PC memory

[xoggoth]

Been pondering getting a faster desktop due to sucky performance of this one with lousy Vista.

However, I wonder if the problem isn't one of insufficient memory. Just deleting a simple shortcut cause disc activity to shoot up to 100% but on the other hand memory usage stays pretty well stuck at 83% to 85% no matter what I do or what programs I run. Almost like it's hit some limit and is raiding the disc cache.

Any way of checking for adequate memory? Cheers.

[DaveB]

Been pondering getting a faster desktop due to sucky performance of this one with lousy Vista.

However, I wonder if the problem isn't one of insufficient memory. Just deleting a simple shortcut cause disc activity to shoot up to 100% but on the other hand memory usage stays pretty well stuck at 83% to 85% no matter what I do or what programs I run. Almost like it's hit some limit and is raiding the disc cache.

Any way of checking for adequate memory? Cheers.

How much have you got?

General opinion seems to be that you need at least 2Gb to get decent performance out of it.

[VectraMan]

I upgraded my Vista laptop from 2GB to 4GB, and I can't say it made any radical performance improvement. However it does tend to use >2GB (2.1GB at the moment with two Visual Studios open), so it must be doing some good.

[vetran]

Upgrade to windows 7.

Vista sucks and not in a good way.

[Durbs]

Upgrade to windows 7.

Vista sucks and not in a good way.

This is true, i've just put Win 7 on my main development machine and my laptop.

The instant performance increase feels like i've stuck a couple of gig of extra memory in them.

[xoggoth]

Cheers for replies. It's only 1Gb so might be worth trying some more. Win 7 sounds good so far.

PS No 2 son who is high paid city "expert" specd and ordered it for me. Also he said he couldn't get his mother's PC to show on the network. I sorted that yesterday with a bit of my usual random clicking. He is on for some high quality SNEERING when he is next home.

[VectraMan]

Cheers for replies. It's only 1Gb so might be worth trying some more. Win 7 sounds good so far.

PS No 2 son who is high paid city "expert" specd and ordered it for me. Also he said he couldn't get his mother's PC to show on the network. I sorted that yesterday with a bit of my usual random clicking. He is on for some high quality SNEERING when he is next home.

My Dad bought a 1GB Vista machine from PC World. I wish he'd asked me first or I'd have told him your really do want 2GB. Then I got a phone call saying his computer was broken, with programs not able to load, which when I went to see I worked out that something had turned off virtual memory. Vista with 1GB and no virtual memory really didn't work at all, to the extent that I couldn't even get task manager.

Goes to show how much it needs the virtual memory even if you have 1GB of RAM.

Older generation and computers eh?

[weemster]

Had the same prob, had to stuff in 4GB for vista (of which not all can be recognised) - working Ok now.