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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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 Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 5:28 pm Post subject: Basic Technology Information for newbies.... |
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Figured this would be an appropriate topic seeing that many of us are on here 24/7 and are gamers. Simply, ask a question and wait for it to be answered. I'll go first:
What does RAM do in a computer and why is it good to have a lot of it? |
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hanguker
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:04 pm Post subject: |
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RAM is your computer's short-term memory. It uses this memory for processing tasks immediately and in-sync with the processor. It's very important as modern programs require a lot of memory to run correctly. For example, photo manipulation programs like Photoshop require a large memory to deal with all of the millions of pixels at any one time. Similarly, games require a lot of memory for the intensive graphics to be manipulated. This can be provided by system memory or graphics card memory.
Basically, if you want your games and photo apps to run quickly and efficiently, you need a lot of RAM. Also, if you multi-task (run many programs at the same time, such as listening to music, running Office, and surfing the internet) you need a lot of RAM. I would recommend 1G of ram for modern XP operating systems. Any more is overkill, less and your graphics-intensive programs will suffer. If you don't use graphics much and you just surf 512K should be fine. |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:26 pm Post subject: |
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| hanguker wrote: |
| I would recommend 1G of ram for modern XP operating systems. Any more is overkill, less and your graphics-intensive programs will suffer. |
1GB of ram and my computer is slow. I need to get more, but then I tend to run photohop, premier, publisher, a couple of firefoxes and music at the same time if I can. |
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hanguker
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Hey Superhero. I'm no expert, but I've read that over 1G in an XP system is wasted...except for photoshop. I think PS will eat up anything you throw at it regardless of operating system. |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 6:31 pm Post subject: |
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| hanguker wrote: |
| Hey Superhero. I'm no expert, but I've read that over 1G in an XP system is wasted...except for photoshop. I think PS will eat up anything you throw at it regardless of operating system. |
in the preferences for photoshop and all adobe products you can limit what percentage of ram it uses. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 7:10 pm Post subject: |
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| hanguker wrote: |
| Hey Superhero. I'm no expert, but I've read that over 1G in an XP system is wasted...except for photoshop. I think PS will eat up anything you throw at it regardless of operating system. |
With nothing else running, you may be right. However, how many people don't multi-task these days? Chat, browser, Word, music, P2P app...not at all unusual to have these all running simultaneously.
The rubber met the road for me a couple of months ago when a buddy gave me 1GB of RAM to toss into my system which already had 1GB. The results spoke for themselves; the system was far snappier all around. The difference between 1 and 2GB was huge. I noticed it more with load / unload times. Apps launched quickly and closed instantly.
Seriously, these days, 2GB is not overkill. |
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hanguker
Joined: 16 Mar 2005
Location: Korea
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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| While those conclusions are all well and good, they don't account for the overall 'snappiness' that 2GB of RAM brings. I don't really qualify as their typical power user, but I will never go back to 1GB. |
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Thunndarr
Joined: 30 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 8:29 pm Post subject: |
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I just recently upgraded my system. I added a 300 gig SATA2 hard disk (which I subsequently made my main drive) and I also added a gig of ram, so I now have 2 gigs.
For me, I think the hard disk upgrade is more noticeable for the kinds of things I do most often. Windows starts a bit faster, the icons pop up instantly, programs load faster, etc.
However, where I've noticed the ram kicking in is when I'm playing something like WoW. I can minimize that and jump into firefox instantly, whereas before there was a considerable delay.
Anyway, I'm pretty happy with the money I spent. Feels like a brand new computer. |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Sun Jul 09, 2006 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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| Thunndarr wrote: |
I just recently upgraded my system. I added a 300 gig SATA2 hard disk (which I subsequently made my main drive) and I also added a gig of ram, so I now have 2 gigs.
For me, I think the hard disk upgrade is more noticeable for the kinds of things I do most often. Windows starts a bit faster, the icons pop up instantly, programs load faster, etc.
However, where I've noticed the ram kicking in is when I'm playing something like WoW. I can minimize that and jump into firefox instantly, whereas before there was a considerable delay.
Anyway, I'm pretty happy with the money I spent. Feels like a brand new computer. |
I just bought another stick of 1 gig ddr ram. Can't wait for it to come in. I currently have 1 gig of ram now. Can't wait to see the difference in F.E.A.R. as I am playing it a second time around. |
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dbee
Joined: 29 Dec 2004
Location: korea
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:02 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
What does RAM do in a computer and why is it good to have a lot of it?
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RAM is your computers memory. Your computer can't read your harddrive ... but it can transfer the bits and bytes on your harddrive into your RAM and then read them. While RAM is an essential part of your computer, your harddrive is a peripheral device.
Reading from RAM is X100 slower than reading from the cpu's internal cache, reading from the harddrive is X10,000 times slower. So if you have a high performance, real-time computer system. Then the chances are high that it won't even have a harddrive.
Googles servers are an example of computers that run with no harddrive, probably the same with yahoo. Also the American scud missiles are sophisticated systems that come with no harddrive. |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:05 am Post subject: |
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Ok. First question, done to death.
Next? |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:25 am Post subject: |
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WHat is the blue screen of death? and should I be afraid?  |
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Demophobe
Joined: 17 May 2004
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 4:27 am Post subject: |
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| Nah...it's a pretty color, even for death. Enjoy it to the fullest. |
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cubanlord
Joined: 08 Jul 2005
Location: In Japan!
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| Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2006 5:22 am Post subject: |
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| What is the difference between RAM, DDR, and DDR2? |
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