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Thread ID: 33041	2003-05-05 08:58:00	RAM in a new pc	miknz (3731)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
141562	2003-05-05 08:58:00	I was looking around in noel lemming yesterday with a plan to upgrade to a new HP computer. The one I looked at was a 2.63 p4 with cdr and all the bells. It was running windows xp and had only 256meg of RAM, I asked the assistant if this was enough to run xp he reckoned it was and that the pc was expandable to 1 gig anyway so if I needed more I could get it. He missed my point to a certain extent when i bought my last pc 5 years ago it came with 64 meg running win 98, I found out this was the minimum needed to run win 98 and after spending a few hundred bucks upgraded to 128 meg and it made a huge difference. So, to the point, is 256 meg enough to run win xp if i have the usual background stuff running or should I be looking for 512 or more. Your thoughtslease thanks Mike	miknz (3731)
141563	2003-05-05 09:45:00	Well it is always going to be "the more the merrier" and of course 512MB will be better than 256MB. It will be a little while before those HP computers have 512MB as standard, just like it took a while for them to jump from 128MB to 256MB. You have to ask yourself what you are going to do with your computer. If you are only going to use the internet, run some office apps and generally not tax it too much by having loads of programs open at once or play the latest of latest games then 256MB will be plenty - for now. I know what you mean by needing/wanting more and more RAM; when I got my Win 98 computer (five years ago, like you) it only had 32MB but a couple of years ago I added another 128MB to bring that up to 160MB and it now runs pretty sweet. For this Beast however, I have 512MB though I could probably get away with less. I am impatient, however. :D Incidentally, have you thought of having your new computer custom built?	Susan B (19)
141564	2003-05-05 10:41:00	Hi As Susan says it depends what you are going to use your comp for. But IMHO 256 is not enough. you could always pop some more in at a later date but I hear HP's and many other proprietary brands are fussy about what brands of ram you can put in them (I have never owned an HP comp tho). Have a look at what some of the local or online stores offer for the same $$. You might get a pleasant surprise. BTW 1GB of ram capability isn't so hot these days. Check out: www.pricespy.co.nz/ or http: or http://www.ascent.co.nz/ to start with. Have fun :) Cheers Murray P	Murray P (44)
141565	2003-05-05 10:48:00	> Incidentally, have you thought of having your new > computer custom built? If you have time, build it yourself. Youll save a fair bit of money over generic branded systems, and teach yourself a LOT in the process. Dont do it if you are impatient though, the first system I ever built took me 2 months, and about 4 helpers before I could get it working. Now however it takes a few hours to go from wo to go unless I start tinkering with the BIOS and end up having to reset it 5 or 6 times ;-) Iain	Iain Walmsley (3372)
141566	2003-05-05 12:06:00	128 meg for an XP system is a waste of time it has got to be 256mb or more. To be honest I would not buy a computer only offering 128mb these days.	mikebartnz (21)
141567	2003-05-05 12:09:00	Sorry did not fully read your post but 512 mg would be a minimum for XP in my opinion.	mikebartnz (21)
141568	2003-05-05 12:26:00	I have Win XP running on 4 PCs, 128 Mb, 192 Mb and 256 Mb (all similar 600 - 667 MHZ processors. For general business and internet use there is a noticeable increase from 128 Mb to 192 Mb. A very small increment in speed again noticed with 256 Mb. My 4th PC has 512 Mb DDR, and a 2 GHz P4 processor. In general operation its not *that* much faster than the 256 Mb P3 667 MHz. I am sure that intensive graphics an gaming would tell a different story, but if you are into high end gaming you probably are not looking at a brand name PC, rather a "pick and mix" at your local PC store. If you are looking at a HP PC, then if it does not have a dedicated graphics card, it will use about 32 Mb of the system RAM. An upgrade would then be noticeable. I have had 3 HP machines, and have had an excellent run with them. I also was told by *experts* that common RAM sticks would not work, and you need the expensive HP or Kingston RAM. Funny thing is, cheap RAM from Dick Smith has worked just fine in all of them.	godfather (25)
141569	2003-05-05 12:27:00	Once again..... HP, IBM, and Compac computers are not easily upgradeable RAM wise. There is no such thing as having a CPU that's too fast, too much RAN or too much hard disk space. Get one that won't cost you a fortune to upgrade later. As Susan_B says:- ( sort of ). If you KNOW what your needs are now and in the future and the computer you buy will do it then fine. Sigh.... The number of people who say, "Well I want Email, Internet, Word processor, Spreadsheet etc" and forget to say the Grandchild is arriving next month and wants to play "Unreal Tournament" via ADSL. Later.... I just bought this Laptop. Can I get all the info off the Desktop? Later.... Is my computer photo compatible. ( Whoops forgot I want a digital camera, scanner } Etc.. Etc... :-)	Elephant (599)
141570	2003-05-05 12:36:00	I agree with RAM sticks working in HP, IBM and Compaq computers. Just that it is not as easy to actually put the stick in.	Elephant (599)
141571	2003-05-05 21:53:00	Gidday, I have an HP with 256. I multitask with mine, anything from internet to databases. I like a fast computer, and 256 is mimimum for xp, I reckon. It works, fine but ideally I would go one up to 384 of RAM. Just to give the computer a bit more chance of getting away from the page file. cheers, Robby	Robby (3123)
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