More RAM = Speedup??

dave_0273 · 2004-06-21, 03:18

Ok, before I start, I would just like to say sorry for the stupid question. I am new to computer hardware, I have always just got someone else to build my computers for me but now it is time for me to learn myself.

Ok, now onto the actual question. I have just bought a really cheap second hand computer. It is a celeron 400mhz. However, it only has 32mb of RAM in it. When I took in the task manager, it shows that it is using about 70mb of RAM. I am assuming that it is using up the 32mb of 'actual' RAM and having to use about 38mb of 'virtual' memory.

My question is, if I was to buy more RAM for this computer, would I see a significant speed increase on this computer. I own a P3 500mhz and it runs HEAPS faster than this computer and the only thing that I can think of is that it has a huge slowdown seeing it has to use 'virtual' memory.

So I think that I have rambled on for long enough now so I am going to leave it at that. Any input/suggestions/help would be much appreciated.

(I am just so used to putting gobs of memory in my computers so that they can soley do p-1 tests that I have never run into this problem before).

sdbardwick · 2004-06-21, 05:01

Your conclusion is correct; 32MB of RAM on a Windows 9x (or higher) machine would be horribly slow. I cannot recall ever running Win9x on less than 64MB. Upping the RAM to even 128MB would be a night and day difference.

Of course, if you wanted to torture sombody, you could force them to use Word95 on a Win95 machine with 32MB of RAM; even opening the File menu could take a few seconds.

On a more esoteric note, some computers, especially low-end HP, IBM, and Compaq, will only accept genuine PC66 SDRAM (sometimes PC100 will work also) in specific chip configurations; using newer PC133 won't be accepted by those annoying computers.

dave_0273 · 2004-06-21, 13:09

Well, i have upped it to 128mb and it seems to be running faster now. What do you mean by windows 9x??

sdbardwick · 2004-06-21, 13:50

Let x=5 or let x=8

smh · 2004-06-21, 14:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by sdbardwick

Let x=5 or let x=8

or x=ME

Uncwilly · 2004-06-21, 16:54

but x<>XP AND x<>NT AND x<>2K

geoff · 2004-06-22, 08:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by dave_0273

It is a celeron 400mhz. However, it only has 32mb of RAM in it.

My suggestion would be to install a minimal Linux system. Linux will run fine in 32MB, (I have an old P120 with 24MB that runs diskless). You could do stage one P-1 on this machine and then move the save file to another machine with more memory to do stage two.

optim · 2004-06-23, 02:23

I would suggest either having a minimum of 128MB for Windows machines or installing Linux (Debian Linux will probably work fine, see www.debian.org ).

Pablo the Duck · 2004-06-23, 05:15

For a low memory machine I reckon Slackware is as good as anything - especially if you don't bother installing a window manager.

2004-06-21, 03:18	#1
dave_0273 Oct 2003 Australia, Brisbane 111010110₂ Posts	More RAM = Speedup?? Ok, before I start, I would just like to say sorry for the stupid question. I am new to computer hardware, I have always just got someone else to build my computers for me but now it is time for me to learn myself. Ok, now onto the actual question. I have just bought a really cheap second hand computer. It is a celeron 400mhz. However, it only has 32mb of RAM in it. When I took in the task manager, it shows that it is using about 70mb of RAM. I am assuming that it is using up the 32mb of 'actual' RAM and having to use about 38mb of 'virtual' memory. My question is, if I was to buy more RAM for this computer, would I see a significant speed increase on this computer. I own a P3 500mhz and it runs HEAPS faster than this computer and the only thing that I can think of is that it has a huge slowdown seeing it has to use 'virtual' memory. So I think that I have rambled on for long enough now so I am going to leave it at that. Any input/suggestions/help would be much appreciated. (I am just so used to putting gobs of memory in my computers so that they can soley do p-1 tests that I have never run into this problem before).

2004-06-23, 02:23	#8
optim Nov 2003 European Union 1101000₂ Posts	128MB or Linux I would suggest either having a minimum of 128MB for Windows machines or installing Linux (Debian Linux will probably work fine, see www.debian.org ).

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2004-06-21, 05:01	#2
sdbardwick Aug 2002 North San Diego County 5·137 Posts	Your conclusion is correct; 32MB of RAM on a Windows 9x (or higher) machine would be horribly slow. I cannot recall ever running Win9x on less than 64MB. Upping the RAM to even 128MB would be a night and day difference. Of course, if you wanted to torture sombody, you could force them to use Word95 on a Win95 machine with 32MB of RAM; even opening the File menu could take a few seconds. On a more esoteric note, some computers, especially low-end HP, IBM, and Compaq, will only accept genuine PC66 SDRAM (sometimes PC100 will work also) in specific chip configurations; using newer PC133 won't be accepted by those annoying computers.

2004-06-21, 13:09	#3
dave_0273 Oct 2003 Australia, Brisbane 2·5·47 Posts	Well, i have upped it to 128mb and it seems to be running faster now. What do you mean by windows 9x??

2004-06-21, 13:50	#4
sdbardwick Aug 2002 North San Diego County 2AD₁₆ Posts	Let x=5 or let x=8

2004-06-21, 16:54	#6
Uncwilly 6809 > 6502 """"""""""""""""""" Aug 2003 101×103 Posts 2·3·7·233 Posts	but x<>XP AND x<>NT AND x<>2K

2004-06-23, 05:15	#9
Pablo the Duck Dec 2003 Team China 54₁₀ Posts	For a low memory machine I reckon Slackware is as good as anything - especially if you don't bother installing a window manager.