Summary: There is no one answer on how much memory you really need for Windows XP, but we'll look at a few things to consider when deciding.
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I am thinking of buying a cheap computer system with a 1.8 ghz Intel Celeron processor, 256 MB RAM, and an 80 GB hard drive. This does not come with Windows XP. My main concern is installing Windows XP. If the computer has 256 MB RAM will Windows XP install without using every bit of it, or will it use only a certain amount leaving extra. |
As is so often the case, "it depends". Windows XP will work with as little as 96 megabytes of memory - I know, because I have such a machine.
The real question is will it work well, and that ... depends.
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My 96 Meg machine works 'ok' because I don't ask it to do a lot. It's an older machine running Windows XP Pro that I've dedicated to being a glorified MP3 player, and nothing else.
I wouldn't think of installing Office on it, for example.
But I could.
And therein lies the difficulty in answering your question with absolutes: Windows will happily pretend it has more memory than it really does by using your hard disk as virtual memory. Office would install and run, but it would run very slowly.
The problem is that the more you try to do, the slower Windows becomes as it spends more and more of it's time dealing with virtual memory and less and less time running the application you're attempting to run.
Now 256 Meg is a fine machine that will run most applications without much problem. Office, for example. But I wouldn't expect it to be able to run a lot of applications simultaneously and still remain speedy. So if your demands aren't too high, the answer is certainly, go for it.
I will tell you this, however: if I were to purchase a new machine, which I did recently, I would start with 1 gigabyte of memory and make sure it was expandable to 2. Today 1 gigabyte is plenty of room - probably more room than most people need. But applications grow. Operating systems get bigger. Heck, most people's own usage grows as they discover more and more things to use their PC's for. Making sure that you have lots of memory and the potential for lots more is perhaps the single biggest thing you can do to increase the usable life of your computer.
Similarly, as I've said before, Windows loves memory. It's by far the most cost effective investment to speed up a slow machine.
Related:
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Ask Leo! - What is Virtual Memory?
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Ask Leo! - What computer should I get?
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Ask Leo! - Why is my machine slowing down?
Article C2303 - March 12, 2005
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Sounds reasonable for a basic XP box. As for the Sims, that depends more on
your video card.
Leo
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If I had more than sufficient ram, say 1G or even 2G, how much RAM should Windows XP Pro, Service Pack 2 use?
Posted by: Sam at July 17, 2007 2:19 PMMy concern is that there is still room to fine tune the many settings allowed by Windows to run more efficiently. I have installed CacheManXP, turned off virtual memory, and minimized my auto-starting programs, and it still says my system is using about 575MB after booting up. My laptop runs about the same at about 530MB.
This seem very high. If you have any suggestions on optimizing windows, specifically the speed at which programs load and switch between each other, that would be much appreciated.
I believe I have exhausted the usual suspects (Disk Clean, Defrag, Registry Cleaner, Boot optimization, Cache management, Deleting unused fonts, Not requiring file explorer to confirm network drives, turning off many Windows Event monitors, disabling hibernate, No desktop image, etc.) but my systems, both are purchased within the last year, still feels very sluggish.
I'm not too cpu smart so this is why i'm asking ....i have an older compaq presario(about 4 yo.) and whenever i surf from page to page my cpu slows down and even freeze up and i would like to know how can i prevent this and/or do i need more memory...please help!
Posted by: Jarrod at October 3, 2007 1:01 PMQuick question: I have 6gb or ram in my computer but the IT person at the store where I purchased said that when I go to properties in "my computer" it is normal to see that it states that I have far less than what I physically have in my computer. He also said it had to do with windows XP and it being a 32-bit system. He said even though it states 2.81gb or RAM, your computer is using all 6 gigabytes.
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A 32 bit operating system will not use 6 gigabytes of RAM.
Have a look at this article:
http://ask-leo.com/why_doesnt_windows_show_all_4gigabytes_of_memory_i_have_installed.html
Leo
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i have a notebook pcg-8411 w win98, should i upgrade the ram and install XP, i just need it for online surf and play Mp3s, ???
Posted by: george at May 19, 2008 11:45 AMI have an HP Pavilion04 , I can't even find it on any lists. It has 128 MB memory, and only6.42 mb left, I can't defrag anymore(needs 15 mb to defrag). I'm thinking of adding more memory, but not sure if it will work? How much should I add? I use a lot and want to keep stuff I have on here.I can't delete any more programs, with out deleting photos of things I want to keep. I can't add Adobe(had to remove it cuz it was taken up tioo much room)Put Spybot on cuz I thought maybe I had virus or something but not much comes up - only pups from Funweb. It's running very very slow,what do you suggest?? I can't do much of anything any more, just e-mail mostly.. help!!
09-Feb-2009
hi guys i guess ibm pentium 4 would be fine if you wanna buy a good desktop this is one of the best brand iam great fan of ibm.
Posted by: keresztesi zoltan at February 23, 2009 11:02 PMhow much sapce required of installation of window operating syes of 98, xp & win2000
Posted by: asif at May 31, 2009 6:34 AM256 MB is way too little for XP if you want to get anything done. It is the MS MINIMUM after all, and that is the minimum. I had a laptop with 512MB RAM and it spent more time (when running an app) using the PF than anything else. I'd recommend at least 1GB for XP, preferably 2. After all, RAM is so cheap nowadays (about £10 per GB)
Posted by: JH at June 30, 2009 2:38 PM