RAM threshold

[josemavicente]

is there such a thing as a RAM threshold, meaning at some point, it doesnt really matter how much more RAM you add?

ie. a computer with 256mb ram works just fine, but i noticed that systems with more than that amount seem to just work the same...am i "wasting" RAM?

i assume there to be a RAM marginal utility curve where as your RAm increases, you get less utility from every megabyte offered...can anyone explain to me this theory? =)



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Jayvee Fernandez

[mjc]

You are correct, there is a point where increasing the amount of RAM and associated performance increase due to the increase level off, at least in Winodws 9x systems. The price of the RAM also has alot to do with it it...if RAM is expensive it doesn't make much sense to go beyond the point where it levels out (around 128 to 256MB for win9x), but if RAM is cheap (and even though it has started to climb from all time lows it is still cheap) then crossing that point becomes a matter of personal choice, and what your plans are for the future of this particular machine. WindowsXP does not have the same actual limitations on the amount of RAM that 9x had and its level of increased perfromance is different than 9x, so if you plan on moving to XP then it would probably be good to stock up on RAM now, and even use it until the move is made. Another thing to consider is what the machine will be used for, if it is for just srfing the internet then again hitting the plateau may not be all that good, but if you are wanting to work with digital images, music files (especially creation of audio or video) then the maximum amount of RAM the machine can handle would be where to set your sites...most machines will fall some where inbetween.

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.

[josemavicente]

Originally posted by mjc:
WindowsXP does not have the same actual limitations on the amount of RAM that 9x had and its level of increased perfromance is different than 9x, so if you plan on moving to XP then it would probably be good to stock up on RAM now,


what exactly does winxp offer? ive been thinking of upgrading for quite some time now... how does performance go as far as networking and handling games? how much space does WINXP take up?

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Jayvee Fernandez
"Structure is the function of logic."

[mjc]

Since I'm not using XP yet, I'm not the one to answer the details of how it handles gaems and such, for that matter, noe of the details of XP..... http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/frown.gif

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mjc
Links list:Computer Links (http://www.dreamwater.org/tech/mjc/index.htm)

Celts are the men that heaven made mad, For all their battles are merry and their songs are all sad.