3GB or 4GB - will I notice the difference?

pagelad

I'd say no.

If your getting the laptop direct from Dell make sure you use quidco to make a bit more of a saving

John_Gray

beanys wrote: »

alway go for as much ram as you can , maybe at the moment you will not think you need it but in 6 months as programs get more memory hungry you will be glad you had 4gb also it will make the computer faster and smoother and you will be able to have more programs open at once

Probably by the time you actually need more memory you'll be able to get it for considerably less than the current Dell price!

redcard

beanys wrote: »

alway go for as much ram as you can , maybe at the moment you will not think you need it but in 6 months as programs get more memory hungry you will be glad you had 4gb also it will make the computer faster and smoother and you will be able to have more programs open at once

Nah, 2GB is plenty for most general users.

prowla

The 3GB standard is really a result of the limitations of the 32-bit OS; it can handle up to 4GB but 32-bit Windows uses 0.5GB of the addressable space, so you only get 3.5GB usable even if you put in 4GB.
It looks like the manufacturers have decided that they would rather put in 3GB than have customers constantly asking why they paid for 4GB but only get 3.5.

The 64-bit Windows does not have that restriction and supports up to 192GB (the "Starter"/"Home Basic" and "Home Premium" versions are knobbled to lower values of 8 & 16GB).
Given the 64-bit OS, I would recommend the 4GB as a base.

Whether or not the computer hardware supports more memory than 4GB is another matter, and the particular machine may or may not.
If it does, then you may decide to upgrade when prices do drop.

Enterprise-D

You won't notice any real world difference. I have an old-ish computer, nothing fancy, single-core processor with 1.5GB RAM running Windows 7 64-bit without any performance issues. 3GB will be plenty happy.

fireice

I would have said that if the 1gb upgrade was only £15 - 20 it would be worth it, saves the hassle of doing it yourself but at £45 you may as well leave it at 3gb which should be fine or upgrade it yourself (if you think you can do it) by buying something like spakkker suggested

jaydeeuk1

Even thats £15-£20 wasted imo.

3gb more than enough for what you're doing.
I've been using 2gb ram in my windows 7 machine for past 2 years, and it barely uses half of it unless doing 3d gaming.

[Deleted User]

I'd suggest buying additional memory later if you find the laptop sluggish - which I really don't anticipate you will.

As above, go via quidco for 10% off too.

JQ. wrote: »

the price difference being £400 against £445.

Interesting. Dell's site seems to say 'Price From £429' for the 15R range. Can I ask which link you were looking at?

leanneloves

Most of the Windows Starter netbooks come only with 1GB Ram.