RAM: 3GB or 2GB

[frying_pan_cat]

I'm going to be ordering a laptop soon and I was wandering will 3GB RAM make much difference over 2GB for word processing, internet use and a bit of gaming (Civilization 4)?

 

[pingwing]

2gig is enough to run civ4 and winamp (all anyone ever needs...) and i found with my old acer laptop that i got a performance hit running 3gig (as dual channel didnt work at all and windows had trouble with the 2 sticks :s)

 

[FrostedNipple]

vista or xp? if vista id say 3

 

[Gigi]

Depends if your running 32bit OS. If so, 2Gb as windows will only be able to register that much. If 64bit, why not get 2x2Gb instead. Be a lot faster since 2 sticks of the same type will be a lot better than 1x2Gb and 1x1Gb.

But Civilisation will be fine with 2Gb.

 

[FrostedNipple]

Depends if your running 32bit OS. If so, 2Gb as windows will only be able to register that much. If 64bit, why not get 2x2Gb instead. Be a lot faster since 2 sticks of the same type will be a lot better than 1x2Gb and 1x1Gb.

But Civilisation will be fine with 2Gb.

I'm on 32bit xp and it registers 3 gig, 3 gig is the max registered in 32bit not 4

 

[DavidB]

I'm on 32bit xp and it registers 3 gig, 3 gig is the max registered in 32bit not 4

3 gig isn't the max, mine for example is showing 3.5gb. It varies on a lot of things, but i think the max xp will show up is ~3.8gb (often shows less ofcourse).

 

[Mujja]

2x2GB. Vista 32 will only see 3GB but you'll still be running in dual-channel.

It might be cheaper to buy the laptop with 2GB and upgrade to 4GB yourself and sell the 2GB.

 

[frying_pan_cat]

Thanks for the replies. I think I'll go for the 2GB option then upgrade to 4GB later when I have a bit more money