RAM & Gaming

[OrbitzXT]

I'm pretty sure a Windows 7 key works for either 32bit or 64bit, you just need to have the actual CD. At least I think that's how it worked with Vista and I don't see why'd they change that for 7.

 

[livehard]

Hehe, I'm rocking 12GB...

 

[livehard]

I apologize if my comment was a bit inappropriate. I tried 6GB, and it didn't cut it in SolidWorks for me. Those highly detailed product simulations eat it right up.

 

[Kursah]

Oh yeah, that kinda stuff needs a lotta ram dude. And it's not necessarily your comments, but the instigation comments that didn't even need to be posted in the first place that caught my attention.

Everyone's gotta try stuff out, monitor their ram, and not get scared when Vista and 7 eat up a huge chunk outta the chute. I think many more realize that's how those OS's work now, and it's a part of a positive acting design scheme that actually works pretty damn well imo. The more the merrier especially in a situation like yours livehard. I don't blame ya for having lots of ram, but as a heavy gamer, I get by just fine on 4GB. I definately enjoy x64 a lot more with 4GB of ram, gaming smoothed out, everything was just smoother. I might go 8GB someday in the future, I might not...I could replace my entire CPU/MB/Ram platform, I could keep it for years...but for now I know one thing, I'm content with my rig and it's performance and sometimes it takes a while to get there before you can settle. I definately find that total ram amount > less ram amount w/higher speed and tighter timings. I don't even look at OC-er ram anymore, it was fun, but my OC's don't necessatate DDR2 1100-1200 on my platform. But a nice and cheap set of G.Skill 2x2 800-1066 works like a charm.

 

[livehard]

Yep, I rarely recommend more 4GB (6GB for the i7) in a non-specialized application. That seems to be the butter zone for most users. My lappy has 4GB of DDR2 800 and that runs Adobe Premiere Pro with almost no hiccups (the turion X2 its packing is a different story however). The only point I disagree with you is that total RAM thing. In some cases, all of that slower RAM will actually impede access to it all. I'm talking extreme cases here, like 16GB of DDR2 667, but it happens.

I found the cheapest damn DDR3 1600 I could, and bought it. Works like a charm, just like your G.SKill.

 

[Kursah]

Well I'm talking from a gamer reference where someone has a choice, 2x1GB of DDR2 1100-1200 or 2x2GB of DDR2 800-1066...in that respect the most noticable difference would be not from speed but from total amount. It depends on the case, but I mostly work with gaming and multimedia rigs, where more than 4GB (or 6GB on triple channel) isn't really a necessary expense. Though on some rigs, 2GB is plenty depending on what they're using it for, how heavy of use and what kind of multitasking. Something in the enterprise/designer arena, more gb of ram beyond 533/667 would definately be a helpful factor, but in mass-market reality many get away with a couple gigs of 667, just know it's DDRII, and think it's uber fast and to them it is, as long as they're happy, it's all good!

Someday I'll hit up the DDR3 arena, but for now...I see no point when everything runs great...eventually I'll get the bug again.

 

[livehard]

Yep, if it isn't broke, don't fix it.

^Why the corporate world din't embrace Vista IMO.

 

[Mussels]

What is the difference between "Available" and "Free" RAM? I'm looking in Task Manager and I still have 2GB until the other 2 arrive on Wednesday. In one picture it says I'm using 995MB. Then underneath that it says...

Total 2046
Caches 1050
Available 1058
Free 34

This is just from web browsing alone.

superfetch

 

[Zubasa]

I'm pretty sure a Windows 7 key works for either 32bit or 64bit, you just need to have the actual CD. At least I think that's how it worked with Vista and I don't see why'd they change that for 7.

This is exactly how it woks with Vista, Yup

 

[TheLaughingMan]

What is the difference between "Available" and "Free" RAM? I'm looking in Task Manager and I still have 2GB until the other 2 arrive on Wednesday. In one picture it says I'm using 995MB. Then underneath that it says...

Total 2046
Caches 1050
Available 1058
Free 34

This is just from web browsing alone.

OK, free ram is literally the RAM your system is currently not using. To cut down on access time the system pre-allocates ram. For some reason Win7 pre-allocates 99% of your RAM.

Total = Installed physical RAM
Caches = RAM allocated, but not in use + Pageing files pre-cached
Available = RAM + cache ready for use right now
Free = unallocated RAM

You can also go to the Resource manager, click on the memory tab and it will show you a graphic of just your physical RAM, what is being used, what is ready for use, not used, and currently being changed.