whether to go with 4GB or 8GB of RAM ?

[Raserei408]

One more vote for 4 now, 4 more later. RAM right now is actually pretty darn expensive, and buying 8 right now isn't worth it if you won't end up using it until later. Worst case scenario is you end up going a week or two with sub-optimal RAM capacity while you order a second set.

[punk_zappa]

As Mark said, just get 8 gigs if you can afford it. Run your VMs in 4 and 8 gigs configs and see if there is any big difference. If you think you don't need 8 then you just sell the 4 you need in the buy and sell section.

[MarkOne]

A reason I can see to go 8 gb will be to allow the disabling of the virtual memory

[misterd]

Originally Posted by MarkOne

A reason I can see to go 8 gb will be to allow the disabling of the virtual memory

You mean disabling the pagefile? I did that with 6GB and everything is smooth as butter.

[MarkOne]

Originally Posted by misterd

You mean disabling the pagefile? I did that with 6GB and everything is smooth as butter.

because you use it with a 1366, if you use 3 stick of 2GB in this AMD dual channel you will loose performance, so you have to use 2 or 4 sticks , 4 gb is not enough if you disable pagefiles with multiple VM running , now the OP do not need to disable it , it was just an option and a reason to use 8 gb . not a need . I hope peoples here understand than without page, if the PC reach the maximum memory available it means a crash

[Mohammed]

Originally Posted by ZZLEE

If you are going to install WIN 7 (64 BIT ) yes to 8 GB. Win 32 Bit can only use 4 GB will usally only detect 3 GB of 4 GB most times. There is somthing called Creep more and more memory will be show up in un use the longer a computer is left on or soft restarted from sleep also.

So 8 GB WIN 7 (64 BIT) in my opinion

dude, good saying but in both cases I am getting 64bit anyways.

thanks for the effort :).

Originally Posted by martin_metal_88

If you are doing vistual machine then go with 8GB if you are going with a 64Bit OS. if going with 32 bit OS stick with 4GB.

yes this what i am thinking of, but VM software are basically 32bit, so I don't know if they can read above 3.5GB of avaliable system.

bytheway, VirtualPC have a 64bit version, but the stupid MS does allow linx to installed on , at leat the last time I cheacked, and VMware also last time I checked i does not run 64bit OSs,
so, obviusly I am left with virtualBox and it does both things.

thanks :).

Originally Posted by MrDiaz

It's subjective honestly, you can run multiple VMs with 4GBs of RAM without a problem. It depends on what you run on these VMs and how much load they will bring in. Which apps do you have running on the VMs?

actually I run viriaty of programs, but mostly testing exploring the OSs and programs capabilities.
so, it dependes, but mostly light stuff.

thanks :).

Originally Posted by MarkOne

I don't see where is the problem , if you have the cash you go 8 now, if budget is an issue you start with 4 and if you need you buy 4 more.

yes, but it is not about budget for me but i don't like to waste mony.
your idea is great, consedring to start with 4GB.

thanks :).

Originally Posted by Bond007

I vote for just getting 4gb, then when you are running everything you will normally run check to see how much free RAM you have left. If you still have some save your money, but if you are near maxed out (which I kind of doubt) then get an extra 4gb when you can.

yes it makes sense, thanks :).

Originally Posted by LarkStarr

-what?





- 4GB now, 8GB later if you're feeling choked. if you have the cash, 8GB will definitely help. If you not installing a 64 bit operating system, ten don't bother with 8 GB either way. I'm probably repeating someone.

yes it makes sense, thanks :).

Originally Posted by Digikid

Ram is so cheap these days.....go with 8GB.

as i said before its not a matter of money to me, but i don't want to waste money for no need.

Originally Posted by MrDiaz

No man, 8GBs is too much. You WILL NOT gain any performance if you don't have to computing power to put those to use... trust me on that. 8GB's is a lot of memory. (dont even get me started on people running with 12GB of RAM for their gaming rigs, its a complete waste.

I am starting to think so, thanks :).

Originally Posted by homer98

I say start with 4GB, if you notice you are running out, then get another 4GB later on. See how your VM's run and if they are using a lot of resources then upgrade to more RAM. But might as well save where you can if you don't need it, won't increase performance of the computer with having 8 instead of 4.

It seems that your right, thanks :).

Originally Posted by Raserei408

One more vote for 4 now, 4 more later. RAM right now is actually pretty darn expensive, and buying 8 right now isn't worth it if you won't end up using it until later. Worst case scenario is you end up going a week or two with sub-optimal RAM capacity while you order a second set.

well, you made it very clear to me in term of actual usage of memory.

thanks :).

Originally Posted by punk_zappa

As Mark said, just get 8 gigs if you can afford it. Run your VMs in 4 and 8 gigs configs and see if there is any big difference. If you think you don't need 8 then you just sell the 4 you need in the buy and sell section.

no, i think I'll start with 4GB for now and I'll stress it and see if run out of memory with it.

thanks :).

Originally Posted by MarkOne

A reason I can see to go 8 gb will be to allow the disabling of the virtual memory

yah, your right but the thing is VirtualBox is basically 32bit inwhich most of my work will be, and I am not sure if it will full adress to all of available memory above 3.5GB, though I think your right and make perfect sence.

thanks :).

Originally Posted by misterd

You mean disabling the pagefile? I did that with 6GB and everything is smooth as butter.

wow, are you sure ?
if that is the case I am defently getting 8GB, but to be on the safe side I'll try 4GB for a week or two then upgrade to 8GB.

thanks :).

Originally Posted by MarkOne

because you use it with a 1366, if you use 3 stick of 2GB in this AMD dual channel you will loose performance, so you have to use 2 or 4 sticks , 4 gb is not enough if you disable pagefiles with multiple VM running , now the OP do not need to disable it , it was just an option and a reason to use 8 gb . not a need . I hope peoples here understand than without page, if the PC reach the maximum memory available it means a crash

yes, its true but is there any way to reduce counting on pagefile, to make a last resource.

I remember my old machine, it had 2G of ddr2, and it was very slow because it was using pagefile massively.

thanks :).

[MarkOne]

what the fact that the VM is 32 bits have to do with the total OS limitation in memory. if you want open 3 VM with 3 gb of ram reserve for each of them you need 9 gb only for them. So a 8 gb system will allow you to open only your 3 vm with 2 gb , so you way under the 3,4 limitation.

[Mohammed]

Originally Posted by MarkOne

what the fact that the VM is 32 bits have to do with the total OS limitation in memory. if you want open 3 VM with 3 gb of ram reserve for each of them you need 9 gb only for them. So a 8 gb system will allow you to open only your 3 vm with 2 gb , so you way under the 3,4 limitation.

so for the software being 32bit doesn't stop it from accessing memory above 3.5 gb, if that is right then the same should apply to photoshop cs3, so why did adoby realesed a 64bit version ?

I don't have much experince in programing, but I think the program should be 64bit to break the limitation of 3.5 gb, same thing apply for 7-zip 32bit and 64 bit version...

what i am saying is completely hypothetical, it could be wrong or right.

thanks :).

[MrDiaz]

The limitation comes from the O.S, not the software.

[Mohammed]

Originally Posted by MrDiaz

The limitation comes from the O.S, not the software.

are you sure man ?
if so, then why is that we see new version of software nowadays are starting to change to 64bit, if the 32bit will access the same memory ?

thanks :).