You Want 4 GB RAM on Your Notebook?

May 5, 2008 – 7:27 AM

The question of how much RAM you really need is discussed roughly once every two years, and with every launch of a new Windows version. While there are so-called sweet spots at any given time, factors such as the operating system and popular applications have an influence on the ideal amount of RAM as well. 512 MB RAM can be considered the minimum memory capacity to execute Windows XP or Windows Vista today. However, anything less than 1 GB will have a noticeable performance impact, as the operating system will swap data onto your hard drive—which brings down performance and battery runtime on notebooks. Given that, we looked at the opposite end of the equation: what would happen if you went for a comfortable 4 GB RAM capacity on your notebook?

While this question may appear exaggerated for most users, there is one important factor that should be brought into the equation: RAM prices have been falling continuously during the last 12 months. This mainly applies to desktop memory, but notebook DIMMs have also become extremely affordable.

Let’s look at some examples: a 2x 2-GB SO-DIMM kit (DDR2-667) can be found for less than 60 Euros in Europe or for less than $80 in the US. 2 GB notebook memory kits (1x 1 GB) start at only or $38. These prices don’t apply for the best-in-class products you can find, but for the best prices we found on brand products. If you relate the memory cost to the price of a decent laptop, you’ll realize that an investment of $40 or even $80 for 4 GB of RAM is more than reasonable, despite the fact that a 32-bit Windows operating system cannot utilize the entire amount.

Read the rest of the story…