1GB vs 2 GB RAM

[gnome]

Quote from notouch:

I found the discussion useful. I was thinking of making my next computer purchase 2GB but was interested to hear that this might actually give a worse performance on Windows XP. By the way, someone mentioned Windows 2000 - are there any benefits to running Windows 2000 over Windows XP? Also what are people's views on Celeron processors? Many of the new entry to mid level PCs have this. Would it be a noticeably worse performance running 3 monitors with MB Trading in one, a Java based web news wire in another and a Java based charting website on another?

1. Get 2GB only if your apps actually use it. Otherwise, 1GB is plenty. Your Task Manager will tell you for sure.

2. No advantage in Win2000... in fact, some disadvantages.

3. Celeron wouldn't kill you, but with the multi-core era just beginning, why bother with Celeron?

4. Number of monitors isn't a concern, but number of Java apps might be. Java is a memory hog... probably a resource hog, too.

 

[thecalip]

I updated from 1 gig to 3 gig for my XP box, and it makes no improvement. So just stick to 1 gigs.

 

[Bob111]

Quote from notouch:

I found the discussion useful. I was thinking of making my next computer purchase 2GB but was interested to hear that this might actually give a worse performance on Windows XP. By the way, someone mentioned Windows 2000 - are there any benefits to running Windows 2000 over Windows XP? Also what are people's views on Celeron processors? Many of the new entry to mid level PCs have this. Would it be a noticeably worse performance running 3 monitors with MB Trading in one, a Java based web news wire in another and a Java based charting website on another?

celerons are good and cheap these days.
you go with something like this-

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=2324667&CatId=0

and it almost good as P4.
i bought couple similar to this one, above and very happy with it.

not sure about how more RAM can slow down your computer. check this out-
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815168001

 

[Bob111]

Quote from thecalip:

I updated from 1 gig to 3 gig for my XP box, and it makes no improvement. So just stick to 1 gigs.

it all depends on what you are doing with your PC. if you are
buying top of the line dual core intel with 6 gb memory to keep couple charts open-you will not notice any difference between your new computer and old P3

 

[DannoXYZ]

On the other hand, if you regularly edit HD-video or poster-sized Photoshop files, then 3gb would make a difference over 1gb. It really does come down to your intended usage. For trading software, a P3-1ghz w/512mb is really all you need.

 

[Tums]

Quote from notouch:

I found the discussion useful. I was thinking of making my next computer purchase 2GB but was interested to hear that this might actually give a worse performance on Windows XP...

that's not correct. Don't just read whatever people write with hearsay.

 

[Tums]

Quote from thecalip:

I updated from 1 gig to 3 gig for my XP box, and it makes no improvement. So just stick to 1 gigs.

why did you upgrade?
did you check your Task Manager? was it because you were running out of memory?

if you operation runs fine with 1 GB, then an additional 100 GB will not make any difference.

if you upgraded before checking your Task Manager, then it is not too late to check your wallet now, it is thinner.

 

[Tums]

Quote from DannoXYZ:

On the other hand, if you regularly edit HD-video or poster-sized Photoshop files, then 3gb would make a difference over 1gb. It really does come down to your intended usage.
For trading software, a P3-1ghz w/512mb is really all you need.

that's a generalization.

some people trade with minimal software. e.g. a mid-term/swing options trader, then minimal equipment would do.

while others (e.g daytrader) trade with multiple chart windows, chat rooms, multiple broker accounts... they will need more memory than 512 MB.

the easiest way to find out is to check your Task Manager.

 

[Tums]

Quote from thecalip:

I updated from 1 gig to 3 gig for my XP box, and it makes no improvement. So just stick to 1 gigs.

have you checked to see if your box can address the memory above 2 GB ?
not all boxes can.

 

[trading_time]

Quote from Tums:

you can figure out your required RAM easily. Here's how:

First, load up all the programs you described above.

On the charting program: open all the symbols you plan to track.

On the FireFox: Open as many tabs as you would needed on a busy day. (because each tab takes up additional memory.)

then:
Open your Windows Task Manager,
go to the Performance tab,
look under Commit Charge.
Look at the Total number.

Make sure this is no more than 75% of your RAM size.


p.s. RAMs are so cheap these day. Why do you even worry?

I only have 256ram
Here how I look with all trading aps..
Commit Charge
Total 342720
Limit 619064
Peak 354480

Is it a bad thing to be over your ram ammount?
Computer seems to run fine hmm.