Computer RAM

[Greedyboy]

I am looking to buy a new computer and notice that the amount of RAM in a MAC is typically 50% of a windows PC(Mac 2Mb - PC 3-4Mb) Will this make the MAC slower? Thanks

[rojash]

No

[rojash]

Maybe that was a bit brusque. The only time lack of memory will make a machine slower is if there is not enough for all the tasks that are currently running. Most people run one or two apps at a time and most apps don't actually require an enormous amount of memory. I'm typing this at a PC which has 2GB of RAM (not MB by the way!). Looking at task manager I see that I currently have over 1 GB free, and the largest application (Firefox) is using 157 MB. Therefore, if this were my typical working scenario, adding another 2GB would have no effect whatsoever.

[vehelpfulguy]

>typically 50% of a windows PC(Mac 2Mb - PC 3-4Mb)

As Rojash says, it is Gb (Gigabytes) not Mb (Megabytes).

Before Vista came along I would say the average memory on a PC was 512Mb and 1Gb. It was rare to see a PC above 1Gb.

Then nearly 2 years ago Vista came out and people started saying that it needed 2Gb.

While some PCs came out with Vista and 1Gb (and still do) it is generally accepted that 2Gb allows Vista to run smoothly.

Most "general" PCs still offer 2Gb, it is mainly the expensive ones that offer more.

Some companies are offering 3Gb (as memory is so cheap) but I doubt most users would notice any difference between having 2Gb and 3Gb.

Offering 4Gb with the 32 bit version of Vista (that most people run) is a waste of time as Vista cannot recognise more than 4Gb of memory (and if you include the graphics memory a 4Gb PC will have over 4Gb).

For most Vista users 2Gb is fine, 3Gb comfortable, 4Gb a waste of time.

If a person runs the 64bit version of Vista then it CAN recognise more than 4Gb of memory.

[vehelpfulguy]

I have also heard cases where people have put 4Gb of memory in their PC, and with the extra graphics memory (which takes it over 4gb) it confuses Vista and it actually runs slower than if it had 3Gb.

Also note that some motherboards are not happy with 4Gb of memory (even though they say they support it) so stick to 2Gb and you should be fine.