options with ram and windows vista

3rd August 2007, 23:16

Hello again

As stated in the last thread I posted I just bought a Dell Vostros 1500 laptop and thanks to jmke's comment i found out that this particular laptop has 2 dimm slots.

I've also found out that 32bit windows OS only detects up to 3GB of ram, anymore then that and it won't be utilized or the OS will become unstable.

If i went 64bit, drivers wouldn't be a problem for me because I've already tracked down all the drivers I'd need.

Is there a real speed difference between 32bit and 64bit OS? I tried vista x64 when it was in beta but only for about 5 minutes seeming there were no drivers for it at the time and it kept crashing on me.

My main question is if i should just get a set of 2x 1GB ram stick and use em in dualchannel with 32 bit windows or buy a 2GB stick with the intent of getting another down the road and running Windows Vista 64 bit?

Sidney · 4th August 2007, 05:34

2GB stick is still expensive; I'd stay with 2 x 1 GB.

Depends on video card choice; Dell offers three different video options. For video card memory sharing, 4GB total ram the waste is about 512MB. I am pretty comfortable using 2GB with Vista 32-bit.

4th August 2007, 09:03

I have a Dell Dimension 6400 with 2Gb (2*1Gb) of ram and that's more than enough if you ask me

. I don't know what you intend to do with your laptop, for for everyday use, 1Gb is even enough.
Personaly, I wouldn't go for 64-bit yet, simply because of a lack of drivers and thus a lack of performance and functionality.

4th August 2007, 09:30

thanks guys been a big help, I'm pretty much going to be using the laptop for alot of graphics and photoshop stuff for college and then some gaming also, such as BF 2 and oblivion. I've decided to go with a dual channel 2x 1GB set of Geil ram from newegg, after rebates its only $63 so i figure i'll jump on that and just run 32 bit OS for now.

Figure i'll also try vista again but if it gives me to much BS then i'm goin back to xp pro.

-Ray

jmke · 4th August 2007, 10:15

Wouldn't bother with Vista until SP1 is released (in 2009 :/)

3rd August 2007, 23:16	#1
mentalcrisis00 Posts: n/a	options with ram and windows vista Hello again As stated in the last thread I posted I just bought a Dell Vostros 1500 laptop and thanks to jmke's comment i found out that this particular laptop has 2 dimm slots. I've also found out that 32bit windows OS only detects up to 3GB of ram, anymore then that and it won't be utilized or the OS will become unstable. If i went 64bit, drivers wouldn't be a problem for me because I've already tracked down all the drivers I'd need. Is there a real speed difference between 32bit and 64bit OS? I tried vista x64 when it was in beta but only for about 5 minutes seeming there were no drivers for it at the time and it kept crashing on me. My main question is if i should just get a set of 2x 1GB ram stick and use em in dualchannel with 32 bit windows or buy a 2GB stick with the intent of getting another down the road and running Windows Vista 64 bit?

4th August 2007, 05:34	#2
Sidney Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15,738	2GB stick is still expensive; I'd stay with 2 x 1 GB. Depends on video card choice; Dell offers three different video options. For video card memory sharing, 4GB total ram the waste is about 512MB. I am pretty comfortable using 2GB with Vista 32-bit. __________________ lazyman Opteron 165 (2) @2.85 1.42 vcore AMD Stock HSF + Chill Vent II

4th August 2007, 10:15	#5
jmke Madshrimp Join Date: May 2002 Location: 7090/Belgium Posts: 79,022	Wouldn't bother with Vista until SP1 is released (in 2009 :/) __________________

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Installed Memory vs RAM Usable by Windows	jmke	WebNews	3	15th June 2010 22:21
Windows 7 smaller, faster than Vista	jmke	WebNews	0	2nd November 2008 21:19
Windows Vista Memory Tweak Guide	jmke	WebNews	0	23rd October 2007 11:58
Enable 4GB of RAM with Windows Vista	Sidney	WebNews	0	17th October 2007 01:24
Microsoft Windows Vista: How much memory is enough?	jmke	WebNews	6	30th August 2007 23:11
OCZ DDR2 PC2-6400 Vista Performance Platinum Dual Channel RAM Review	Sidney	WebNews	0	1st August 2007 01:36
vLite - Windows Vista Lite Install Tool	jmke	WebNews	0	10th March 2007 12:25
upgrade options and ram question	mentalcrisis00	Hardware/Software Problems, Bugs	1	10th December 2006 13:01
Windows Vista set to swallow 800MB of RAM	jmke	WebNews	1	8th March 2006 18:26
List of fixes included in Windows XP Service Pack 2	jmke	WebNews	1	17th August 2004 15:03

4th August 2007, 09:03	#3
wutske Posts: n/a	I have a Dell Dimension 6400 with 2Gb (2*1Gb) of ram and that's more than enough if you ask me . I don't know what you intend to do with your laptop, for for everyday use, 1Gb is even enough. Personaly, I wouldn't go for 64-bit yet, simply because of a lack of drivers and thus a lack of performance and functionality.

4th August 2007, 09:30	#4
mentalcrisis00 Posts: n/a	thanks guys been a big help, I'm pretty much going to be using the laptop for alot of graphics and photoshop stuff for college and then some gaming also, such as BF 2 and oblivion. I've decided to go with a dual channel 2x 1GB set of Geil ram from newegg, after rebates its only $63 so i figure i'll jump on that and just run 32 bit OS for now. Figure i'll also try vista again but if it gives me to much BS then i'm goin back to xp pro. -Ray