Can I upgrade to Windows 8.1 64-bit with 2GB of Ram

MarHardware

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Aug 22, 2014
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Seeing that Microsoft has stop support for Windows XP, It's only a matter of time before Windows 7 is next.

I have 2 machines: a desktop and a laptop.
I want to upgrade them both.

LAPTOP (SONY Vaio VGN-NS110E)
Computer Brand Name: Sony VGN-NS110E
Operating System: Microsoft Windows 7 Ultimate Build 7600 (32-bit)
Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo T7250 (2000.0 MHz)
Motherboard: Sony VAIO (Intel GL40 (Cantiga-GL) + ICH9M (Base))
Memory: 2 GBytes (Dual-Channel)
Hard Drive: Hitachi HTS543216L9SA00 (152,627 MBytes (160 GB))
Optical Drive: Optiarc DVD RW AD-7560S (DVD+R DL)
Display Adapter: Intel GM45/47 Chipset - Integrated Graphics 0 [B3] [Sony]
Audio Adapter: Intel 82801IB ICH9 - High Definition Audio [A3]
Network Adapter: Marvell Yukon 88E8055 PCI-E Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Atheros AR928x Wireless Network Adapter

Processor
Processor 1 ID = 0
Number of cores 2 (max 2)
Number of threads 2 (max 2)
Name Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo T7250
Codename Merom
Specification Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T7250 @ 2.00GHz
Package (platform ID) Socket P (478) (0x7)
CPUID 6.F.D
Extended CPUID 6.F
Core Stepping M0
Technology 65 nm
Core Speed 1592.9 MHz
Multiplier x FSB 8.0 x 199.1 MHz
Rated Bus speed 796.4 MHz
Stock frequency 2000 MHz
Instructions sets MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, SSSE3, EM64T, VT-x
L1 Data cache 2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L1 Instruction cache 2 x 32 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
L2 cache 2048 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
FID/VID Control yes
FID range 6.0x - 10.0x
Max VID 1.175 V
# of P-States 0

Chipset
Northbridge Intel GL40 rev. 07
Southbridge Intel 82801IM (ICH9-M) rev. 03
Memory Type DDR2
Memory Size 2048 MBytes
Channels Dual, (Symmetric)
Memory Frequency 331.8 MHz (3:5)

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DESKTOP
Machine name: 7E3748E282CF425
Operating System: Windows XP Professional (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 3 (2600.xpsp_sp3_gdr.101209-1647)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: MSI
System Model: MS-7592
Processor: Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz (2 CPUs)
Memory: 2014MB RAM
Page File: 484MB used, 2143MB available
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0c (4.09.0000.0904)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.2600.5512 32bit Unicode

Display
Card name: Intel(R) G41 Express Chipset
Manufacturer: Intel Corporation
Chip type: Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family

Processor
Processor 1 ID = 0
Number of cores 1 (max 1)
Number of threads 2 (max 2)
Name Intel Pentium 4 521
Codename Prescott
Specification Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.80GHz
Package (platform ID) Socket 775 LGA (0x4)
CPUID F.4.9
Extended CPUID F.4
Core Stepping G1
Technology 90 nm
Core Speed 2799.8 MHz
Multiplier x Bus Speed 14.0 x 200.0 MHz
Rated Bus speed 800.0 MHz
Stock frequency 2800 MHz
Instructions sets MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3, EM64T
L1 Data cache 16 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
Trace cache 12 Kuops, 8-way set associative
L2 cache 1024 KBytes, 8-way set associative, 64-byte line size
FID/VID Control no

Chipset
Northbridge Intel G41 rev. A3
Southbridge Intel 82801GB (ICH7/R) rev. A1
Memory Type DDR3
Memory Size 2 GBytes
Channels Single
Memory Frequency 400.0 MHz (1:2)
 

TheDualshock

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Jan 24, 2014
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I wouldn't run Windows 8.1 with 2GB of RAM especially if it's 64-bit.
I have an Anti-virus open, 1 tab in Google Chrome with Skype and I'm at 2GBs of usage (checked my processes for anything useless open)

edit: 1.5GB in usage with no Google Chrome
Your Windows 8.1 experience will probably be very slow with your setup and along with a slow CPU and not enough RAM, Windows 8.1 just wont *work*
 

MarHardware

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Aug 22, 2014
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You're referring to both right?

Also, I've never used 64-bit before.
Can't I use the 32-bit version of the softwares?

 

MarHardware

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Aug 22, 2014
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I am a powerhouse user.
I have Adobe Suits that I use regularly: Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, etc.
I want to upgrade to 64-bit because After Effects CC and the latest Toon Boom Harmony requires it.

Would increasing my RAM alone makes it run smoother when I upgrade?

Also, I really appreciate your responses. :)
 

TheDualshock

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Jan 24, 2014
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You can check out this page:
http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/cs6-system-requirements.html
It has all the system requirements for all their programs and such.

Your system is rather outdated and slow compared to everything else out there on the market.
For optimal usage of your programs, I'd suggest completely upgrading/getting a new PC.
 

SylversFox

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Jun 15, 2013
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I am with TheDualShock on this. Of course, how good your hardware needs to be depends in the main, on what your needs and requirement are of the software you use. Based on what little you shared however, I am inclined to believe that your needs surpass either of the machines.

I am a freelance graphic designer myself, so the adobe apps are my bread and butter (PS & AI mostly). As far as digital graphic design goes (non-printables), 32 bit/2GB of RAM are passable, not optimal, but not a glaring issue. For printable however (using 300ppi and up) 2GB is painfully limited, if it all functional at times.

I haven't done any video editing/encoding myself, but I know enough about it to say that if you do either regularly, that is one more thing that is extremely bottlenecked by outdated hardware (especially the RAM).

"Would increasing my RAM alone makes it run smoother when I upgrade?"

Smoother? Yes. Faster? Kind of, but not exactly. Again, depending on the kind of work you use the software for, it can differ a fair bit. But generally speaking, the speed of say PS or AE performing a given task depends primarily on your CPU, and in certain tasks, on the GPU. The RAM however needs to be at a certain minimum, so that the application doesn't frequently freeze/slow down because the RAM ran out (I'd recommend 8GB at least). So, more RAM will, in the long run, allow for fewer slowdowns and avoiding RAM related crashes, effectively making things a whole lot smoother.

Personally, I am having trouble with my 8GB of RAM, and planning an upgrade to 16GB soon. I do a lot of designs for printables, and the large stuff (8x3m banners etc) kill the RAM in little to no time, slowing down the PS performance dramatically, once the RAM mostly fills up. Same goes for 3DS Max which I recently started using.

Anyway, I hope that helps.