2GB+2GB vs 2GB+4GB... How much difference would it make?

TheSpaceDude · Jul 17, 2013

I'm buying a laptop having two 2GB memory cards.
But there is an option of upgrading it and making 2GB+4GB = 6GB.

I'm wondering if it's worth the money. (RAM is costly in India so...)

How much memory boost would I get in gaming and everyday tasks?

Sakkura · Jul 17, 2013

Most of the time there would be no difference. If you open up tons of browser tabs while Excel is running in the background and then run a game, you might reach the point where your system uses more than 4 GB of memory - and then performance would crumble on a system with only 4 GB RAM, because the rest would get placed on the hard drive which is thousands of times slower.

06yfz450ridr · Jul 17, 2013

Get more than 4gb. Youll be much happier. Get 2x4gb if possible its usually not much more

Maxime506 · Jul 17, 2013

I think get 8GB (2*4GB, two EXACTLY same ram) and disable Page File in system properties can bring great improvement, better than 6GB (And it might cause some issues while these two rams aren't exactly the same).

Disabling PF is good to laptop. U know laptop has slower HDD than desktop's and get more program data into RAM can improve the laptop speed.

RetiredChief · Jul 17, 2013

Tough call, but inclined to say not worth it. The recomendation to go 2 x 4 is valid.

1) going from 4 -> 6 gigs will improve multitasking performance, but ONLY if you are bumping the need for more than 4 gigs. Could try this:
... Your page file (virtual memory) is probably set to about 1 gigs. Reduce it to say 1024 mb (1 gig). NOTE: set Min and Max both to 1024! If you do not see any "out of memory errors" then going to 6 gigs probably will not provide any real term performance gaint.

2) You are currently using daul channel, which requires two modules of the same size. By going to a 2 x 4 configuration you will drop back to single channel performance - slight decrease. The diff in real life performance between single and daul channel is not as great as it use to be, but still some.

3) Laptops have limited bios capabilities. Also laptops seem to be much more touchy with ram compatabilities than desktops where you can adjust memory parameters. At the least, must select ram that has the same ratings as the one ram model installed, ie voltage and CL values.
.. Can download and run CPU-z and click on Memory (shows what ram is running @)and SPD ( Shows what specs re stored in Ram Module) tabs.

2 x 4 would allow you to stay in daul hannel mode and provide better multitasking. Side beenie is that you can reduce page file to 1024mbs - NOTE: set Min and Max both to 1024!

CPU-Z : http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html
Change virtual memory: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/change-the-size-of-virtual-memory

06yfz450ridr · Jul 17, 2013

RetiredChief :

Tough call, but inclined to say not worth it. The recomendation to go 2 x 4 is valid.

1) going from 4 -> 6 gigs will improve multitasking performance, but ONLY if you are bumping the need for more than 4 gigs. Could try this:
... Your page file (virtual memory) is probably set to about 1 gigs. Reduce it to say 1024 mb (1 gig). NOTE: set Min and Max both to 1024! If you do not see any "out of memory errors" then going to 6 gigs probably will not provide any real term performance gaint.

2) You are currently using daul channel, which requires two modules of the same size. By going to a 2 x 4 configuration you will drop back to single channel performance - slight decrease. The diff in real life performance between single and daul channel is not as great as it use to be, but still some.

3) Laptops have limited bios capabilities. Also laptops seem to be much more touchy with ram compatabilities than desktops where you can adjust memory parameters. At the least, must select ram that has the same ratings as the one ram model installed, ie voltage and CL values.
.. Can download and run CPU-z and click on Memory (shows what ram is running @)and SPD ( Shows what specs re stored in Ram Module) tabs.

2 x 4 would allow you to stay in daul hannel mode and provide better multitasking. Side beenie is that you can reduce page file to 1024mbs - NOTE: set Min and Max both to 1024!

CPU-Z : http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html
Change virtual memory: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/change-the-size-of-virtual-memory

actually useing 4 sticks will still run dual channel as long as one pair matches and the other pair matches like 2x2 + 2x4

running 1 or 3 sticks will run in single channel.

but when you have enough ram you should disable the paging file

Sakkura · Jul 17, 2013

06yfz450ridr :

I don't see him talking about 4 sticks, but a 2 GB (probably soldered) module and a 4 GB SODIMM. In that configuration, the memory will be in flex mode, with the first 2 GB from the 4 GB SODIMM in dual channel with the 2 GB module, while the last 2 GB of the 4 GB SODIMM are in single channel mode.

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2GB+2GB vs 2GB+4GB... How much difference would it make?

TheSpaceDude

Honorable

Sakkura

Illustrious

06yfz450ridr

Honorable

Maxime506

Honorable

RetiredChief

Judicious

06yfz450ridr

Honorable

Sakkura

Illustrious

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