2gigs or 4gigs

[kylo]

i am buying some memory....

running windows xp pro 32(bit)

i can get 2 gigs DDR2 800 (pc2 6400) for $34
or
i can get 4 gigs DDR2 800 (pc2 6400) for $58

do i really need 4 gigs.??

 

[gkay09]

^ Give the rest of your specs and what will you be using the computer for ?
For regular usage, you wont need 4GB RAM, but if you are planning for an OS upgrade, then 4GB might be better...

 

[kylo]

CPU - Intel Pentium E6300 2.8GHz 2MB L2 Cache LGA 775 65W Dual-Core Processor
HD - 500GB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA
MB - ASUS P5QL/EPU LGA 775 Intel P43 ATX Intel Motherboard
PSU - 600w
PCI - graphic card - nvidia geforce 6200, 256 MB
PCI - sound card - sound blaster, audigy

 

[sirkillalot]

you dont need 4 gigs but it will run better with it, a little faster and you can do more at the same time

 

[gkay09]

If you will be using 32-bit OS, the you will not be able to see the Full 4GB installed due to OS memory constraints...And if you are not a power user, 2GB would suffice...

 

[howardp6]

If you are running multiple applications at a time I would go for more memory, you are running a 32 bit OS so you will not get to use all of the memory on about 3.2 to 3.3 GB. Your graphics card is a bit dated, but is usable if you are not doing any gaming. Windows XP 32 bit's sweet spot is about 2 GBs. It really depends on what applications you are running.

 

[jitpublisher]

For the price, just get it over with and buy 4 gig. If you only buy 2 now, in a month you are going to be thinking,

"maybe I should have bought 4 gig, I wonder if my computer would be better with 4 gig, why didn't I just buy 4 gig when I had the chance, I want to buy 2 more gig now and cannot find the exact same memory I already have" and on and on.

Just do it.

Your OS won't make use of all of it, but you can rest assured that now you have all the memory your system could ever make use of.

 

[jgiron]

I would recommend the 4 gig. You will only be using 3.5 of the 4gigs but 3.5 additional memory is better than just having 2gigs. The only down side is that you loose 512MB of memory (until you upgrade the OS).

 

[Mongox]

I'm in your same situation - running XP Pro 32. I was originally going to replace my 1GB of often faulty RAM on old Athlon AOpen system with 3GB. The cost for this was about $123. But the RAM didn't fix the problems with the old computer. So I returned the RAM and put the money towards a new system.

I included 4GBs of RAM with it - knowing I'd only get use of around 3.25GB of it. Even so, there's no other way to get to 3GBs - adding a single module isn't possible on some boards and reduces the speed/channels on others - or it's not cost-effective, costing more than 4GBs.

You didn't mention what RAM you have now? If you've got 4 slots and you currently have 2 512MB modules, you may be able add the 2GBs to it. Usually, you can do this without problems. One factor is that if your old RAM isn't 800, then the new RAM will run at that same slower speed. But regardless, you'd then have 3GBs of RAM. And the savings can go towards the cost of a new system in a couple of years.

 

[laluma22]

when i had win xp i had 2Gb and everything worked fine also on vista buissines everythink worked fine now i have windows 7 proffesional with 3GB DDR3 everythink works fine for now i can watch blu ray fullhd 1movie and open 2games like fc2 and cod4 still not used but upgrading on christmas to 6gb 64bit just like that there are no games or anything that need more than 4-5gb ddr (vista games very high) but you can also play very high settings with 2-3gb dddr2 on vista and xp 32it without laggs

greets laluma22

 

[kylo]

thanks guys.... you helped alot... im just going to buy the 4 gbso i can have my 3.3 gb of ram....