Author Topic: How much memory needed for XP? (Read 355 times)

Toad · « **on:** December 19, 2002, 12:38:43 PM »

Hey guys.. just rebuilt my son's girlfriend's computer from an AMD k62 with 64mb into an XP 1700 with 128 and it still seems slow.

She has XP Pro on it because the college gave it to her.

How much RAM does XP require?

Pfunk · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2002, 12:47:41 PM »

128MB won't cut it, I had one of my sticks die and was left with only 128MB and XP was a dog. Get at least another 128MB stick, its a night and day difference.

Toad · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2002, 12:55:55 PM »

Thanks; I thought I had heard it needed at least 256.

Any real speed benefit from going to 384?

Pfunk · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2002, 02:32:39 PM »

Well I have 384MB and it runs smooth, I had 256 and couldnt see any "speed" difference. The main thing is that you can have several programs running at the same time and switch inbetween them with ease. Rule of thumb----buy as much as you can afford

Eagler · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2002, 02:44:43 PM »

depends on what you'll be doing with it

one window - Word, Excel your fine with 256

many windows, graphic work - at least 512

Skuzzy · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2002, 03:27:34 PM »

If you clean up the background processes, you can run it in 128MB of RAM, as the OS will need about 70MB itself. If you do not clean up the background processes, then you are not going to get away with 128MB.

However, I would never bother with less than 256MB of ram for W2K (I won't run XP, but the memory utilization is similar between 2K and XP).

AKDejaVu · « **Reply #6 on:** December 19, 2002, 03:51:25 PM »

Toad, when they first released XP, they packaged it with a 128meg memory stick. That should tell you something.

When it comes to XP... 256 is pretty much a minimum... more is better.

AKDejaVu

Revvin · « **Reply #7 on:** December 19, 2002, 03:56:20 PM »

256mb was ok but for a little comfort zone get 512mb

Toad · « **Reply #8 on:** December 19, 2002, 04:30:37 PM »

Thanks guys!

CompUSA had a 256 stick for $10 with the rebate, so I bought one and stuck it in with the 128.

So, she's at 384K with a new XP 1700 and an ECS K7VMM mobo. Sound, Video, NIC and I stuck her old modem in.

Should get her through the last year of college and 2 of grad school I'd think.

Most taxing thing she does is talk to the boy on a netcam.

The RAM really made a difference. It's jumpin' now.

Thanks again!