games, my
>>>>>Outlook and Outlook Express\Windows Mail. I use to run X-fire and
>>>>>Teamspeak, but those were fairly light programs.
>>>>>
>>>>> If you want to do 3GB, there isn't a reason not to I guess. With
>>>>> Superfetch windows will try to cache more of what you use the most,
>>>>> though I don't know that really helps much with games, Supreme
>>>>> Commander is a 7.2GB install. So unless I get 8GB, I'm never going to
>>>>> cache the whole game. And I still don't see any major map load
>>>>> difference with Superfetch on or off. So with that said, I don't
>>>>> believe you *need* more than 2GB, and I presonally wouldn't spend the
>>>>> money on it, unless I knew I was going to get something out of it. But
>>>>> if the price is right and you just like having, it, there is no reason
>>>>> not to get 3GB.
>>>>>
>>>>> "Carl" <me@theworld.universe> wrote in message
>>>>> news:qpOdnV4YJK9lhmzYnZ2dnUVZ8qqlnZ2d@bt.com...
>>>>>> Hello all,
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I have a second machine with Vista home premium installed. I was
>>>>>> wondering how much RAM is recommended? I am thinking of 3Gb of DDR400
>>>>>> for this machine. Its on 1GB of DDR333 at the moment, as its a
>>>>>> machine cobbled out of bits lying about. I can get 2x 512Mb DDR400
>>>>>> from a mate, and buy a 2Gb matched job online. I briefly had Vista on
>>>>>> my home machine (which is staying XP for the forseeable future), but
>>>>>> didn't try any games. 1Gb of DDR33 is absolutely rubbish for GR:AW
>>>>>> and Oblivion (duh! really?). I think that 3Gb may well just do, as
>>>>>> this machine is not going to be used regularly.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>

OK, now for the other bit: I have a PhysX card installed as well, I think
that 3Gb of RAM will help this rattle along at a fair old rate. Thanks for
the responses everyone. Interestingly, Ageia has drivers for their card that
work straightaway in Vista Home Premium 64 bit. I was impressed with Vista,
but am holding back from upgrading my home machine until ATI DX10 cards
become available ( so I can compare with NVIDIA). OK, so I will stay off
topic and say that the Terratec PCIe x1 card in my Vista machine works
great, and the media centre is very good, but most importantly of all,
Oblivion works!