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How much RAM is adequate?
My Dimension XPSM200s has 64 meg of ram, the maximum that can be installed on the motherboard. The Norton System Doctor physical memory sensor currently indicates 0.7 MB is free. I have Eudora, Earthlink, and Word operating. However, this amount of free RAM isn't unusual; it often drops to zero.
When I purchased my 4100 Pentium III with Windows Me, I decided I wouldn't have this no-free-ram problem again. Computer magazines seemed to think 128 meg was fine, so I purchased 256 meg. I thought of 512 meg, but it was pretty pricey. Nothing is currently running except System Doctor and I have 17.5 meg of ram free!! I've installed Norton SystemWorks, and Partition Magic (currently not running), and have the Microsoft Office upgrade. Everything else came with the computer. I started Word briefly (it wouldn't run without registering), and available ram dropped to 14.4 megs. I used Norton to check ram, and I actually have 256 meg. What's wrong?
Jim
When I purchased my 4100 Pentium III with Windows Me, I decided I wouldn't have this no-free-ram problem again. Computer magazines seemed to think 128 meg was fine, so I purchased 256 meg. I thought of 512 meg, but it was pretty pricey. Nothing is currently running except System Doctor and I have 17.5 meg of ram free!! I've installed Norton SystemWorks, and Partition Magic (currently not running), and have the Microsoft Office upgrade. Everything else came with the computer. I started Word briefly (it wouldn't run without registering), and available ram dropped to 14.4 megs. I used Norton to check ram, and I actually have 256 meg. What's wrong?
Jim
PCHelpLIVE
15 Posts
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July 9th, 2001 06:00
If you are running Win98 or ME I would not go above 512MB. The OS can used anything more than that so you would be wasting your cash. You sound like you have plenty of RAM. I always get 128MB minimum and ideal 256MB. (Just my opinion) Thats unless you do alot of graphics work?
Kevin
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jakeleg
360 Posts
0
July 9th, 2001 07:00
There is nothing wrong with your machine. First of all, "System Resources" have nothing to do with RAM.
See:
http://www.infinisource.com/techfiles/win-resources.html
As for your available RAM, Windows sets up a disc cache so that memory is readily accessable. For a good explanation of this see:
http://www.aumha.org/a/memmgmt.htm
j
PCHelpLIVE
15 Posts
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July 9th, 2001 08:00
Kevin
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Azlan
60 Posts
0
July 9th, 2001 10:00
System properties > Performance tab > VirtualMemory.
128-256MB is usually more than enough for most users, and unless you're planning to open an ad company, don't waste for >512megs.
Don't settle for the 'you can never have enough RAM' when it could in fact be redundant.
Azlan
synapse88
21 Posts
0
July 9th, 2001 14:00
http://www2.whidbey.net/djdenham/
http://www.3feetunder.com/krick/startlist.htm
Those pages will help you edit your startup list to free resources. Also check your startup folder Start-Programs-Startup and make sure anything there needs to be there.
Jim Hill
77 Posts
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July 9th, 2001 19:00
Jim