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View Full Version : OT: How much memory to get on a Windows laptop?

BumbleBeeDave
02-10-2009, 08:30 AM
I'm shopping around for a Windows laptop for a friend. There are some really good deals out there toward the lower end of the price range at Best Buy, Office Max, etc. but some include as little as 2gb memory. The friend doesn't really do video or photos--almost exclusively word processing and spreadsheets--so a 250 or 320 drive should work great. But is 2gb DRAM really enough to run Vista home edition AND other apps? Or is 3gb the realistic minimum?

Thanks for the input!

BBD
johnnymossville
02-10-2009, 08:33 AM
I'm shopping around for a Windows laptop for a friend. There are some really good deals out there toward the lower end of the price range at Best Buy, Office Max, etc. but some include as little as 2gb memory. The friend doesn't really do video or photos--almost exclusively word processing and spreadsheets--so a 250 or 320 drive should work great. But is 2gb DRAM really enough to run Vista home edition AND other apps? Or is 3gb the realistic minimum?

Thanks for the input!

BBD

more ram is about the only/best thing you can do for vista to make it tolerable. spend the money and get the ram.
BumbleBeeDave
02-10-2009, 08:55 AM
more ram is about the only/best thing you can do for vista to make it tolerable. spend the money and get the ram.

. . . just wondering how much to go for. If I see a good deal on a machine with 2gb, but it will max out at 3, then maybe not such a good deal if it really realistically takes 4gb to run Vista, Excell, Word, and a browser all at once.

This one looks pretty good as-is with 3gb . . .

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9167947&type=product&id=1218041998788

BBD
johnnymossville
02-10-2009, 09:00 AM
My wife is running hers with 2gb. It actually works ok for most things. I wouldn't use Maya or Edit a video with it though. It takes a bit of patience if you are used to the speedy 8-core macs like I have here at work.
RPS
02-10-2009, 09:06 AM
This one looks pretty good as-is with 3gb . . .

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9167947&type=product&id=1218041998788

BBDIt's expandable to 4gb, but I'd check the cost upfront. I looked at upgrading my laptop so I could use it as a TV and the cost for memory was much higher than I expected.
Hardlyrob
02-10-2009, 09:14 AM
The other option is to find a machine that has Windows XP - I got an off lease Thinkpad from Thinkpaddepot.com with XP that has been great.

It's interesting that MSFT is rushing Windows7 to market - basically admitting that Vista was a disaster. I'd avoid vista if I could.

FWIW

Rob
Pete Serotta
02-10-2009, 09:58 AM
A few items....

xp is far better than VISTA for what you want. (some will disagree but that is ok) Unfortunately you will probably be locked into getting VISTA.. (and for what BEV wants it is ok)


MEMORY - 2 GIG Min and more the better, at least up to 3 or 4 gig...after that point I personally do not think you will notice a difference in what she is running. (so 2 GIG is FINE)


Products: LENOVO, DELL, HP in that order... I based this on past history of reliability and not on technology. YOU do not need the lastest and fastest chip set.

Extra memory of at least 512 or a gig on video card would be a big plus.


that is it :D
tylercheung
02-10-2009, 10:09 AM
4 gb of RAM is pretty cheap on newegg.com, if you are OK with installing it yourself (not too bad, especially if you buy Apple machines). 2gb is OK for XP.
Ahneida Ride
02-10-2009, 10:21 AM
Extra memory of at least 512 or a gig on video card would be a big plus.



Don't forget Video Card ! need sound card ?
Also some screens have better resolution.
SoCalSteve
02-10-2009, 10:57 AM
We ended up needing a new desktop for my wife's office. Dell was offering desktops with XP loaded in them for $99.00 more...Funny, huh? But, all our software, all the other computers, etc, etc, etc are all XP....So, we spent the extra $$ just so we wouldnt have to deal with it.

Just a thought,

Steve
JeffS
02-10-2009, 11:25 AM
. . . just wondering how much to go for. If I see a good deal on a machine with 2gb, but it will max out at 3, then maybe not such a good deal if it really realistically takes 4gb to run Vista, Excell, Word, and a browser all at once.



Remember that if you want to use more than 3GB (the exact amount varies by PC) you will need a 64-bit OS. That introduces a whole other set of issues.

For the time being, I would recommend a 3GB machine with a 32-bit OS. There are still a number of devices that don't have 64-bit drivers right now. I just bought such a machine for my wife and performance is fine.
JeffS
02-10-2009, 11:26 AM
Extra memory of at least 512 or a gig on video card would be a big plus.


that is it :D


For word processing and spreadsheets? I think not.
Pete Serotta
02-10-2009, 12:46 PM
For word processing and spreadsheets? I think not.


they might later use pictures and also VISTA is a hog. If he can get XP I agree that 128/256 is fine. Don;t short change the value of video in new operating systems
BumbleBeeDave
02-10-2009, 12:50 PM
For word processing and spreadsheets? I think not.

He invented the Internet! Or was it the printing press? Anyway, something like that . . . :D ;)

BBD
tuco
02-10-2009, 12:52 PM
It's expandable to 4gb, but I'd check the cost upfront. I looked at upgrading my laptop so I could use it as a TV and the cost for memory was much higher than I expected.
Laptop memory is not so expensive. Perhaps if you buy from the manufacturer? Usually, this is not necessary.
Six mos. ago I went from 2 GB to 4 GB (replaced two 1GB SODIMMs with two 2GB SODIMMs) for $20 ($60 - $40 rebate). Dell laptop ... now with Crucial memory ( I can't exactly recall ).
In any case, for business office use, one can easily get by with Vista and 2GB. It'll work fine. More memory is always better. That being said, going from 4GB to 8GB is a more than a little pricey. It's easy to swap out memory.
To finish my thoughts, I tossed Vista for XP when I needed to do some development work on the same laptop. XP sees 3.5GB. Crudely, how much memory one loses from a ceiling of 4GB (XP 32-bit) depends on the computer configuration (esp. size of graphics card).
Hope that helps.
RPS
02-10-2009, 02:00 PM
Laptop memory is not so expensive.Thanks, I’ll look into it again and see if it’s worth it since I’d rather not have to carry a separate TV. I think part of the issue may be that my laptop is old enough that the cost for memory may be higher.

My Sony Vaio was nice at the time I bought it a few years ago, but it’s almost completely obsolete now. It’s XP and works fine for everything I do with the laptop, but when I tried using an external USB tuner to double as a TV when traveling it didn’t work well at all. I was told by those who know much more than I do that although my laptop with 512 MB met system minimum requirements it really wasn’t enough for the tuner.

Based on what I’m seeing here for laptops with 2 to 4 GB I can see why. BTW, I think mine is only upgradeable to 1 GB; which sounds pretty weak regardless. As I said, obsolete. :rolleyes: Probably not worth spending much to upgrade since for now it works fine except as a TV.
William
02-10-2009, 03:17 PM
http://www.demotivateus.com/posters/56k-porn-demotivational-posters.jpg

:)
Always get the most that you can comfortably afford. Otherwise, with tech advances happening left & right you'll be disappointed real fast.

http://www.surpluscomputers.com/
http://www.geeks.com


I’ve done business with both sites…very good stuff.





William
tylercheung
02-10-2009, 05:16 PM
OTOH if you are looking for low end and all he does is word processing and spreadsheets....maybe a netbook?
sjbraun
02-10-2009, 06:51 PM
32 bit Vista supports a max of 3g RAM
64 bit will support more RAM, but there are few 64 bit apps.

I have 3g on my Vista Home premium system.
I rarely use more than 3 gigs of memory.

Steve
rwsaunders
02-10-2009, 07:02 PM
If you were a true friend Dave, you'd steer them to a Mac.
BumbleBeeDave
02-10-2009, 07:12 PM
If you were a true friend Dave, you'd steer them to a Mac.

. . . that HURTS! :no: :no: :no:

She already has windows apps and is on a strict budget, or I would strongarm her into a Macbook in seconds.

BBD
tylercheung
02-10-2009, 07:52 PM
you know the Mac can run windows...
BumbleBeeDave
02-11-2009, 01:18 PM
Well, it seems 3gb DRAM is pretty much mandatory.

Anybody have any opinions on any of these? They all have 3gb. My, uh, "friend" has professed a preference for a larger screen.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9167947&type=product&id=1218041998788

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9163861&type=product&id=1218040477075

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9163772&type=product&id=1218040476935

BBD
tuco
02-11-2009, 10:33 PM
Well, it seems 3gb DRAM is pretty much mandatory.

Anybody have any opinions on any of these? They all have 3gb. My, uh, "friend" has professed a preference for a larger screen.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9167947&type=product&id=1218041998788

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9163861&type=product&id=1218040477075

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=9163772&type=product&id=1218040476935

BBD
These are all quite nice.

Memory? Simply not the case per 3GB. Good grief, I ran a web server (or more correctly "web services") on Vista with 2GB and once it was running I could pound the Office apps. with abandon. Did it please me to do this? No. But I am doing it now with 4GB .. with XP .. slightly less than 3.5GB is available. That being said, more memory is good thing. If the laptop comes with 3GB, then fine. If there is a choice b/w 3GB and a faster CPU, then get the faster CPU.

One of the absolutely simplest things one can do with a computer as an upgrade is add or swap memory. One of the tricks with a 2GB configuration is that you typically get only two slots for the modules. To upgrade in most cases, you replace the existing SODIMMs.

Finally, I prefer the wide-screens for occasional movies and opening a dozen or more apps. at once. However, a friend swears by the smaller screens because it makes lugging one along far more realistic. Travelling with a large laptop gets old .. quickly.

Hope that helps .. as incoherent as this posting may be. :)
BumbleBeeDave
02-12-2009, 07:30 AM
These are all quite nice.

Memory? Simply not the case per 3GB. Good grief, I ran a web server (or more correctly "web services") on Vista with 2GB and once it was running I could pound the Office apps. with abandon. Did it please me to do this? No. But I am doing it now with 4GB .. with XP .. slightly less than 3.5GB is available. That being said, more memory is good thing. If the laptop comes with 3GB, then fine. If there is a choice b/w 3GB and a faster CPU, then get the faster CPU.

One of the absolutely simplest things one can do with a computer as an upgrade is add or swap memory. One of the tricks with a 2GB configuration is that you typically get only two slots for the modules. To upgrade in most cases, you replace the existing SODIMMs.

Finally, I prefer the wide-screens for occasional movies and opening a dozen or more apps. at once. However, a friend swears by the smaller screens because it makes lugging one along far more realistic. Travelling with a large laptop gets old .. quickly.

Hope that helps .. as incoherent as this posting may be. :)

Very useful info. Thanks!

My friend usually just takes the machine from home to office or to camp and uses it as her main machine. So there's not a lot of real "portable" computing there. The Toshiba's have a short battery life compared to the HP, but she rarely unhooks from AC. The 17" Toshiba is looking like the one right now. Good price locally, big screen, enough memory and drive, and a dedicated graphics card, so no CPU sharing for the video compared to the HP.

BBD
tuco
02-12-2009, 07:31 PM
Very useful info. Thanks!

My friend usually just takes the machine from home to office or to camp and uses it as her main machine. So there's not a lot of real "portable" computing there. The Toshiba's have a short battery life compared to the HP, but she rarely unhooks from AC. The 17" Toshiba is looking like the one right now. Good price locally, big screen, enough memory and drive, and a dedicated graphics card, so no CPU sharing for the video compared to the HP.

BBD
Excellent choice. A dedicated graphics card is a good thing.

I was lax in not pointing out that my work laptop has a fast CPU (for a laptop). BUT, for office applications, it's not so important .. except for the initial boot and then starting applications. Your friend will have no regrets (except for the Macbook part .. and G-d knows it's only Macs at Peet's. What's that all about?).
BumbleBeeDave
02-12-2009, 09:00 PM
. . . 3gb, 320 drive, built-in wireless, CD-DVD burner and the same dedicated graphics card as the 17". $658 including sales tax and MS Office. Seems like a pretty good deal. They had some that were way more expensive that didn't seem to have much more extra beyond that than a couple of extra speakers.

Thanks to all for your advice!

BBD