To much ram?

[SmittySr]

So, wether I had 4GB of RAM or 8GB of RAM, the chances of a media center type computer using up 4GB  of ram are slim. I just ram a little test on the computer that I am on right now, I opened up 7 internet explorer windows, Com Hope, New Egg, two antivirus programs, and speed fan. I have 4GB of ram installed, the performance window reads 2,827,000 KB available out of out of  3,669,472KB. So if you are not using all of the physical RAM installed, your paging file size really doesn't matter if you are not using it. 

[Quantos]

Just because you aren't using all of your ram doesn't mean that Windows isn't using the page file though.

[SmittySr]

I have noticed that some of the new motherboards coming out max out at 16GB or 32GB. What is the point. Only servers need such large ram capacity. Do gaming rigs use this much memory?

[Quantos]

64k is more than anyone could ever need

[BC_Programmer]

640K should be enough for everybody.

64k is more than anyone could ever need

argh! beat me to it!

[SmittySr]

"

the overall effect is that Windows must deal with memory in 64K increments, rather then the far smaller amounts it can usually."

I am assuming this is the joke?

[Quantos]

hehe

BC corrected me, damned typos

[SmittySr]

Ok I missed it!

[BC_Programmer]

" I am assuming this is the joke?

nope.

[Quantos]

I was aiming for the Bill Gates quote and failed miserably

640K should be enough for everybody.

[Aardobard]

I've never had this problem myself, but I recall a discussion where adding more RAM sometimes caused a problem with voltage related instability on the northbridge.  If you have an option to bump the northbridge voltage up a bit in your bios, it may solve your problem.  You might also take a look at your RAM timings and make sure they are set at stock values if you have that option.

[SmittySr]

The RAM matches identically other than the manufacturer(same speed, same voltage, same everything identical).

I ran test from everest, and siSandra, and crucial,

I checked the voltages, and timings. All are to factory specs and match.
I cant do anything with the voltages because the motherboard doesn't have the option to change them.

The computer just seemed to run a little better before I added the RAM. It still runs fast in comparison to some. I have a custom build that runs alot faster.

Custom build

AM2 2.7 dual core, 4GB RAM 800 PC6400, NVIDIA 6100 north bridge

Computer in question

AM2+ 2.1 triple core, 8GB of RAM 667 PC5300, SB700 north bridge
I know I am leaving a lot out but The triple core w/8GB of ram should be just as fast or faster.

I should mention that I have checked the start up applications  and both computers are running about the same.

[patio]

A general rule of thumb is typically to have a paging file equal to 1.5 x your physical memory...

This is only true up to 2G.....
A 4G pagefile is a waste and does nothing to help performance.`

[SmittySr]

That is what I originally thought, The system has automatically set the paging file at 8GB, it seems to me this would slow things down. At least it seems like way to much. Any recomendations on where to set it would be appreciated.

[patio]

3G is more than sufficient ...no matter how much RAM is installed.