Windows Vista: How much RAM do I need?

[OJmastersz]

well i have an old computer and it runs vista with 1gb ram and it runs great. there is a way to increase ram. look it up. I added 3 more gigs

[basbas63]

XP ran fine on 256mb haha :P anyways win 7 needs one gig to even alow you to install but it runs better than vista :S

lol i remember when i had 16mb ram and win 95 and a 233mhz pentium cpu... that thing loaded things fast... but well the new features are nice in windows and i am fine with it that it takes up more ram..

[lordplato92]

My school pc (one of em) has 248mb of ram. It has windows xp and it has office 2003. Epic fail.

[Bobytalent]

yeah i remember , its because 32 bit can only see up to 3.5 gb and i think a 64 bit can see up to 7.5 or 8 gb but im not sure on that.

[jamesrschultz]

@Bobytalent 32 bit can see up to 2.75GB-3.75GB. It depends on your hardware. 64 bit can see up to 192GB, in some editions of Windows 7.

[farstarfilms]

vista eats up RAM thats all buy windows 7

[KnucklesARouge]

I have Vista with 4 GB (3.5 GB usable) and it works fine.

[lkristijan]

i have 1,5 gb ram and vista works pretty good :D(awsome)

[TheBigtom123456]

hey i had  4gb before formatted my pc now only showing 3001mb is there a way to get it back ill sub if u message me back :)

[jamesrschultz]

@TheBigtom123456 Make sure you are using 64bit and not 32bit. That sounds like a memory allocation problem found in most 32-bit versions of Windows. Good luck!

[philosophermike]

HM. I edit videos. Does that make me a "Power user"?

[jamesrschultz]

@philosophermike I'd say so.

[KnucklesARouge]

999999999999999999999999999999­999999999999999999999999999999­999999999999999999999999999999­999999999999999999999999999999­999999999999999999999999999999­999999999999999999999999999999­999999999999999 TB.

[Halo3Sniperhelpers]

You guys need a 100mb ram for it but if not put 1024ram if enough if you can or 254 or 200 ram

[wispyok06]

i have problem also with vista. i have 1 gb of ram but in the task bar it displays only 766 mb..vista is shit

[Syed96Dulax]

i need help! how to install new ram? windows vista...now local disk just C only..before this i get Local disk D...then i pull it out when windows shut down...! please help me!

[jamesrschultz]

@Syed96Dulax Local disks are not RAM... Local disk C is your hard drive. Local disk d is your CD/DVD drive. Both should always be there. RAM is an amount of memory you computer uses to run applications... when you shut down the computer, the RAM is emptied.

[fallenkonda392]

i have 16GB of RAM

[listojay]

how about my computer it only have 1gb

[jamesrschultz]

At least 2GB, I would say.

[NielsShoe]

You cant clean ram its empty when an app closes and totally refreshed when you restart your computer. You can get aps that claim to defrag ram but its a con and was only needed for old computers from 20 years ago.

[HELPYOUCOMPUTER]

better xp .or windows 98SE recomeded just need 128mb 98se is 16mb too fast in my 12gb ram ddr3

[FREETutorialsPlus]

u hac ultimate which has alot of effects and stuff that eats up RAM and doesnt show that it eats it up

[bogellenong]

guys i need help, im not lacking of memory, but this is the problem, i have vista, its 4 gig, and yes it does show 4096mb in task bar so theres no problem. I used to turn my computer off or restart it 2 to 3 days, here is the problem, first time when the computer just on, i open the taskbar and it said 1.3gb being used, but when it goes like 7 to 8 hours up time, ill gain like 400more mb like 1.7gb used, and no programs on, jsut the exact same state as what in the beginning, do u guys know why

[jamesrschultz]

It's Windows Vista 64-bit, it's very inefficient. Get Windows 7, you won't have that problem. That's the way it is though. If you needed the RAM, like if it got to 75% or more in use, it would clean it out and you would gain it back. You should not worry about, no performance is lost.

[bogellenong]

well im not upgrading my pc to 7 lol, its useless comared to 120 bucks, but ill defenitely get it for my new computer or laptop system, btw you said that when it reach 75% it will automatically get rid or clean the junk that being collected, is that only in 7 or also in vista

[bjsl80]

75 is an estimate, and that would be both systems.

[rumblemon]

i have the same problem i have 4 gig ram and windows vista 64 bit. But when i open task manger it only see 3gig wtf!!!!!!!!

And in the BIOS it says 2x2gig ram

My other computer with 2 gig ram says 2 gig in task manger i dont understand what the problem is :(:(:(:(:(:(:((:(:(

[AboundingHinata]

Your system is most likely 32 bit. Isn't It?

[TheNerd18]

i am running snow leopard and i have 8 gbs of ram........FUCK WINDOWS

[jonbobizal]

i use 6 gigs of DDR3 Ram

[PCupgrader]

Dude rest ov the ram is in the use of vista

[YomorokaXD]

i am runeing vista ultimate on only 512mb of ram and it is running just fine...

[tazz6774]

ihave2gb ram and it is fast

[lenovoservice1]

1 GB ram minimum run slow.

2 GB run ok.

3 GB good.

4 GB run fast.

[Makarius007]

12 GB runs HELLA FAST =)

i have 4 =(

[GTAIVman]

my laptop has vista home pre 32 bit and 2GB RAM. works fine. my lowest score is 3.8.

[huntercross14]

ye same problem, i have 1GB RAM but vista only recognizes 766MB RAM why is that?, i hav 32bit OS

[jamesrschultz]

That issue is probably with our BIOS, Operating System, or graphics settings. If you go into our BIOS, and look around, see if you can change your graphics memory amount. See what that does.

[huntercross14]

what is a BIOS how to go into Bios>? and so you mean graphic card takes/uses some RAM?

[jamesrschultz]

BIOS-Basic Input Output System

When you first turn on your computer and it says HP or Dell or Acer at the beginning, just after you press the power power button, press F2 for dell, F10 for HP, or try those if you have something else. 2 might also work. In there, try to change graphics settings to less RAM.

[chrischoy9]

Its taken by your graphic card memory

[MicroHelper]

Happens to me. I got 2 GB's but it's only 1 GB...

wth?

[jamesrschultz]

Most likely, you need to re-install Windows.

[MicroHelper]

well.... I don't have a Windows Vista CD

[Ryan195]

haha same wallpaper :P

[tophelloboo]

check how much of your video cars is using our there could be a damaged memory card oh and I got windows Vista to run at 600 with using some paging file on a Ultra fast Hard drive with A AMD proccesor at 1.8 GHZ

[9578755]

I say use XP & use 64 MB Ram.

Proven, tested & it works.

[jamesrschultz]

Hmm.. I use XP with 4GB of RAM.

I've also used XP with 8MB of RAM, full scale legit too.

[Edercoree]

i think vista is good but you wanna installed first look the memory RAM in your pc beacusee Vista is good in a pc on 1 GB and Vista is fukcing AWESOME in a pc on 2 GB or more..........

[redblazer108]

This is horible but i have only 757 mb of ram and 30 gigs of memory my computer sucks....someone give me advise i cant get a new computer for 4 months

[zelegp]

I had the same problem, i had it say 3 GB before SP1, but after SP1 it says 4GB, which is a lie, MS only put 4GB into system properties, but never gave vista the ability to access. Now what might be your problem is that you can only have 4GB on your MB, then subtract your vid card memory and sound card, ect. Then that is the max your MB can handle. But when i had my computer not see all 4GB, i had to go into device manager, then find Direct Memory access controler, and put the driver in, 4GB!

[jamesnuutinen]

Ive noticed something with vista. i have 2gig ram and it uses about 30% of my ram, not my mate has 8 gig and it still uses 30% so i think that vista just takes 30% for itself. uses the rest on other stuff.

[lucnfs]

lol i have 8gigs

[FireXware]

vista doesnt hog ram, ur just not realizing that it uses unused ram for something usefull obviously, no performance impact for using more ram, and if u got 512 ram it wont use as much or keep it in pagefile, whats the point of having 4 gigs if it only ever uses 100mb

[jamesrschultz]

Good point(s). People do not realize this, however. People have Vista because it "hogs ram". They also come up with reasons like "it's slow, it crashes, it doesn't work" I have never actually had a Windows computer crash due to a problem in Windows.

[xsonicbladex]

by the way when both your bays are the same size and speed and type it's called "dual-channel" the computer can take advantage of both speeds of both rams. i have a 2g 1066mhz dual channel config with 2.4 ghz dual core 3mb l2, and 1066mhz frntside bus on a macbook. the os uses about 30% of it. MAC FOR THE WIN

[talldude123]

I think it may be your video card that may be taking up the RAM. Even video cards will use some RAM, depending on the config.

[33sos]

i have 2048 mb, a 160 gb hard disk, can use home premium 64 bit???

[jamesrschultz]

If you have a 64-bit processor you can. Let me tell you that 32-bit is going to use a lot less ram, bit 64-bit will be much faster.

[ResistanceFighterr]

i have 1GB of ram, how can i get it to two, please reply

[jamesrschultz]

Go to eBay, search got the type of ram you have, and buy a 1GB stick. Check out my bid on how to install it.

[hayabusa2569]

yo man your pc is not the problem but it's just the sidebar cuze, the sidebar takes 33% of your ram every time.

[reddragon2359]

close sidebar and change theme to old style...improves it alot.

[bartoszxmaster]

i have 1024 mb ram. it runs good but not realy. but is still good. gonna geta 2GB RAM!!

[lbjfan408]

i have 2.5 GB ram, and vista runs smooth, and much better, than when i used to have 512 MB ram!n XD

[chrischoy9]

Ture, I have 2 and vista 32bit supports 4GB RAM

[viethluu]

dude! when u change ur ram, you must use the same ram; otherwise, some compatible issue will happen. I see, in ur case, b/c u use different kind of ram, your windows can't utilize the exact amount of your memory. Try to use the same ram.

[jamesrschultz]

I have essentially the same RAM. If we're talking about my Pavilion, I have 2 times 2GB DDR2 997MHz now. The only difference is the manufacturer.

[viethluu]

"the difference is the manufacturer" is exactly what I am talking about.

[jamesrschultz]

Hmm. I had always heard that it is Cas Latency, or the same MHz Speed.

[viethluu]

Well! let me put it this way: some rams work just fine with other other rams that come from other manufacturers and some do not work. However, the manufacturers will never tell you what other rams will work with their rams.

[mattPSP]

Get xp 64 bit edition i have 6gb and that works fine shows up as 6128mb of ram in dxdiag.

[jlpogi23]

hey, it's normal....

if you have sp1 (you have it right?) vista shows the reported memory at system properties,.,.

if you don't have or you'll remove sp1, vista will report the...idk exactly it is,.,but it will show a diff. size of memory,

it's a normal one, that's just a vista misunderstanding.,.,.,

I also have x64.,.,.,.,xD

[jamesrschultz]

Oh yeah, I have SP1. Vista does report 4GB, but only about 3GB is available to Windows. What ever, I'm using 3GB and 32-bit Vista now. Thanks though!

[ilibasic]

hi about ram problem u having.. u did nothing wrong it shows hom mutch free ram u have :) the other space that u thing u are missing is used in windows :)

[jamesrschultz]

I've heard that. But im My Computer, where it says Physical Memory Available to Windows, it only shows about 3GB?!

[DABhand]

So you know where your 900mb'ish went to, is because its being used to keep system files resident in the memory for faster access to things such as Media Player etc.

You do have 4gig (remember kids on a 32bit OS you cant go over 3gig you need a 64bit to go 3gig+), as I said it used some so it shows how much RAM is left to you to use.

[jamesrschultz]

So that other gig or so is in use? I'd like to have it available to Windows, it was when I first installed it, but not now...

Thanks though

[DABhand]

You misunderstand, the lost memory isnt lost at all, its being used up by Windows system files sitting in the background running. It helps keep the system running smooth. Obviously more memory will get used more when programs that have drivers etc running, for example graphic card drivers, sound card drivers, image emulation (e.g. Daemon Tools).

[jamesrschultz]

Ahh, okay. Thank you, that helps a lot.

[KiaX100000]

download PROCESSXP (process explorer) an with tis you can close programs in the background such as things that find updates. they just use needed ram!!! TRY IT!!!

[jamesrschultz]

Will do, thanks a bunch!!

[vangstaz]

BTW, what's your graphics card? I have an ATI RADEON X1100 integrated, and eating 64MB of my system RAM. The rating for it is 4.3 for Desktop performance for Aero, and 3.0 for gaming graphics. (Before I updated my graphics card, it had a rating of 2.3 for Desktop performance for Aero).

[jamesrschultz]

Mine's not the best card. In Device Manager, it says NVIDIA MCP67M. It's 128MB (configured in the BIOS) Graphics: 3.3 Gaming Graphics: 3.0

[Ru55ianGrim]

i have a nvidia geforce.. :P

[vangstaz]

512MB RAM is NOT enough FOR SURE, because I experienced it. (My PC was built with 512MB RAM WITH Vista WTF!) 1GB RAM still isn't enough because Vista already eats up 512MB of it, leaving you with just 512MB free to use. 2GB, still not enough to run multiple applications because with some apps, they require 2GB RAM, but you really have 1.5GB to use for Vista. I strongly recommend 3GB RAM for Vista. For you my friend, 4GB RAM is good enough. I got 2GB RAM for my Vista and it's still pretty slow.

[jamesrschultz]

You need 1,5 to 3GB for Vista. But, that really, really depends on the user. I used 2GB of RAM for the longest time, and it was honestly fine. It was usually on 35-45% (When not emulating operating systems)

[Ru55ianGrim]

im getting the hp pavilion for 4gigs..llol

[vangstaz]

OOOOO, Sweet!

[burmuda234]

I have a theory about were 1GB went. We can only see 3GB. It could be that the graphics card is sharing ram , this would explain were the 1GB went.

[jamesrschultz]

I suppose that's possible, but right click on your desktop, personalize, display settings, and then advanced settings. You can see your graphics card info there. Nowhere, at least on mine, does it have 1GB or 1024MB. My highest one is about 623MB...

[SuperiorBeen]

For better performance buy a stand alone graphic card! The integrated one uses you're memory bandwidth also!

BTW: The improved performance when using equal dimms comes from Dual-channel architecture (motherboard needs to support it)! -google it

[jamesrschultz]

HEY! I GOT FOUR GIG WORKING!!****

***For one time, when I rebooted and it was back to three. All I did was mess in the BIOS, try that?!?!?

[tjasko1]

Uhmm, 800MHz RAM happens to be slower than most RAM out there. You can have a 533MHz RAM, with a RAM Latency (Google it; basically a lower value means faster transfer, higher means slower) as 4. Usually 800MHz RAM is a 5 or a 6. Which, most RAM is around a 5 anyways. But, you cannot get the RAM Latency to high in 800MHz RAM. You can get a RAM Latency of 4 and it'll be around 533 or 667MHz. Thus, 800MHz RAM is only good for over clockers; and it's mainly found it high-end machines; mainly gamers.

[burmuda234]

You have the same problem as me , it's vista what eats up all the ram and I have 64bit.

[jamesrschultz]

Vista x64 does seem to eat more RAM than x86.

[burmuda234]

Relly I did'nt know that I have 4GB of ram and a dual core CPU and vista still is slow.

[jamesrschultz]

Does your Vista 64-bit use all 4GB? Mine only uses 3, but I have 4 installed. Stupid Vista.

[UnboxingPros]

what are your pc specs?

[jamesrschultz]

HP Pavilion Dv6809wm

AMD Turion 64 X2 Mobile Technology TL-60 @ 2.00GHz

4GB 800MHz DDR2

Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit SP1

120.00GB EIDE 5400RPM hard disk

15.4 inch 1280x800 HD Brightview

DVDRW Multi Recorder Light scribe CD-RW

5 in one memory card reader, usual ports.

9 Cell Lithium Ion Battery

[burmuda234]

Same as yours it says 4GB but only uses 3GB

[jamesrschultz]

So both of us have 4GB installed, but Vista 64 bit only uses 3GB. Wow. Vista can't do everything right.

[burmuda234]

guess so vista cant do everything right.

[jamesrschultz]

Definitely right. It do like it far more than XP or Ubuntu though.