Increasing ram = Better win 7 x64 performance?

reima · 10 Aug 2011 at 07:12

morning all

i,m getting this HP Compaq Presario CQ71-403SA

spec:
Screen size - 17.3 in - 1600 x 900
Processor - Intel Pentium T4400 - 2.2 GHz
RAM - 4 GB ddr2 pc2 6400
Hard Drive - 500 GB - 5400 rpm
Graphics - NVIDIA GeForce G103M
OS -Win 7 x64 Pro

the hard drive would be upgraded to black scorpio WD5000BPKT and i was thinking of upgrading the ram to 6GB, would i get any performance gain or benefit from this upgrade.

i will have many browsers with many tabs in my usage and a lot of opened docs now and then, some gaming now and then.

thanks

asim18 · 10 Aug 2011 at 07:25

4GB is a sweet spot with Windows 7 IMO. You can do a lot with 4GB.

I suggest you stick with 4GB for now and monitor your ram usage.

reima · 10 Aug 2011 at 09:39

many thanks, i was thinking that also but i wasn't entirely sure, i wanted to make sure if there are any clear benefits which justifies the upgrade.

BigBoy · 10 Aug 2011 at 10:38

Biggest upgrade for any system is an ssd, performance of any modern system will be held back bu the mechanical nature of a hard disk.

reima · 10 Aug 2011 at 10:45

i wish, but too expensive tbh

twist3d0n3 · 10 Aug 2011 at 11:19

you could swap out that ram for some 1066MHz ram, that'll be a small improvement

theheyes · 10 Aug 2011 at 12:12

I've used 2GB of RAM for many years (faulty motherboard) and I wouldn't consider myself a light computer user. As suggested stick with 4GB for a while and put the money towards an SSD in the future.

reima · 10 Aug 2011 at 12:46

cheers, as mush as i like the idea for the ssd its just not worth it at the moment, but if £18 worth of memory could help i would mind investing, but if there are no benefits then its nor worth it.

i,m not sure but i think there are implications if you use 3 sticks, you loose the dual channel mode?

HangTime · 10 Aug 2011 at 21:06

How much are you paying for that laptop?

It's got old tech like ddr2 RAM. I wouldn't waste any extra money on additional memory.

Disco Boy · 10 Aug 2011 at 21:43

ddr2 is expensive so it won't be worth it.

Also if you swapped a 2gb stick for a 4gb then you'll lose dual channel and take a hit on performance.

reima · 11 Aug 2011 at 08:08

@ hangtime & Discoboy

i have had a laptop for a year and a bit and not been used to be honest so my dad has it and he doesnt really use it, my current one is broke so this one now will come back to me.

yep it has got all tech ddr2 and i think i,m swayed not too now as i,m probably going to loose the dual channel and take a hit on performance, completely negate the idea of upgrading. but i will upgrade its HD to black scorpio WD5000BPKT.

Firegod · 11 Aug 2011 at 19:18

BigBoy said:
Biggest upgrade for any system is an ssd, performance of any modern system will be held back bu the mechanical nature of a hard disk.

+1. I've had my SSD for a good while now, and it gave the most noticeable increase in my system straight away. Well worth the money.... and I moved across from a Raptor!

60GB SSD ~£100. Best money spent! Obviously it becomes a bit harder parting with the cash for the larger sizes.