Upgrading RAM to 256MB in my system...

[UKLee]

I am thinking of upgrading my system, most likely starting with adding more RAM, but I am not sure how much actual difference it will make. I have a Pentium 2 400 with 128MB RAM. Does anyone have any idea of how much real performance increase I will gain by upgrading to 256MB by adding another 128MB SDRAM 100MHz DIMM? Would it be worth my while doing this? Thanks in advance!

[drdeath]

while it wouldnt hurt anything to add more ram, i dont think you would notice a performance increase unless you do like, high end graphics design or leave every single program in your comp running all the time... i would save the cash, or spend it on something else besides another 128 megs of ram...

thats my opinion anyways...

[Dave2]

Upgrading to 256MB is not going to make any difference for now. 128MB is the sweet spot right now. In fact the Sandra 99 memory benchmark takes much longer to complete with 256MB RAM than with 128MB. You are better off upgrading to a P3 700 if your motherboard supports it.

[BadBen]

Im with Dave2, you'll see more diffirent with a P3 700mhz then with 256mg of ram.I have 128 and its enought for me.

[BadBen]

Im with Dave2, you'll see more diffirent with a P3 700mhz then with 256mg of ram.I have 128 and its enought for me.

[Bonehead]

Leave your memory alone. I was curious too if 256MB would make a different above 128MB so I took out another 128MB from a second system and put it in my own system next to my 128MB stick: really no difference. As said before, 128MB is really the sweet spot (for now). If you do games than I would save my money for a Geforce card, this card will make your PII 400 as fast as my PIII with TNT2U.

[This message has been edited by Bonehead (edited 11-15-1999).]

[Apostle 83]

I dunno guys, I have a PIII 450 w/128 megs of ram and a 32 meg video card, and my system is a bit pokey 'cause I have a lot of background programs running... I have about 87% of my ram used at times, typically about 65%, has been at 100%, but I do do a lot of graphics work... 256 megs of ram and a geforce would be nice! (what are ge's runnin for now?)

[Toadman]

Sorry for preaching to the choir, apostle. but run "msconfig" and remove all the **** you don't want to load at startup. You really,really only need Systray and Explorer.
If I run just those, I get 94% resources free. Just a thought... /forum/smile.gif

[Dave_H]

I Have a computer at work that has a P-2 400
also. I saw such a big improvement going from 64m up to 128m, I thought more would make it that much better. I made it 192m and I could not notice any difference between 128m and 192m.

I then got a P-3 500 and saw a pretty good improvement. Still can't figure out what the P-3 does that the P-2 didn't though. Found one thru the windrivers site under there pricewatch for $224 (retail boxed with heatsink and fan). /forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by Dave_H (edited 11-16-1999).]

[Stan]

Hi

Well... a few months ago, I upgraded my machine to 256Mb RAM and I noticed a difference when using NT4 !
It is true that under Win98, you do not notice any improvement.

Also, when I bought the extra 128Mb SDRAM PC100, I paid 56 UK pounds... The price is a bit different today. So my advice would be: spend your money on smthg else, like a new PCU...

Stan

[Nathan]

If you have a lot loading at startup, and you want it that way, then up grade. Use system monitor and configure it so you can see the physcial memory and swap file usage. Generally speaking, It's not worth the upgrade at this point.

[socalgal]

The Systray icon isn't really needed either (I run without it - it's just the Volume icon!) /forum/smile.gif (and yes you still get sound)

[welsh wizard]

Go for the faster CPU to gain increased performance, you can always add extra ram at latter when you start getting out of mem errors.
WW

[UKLee]

Thanks for the advice everybody /forum/smile.gif That's pretty much made up my mind that I'd be better off waiting and saving for a new CPU / Intel Camino 820 motherboard and upgrading the RAM at a later date. But before that I'll be saving for a Geforce 256 card, given that I play a lot of games. I wish now that I'd bought more RAM before the massive price hike when I had the chance - here in England in June/July generic PC100 memory was down to £60-70 for 128mb, and now the going rate is about £150 - if 'd bought it in June I could have gone up to 384MB for about the same price. (after peaking at about £200 about a month or so ago).

[Pat Kennedy]

I'm running 384MB in my dual Celeron NT box. The difference between 128MB and 384MB for most people is not a ton. If you hear your HD being accessed a lot over and over again think about making a bump. Otherwise save up for a new CPU or vid card.