[nawtwrong]

Hi,

I have an issue with my PC (A Dell Dimesnion E520).

I upgraded the RAM recently from 1GB to 4GB and the operating system is Windows XP SP2.

The reason I upgraded the RAM was because when I had several applications open (Flash, Photoshop, Internet Explorer and Outlook Express) I would get messages along the lines of 'Not enough memory to open this application'. Also when I had these 5 progarms running I could not open a 6th)

Since upgrading to 4GB of RAM I am no further forward, I still have the same error messages and the inability to have the 5 progarms above open at the same time, then open a 6th.

Surely after increasing the memory by 4 times I should have 4 times the capacity?

Can anyone help?

Many Thanks

[mcbee]

Does the message state memory or virtual memory?

[Dave Hybrid]

If it says not enough virtual memory then you need to change a setting in Windows, not add extra physical RAM.

[nawtwrong]

I've never got the a virtual memory message and the system doesn't 'slow down' as such it just won't let any more applications open or complains that there's not enough memory.

[Dave Hybrid]

What is the exact error message and when exactly does it occur?

[sjhills]

I am no scientist, but Windows XP only uses 2GB Memory efficiently. If you want more memory supported your best bet is probably Windows Vista. Windows XP probably at the most can handle 3GB, but really 2GB effciently. Windows 98SE uses 512mb effciently...

Hope this helps,
Steve.

PS: Please correct me if I am wrong.

[alex]

Nope, I'm with you Steve.

Vista 64 bit can address upto 3.5gb
Vista 32 bit can address upto 3.12gb (I believe).

Xp's sweetspot was 1gb, but makes best usage (as you state) with 2gb running in dual channel.

Actually, I might have a nosey at doing some benchmarking with ram/o.s. Hmmm.... article....

[nawtwrong]

Thanks for your replies.

Would it be better to take 2GB out, leaving 2GB of RAM still in my PC instead?

[Dave Hybrid]

Taking it out is definetely not going to make it faster.

I would start going down the road of cleaning the software on the PC.

Do virus and spyware scans, run a history/junk cleaner and remove any programs you no longer use.

For AV use Avast.
For spyware use Spybot
To clean all the junk off the PC use Ccleaner.

All in our downloads section.