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Thread ID: 11902	2001-10-09 08:27:00	How much RAM should I get?	Guest (0)	Press F1

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
20692	2001-10-09 08:27:00	I want to treat my Pentium II 266 MHz PC to a new stick of RAM and am not sure whether to go to 128MB or 256MB. I'm expecting a huge improvement on the 32MB presently installed but will 256MB be much more noticeable than 128MB? Running Win 98 (1), play around with Paintshop Pro 7 and often have Word, Excel and Publisher ('97 versions) all open at once. Have been told that 128MB is ample if I don't run graphics programs (but I do!), so considering that this machine will become my #2 within the next 6-12 months, will 256MB be an overkill? It will still have a busy 'retirement' with the kids.	Guest (0)
20693	2001-10-09 08:34:00	At the price of ram today you would be silly not to go for 256 megs. With the programs you run with 128 megs you would still be getting a swap file.	Guest (0)
20694	2001-10-09 08:46:00	Yes, go for the overkill, the ram these days are so cheap. I was investigating the same thing earlier in the year and the difference between 128 & 256 is not much, the big jumps in performance are from 32 to 64 to 128.	Guest (0)
20695	2001-10-09 08:47:00	256 definately! ram is really cheap, and no matter how much ram you have, windows still feels obliged to create a swap file, though you can disable this.	Guest (0)
20696	2001-10-09 09:13:00	It depends what you are using your computer for of course. If you are using programs like Word, or the internet, 128mb will be fine. If, on the other hand you use high-end graphics programs like Adobe Photoshop, or my own AVIMGen which creates or edits avi files, you'll definately enjoy 256mb. It depends if your computer can handle it, as 'b m' said; also if you want to pay that much, although the prices are decreasing rapidly, as Scotty Mike and Dylan agree. But in another couple of years 256mb of sdram will probably cost half as much as it does now, or even 1/4 as much, so if you're unsure you could get 128mb and when ram get SUPER cheap you can buy 256 :)	Guest (0)
20697	2001-10-09 09:13:00	Thanks guys, I'll do the 256 thing and watch her fly!!	Guest (0)
20698	2001-10-09 09:14:00	With your current configuration, 128MB would be realistic. There won't be any noticeable difference if you go beyond that. If you wanna do 'high-powered' graphics editing (eg edit large files on Photoshop), then you should go with more processing power rather than just upping the RAM.	Guest (0)
20699	2001-10-09 18:51:00	Like BM said, check it can take a single 256 stick, it probably can't.	Guest (0)
20700	2001-10-09 20:59:00	Make sure your computer can take either 128 or 256 first, because I doubt that it can if all it has now is 32mb. You may find that 32 is the highest RAM stick it'll take, or perhaps 64.	Guest (0)
20701	2001-10-10 03:27:00	Oh... well it looks like I might have to reconsider then. I'm pretty sure I can fit the 128 but I'm not exactly sure if the board will take a 256 stick. The manual says: 'Supports four memory banks using two 168-pin unbuffered DIMM sockets; Supports a maximum memory size of 256MB for EDO/SDRAM; Supports 3.3v Extended Data Output (EDO) and SDRAM DIMM.' It sounds reasonable to try 128 first and add more later if needed. Thank you for all the suggestions.	Guest (0)
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