1. #1
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    Worth going W7 with 2GB?

    Should i go with Windows 7 with only 2GB of RAM? (getting the system in my sig tomorrow)
    Currently using Windows XP Pro
    Programs that i have open all the time:
    Wow mouse drivers - WoWMTray.exe - 2124K
    ZoneAlarm - zclient.exe - 3368K
    Avira Antivir - avshadow.exe - 1508K and avgnt.exe - 1456K
    Logitech keyboard drivers - SetPoint.exe - 8172K
    vTune (Palits gpu tuning program) - 3584K

    So thats only about 20MB of programs while idle. + my OS processes..

    I would use Windows 7 32bit. Or should i just keep using Windows XP Pro 32bit?
    I could disable Aero if thats a bottleneck.
    I never have any programs open while playing a game. (except for the 5 programs i mentioned above which use 20MB of RAM all together.)
    Only when playing WoW i rareley have either Winamp or Skype open. Never together though.
    Last edited by mmoc08e0cbb1c7; 2010-11-23 at 02:53 PM.

  2. #2
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    My experience of latest vista build on my old Intel 775 pc with 2gb of ddr2 800 on it isnt that bad so would think Win7 would be fine as long as you aint going crazy multi tasking^^ Vista Premium 32 bit will be more of a hog than Win 7 32 afaik but dont think the difference is as huge as it used to be.

  3. #3
    Dreadlord Kyocere's Avatar
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    I put Windows 7 on a friends computer running a core 2 duo with only 2gb of ram. It runs surprisingly well. Now I wouldn't start multi tasking with a ton of things open, but he plays WoW on it and its not so terrible. Ram is cheap, if you can grab another 2 gigs.

  4. #4
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    Okay. does Ultimate use more RAM than Home?

  5. #5
    Dreadlord Kyocere's Avatar
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    As far as I have seen it does not.

    Edit. Here is a shot of Win7 Ultimate (64) with just Firefox with a few tabs (which does use a bit of memory).
    With 32 bit it should use a bit less ram.
    Last edited by Kyocere; 2010-11-23 at 03:04 PM.

  6. #6
    Moderator Cilraaz's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kyocere View Post
    As far as I have seen it does not.

    Edit. Here is a shot of Win7 Ultimate (64) with just Firefox with a few tabs (which does use a bit of memory).
    With 32 bit it should use a bit less ram.
    <img snip>
    Your screenshot shows Win7 using 1.4GB RAM (Total - Available = Actual used). That's why people suggest 4GB under Vista/7. If your system only had 2GB, there would only be 600MB available for WoW.

    Also, your screenshot shows why 8GB is useless in a standard gaming system. You have 5.5GB Free. That's 5.5GB RAM that's not even being used by Superfetch. It's essentially "wasted" RAM. Even a large WoW session of 1.5GB (mine typically averages 1.0GB, though I haven't checked after 4.0.1) would leave half of the RAM "wasted".

    Sorry for the off-topic ramble, but that screenshot was the perfect example.

    Finally, OP, there's no reason to get Windows 7 32-bit. Unless you have some absolutely necessary hardware/software that only operates in a 32-bit environment, don't limit yourself.

  7. #7
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    But i thought 32 bit uses less RAM for actual processes than 64 bit...

  8. #8
    Moderator Cilraaz's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Reguilea View Post
    But i thought 32 bit uses less RAM for actual processes than 64 bit...
    The difference is minimal at best... maybe 100MB.

  9. #9
    Dreadlord Kyocere's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Cilraaz View Post
    Your screenshot shows Win7 using 1.4GB RAM (Total - Available = Actual used). That's why people suggest 4GB under Vista/7. If your system only had 2GB, there would only be 600MB available for WoW.

    Also, your screenshot shows why 8GB is useless in a standard gaming system. You have 5.5GB Free. That's 5.5GB RAM that's not even being used by Superfetch. It's essentially "wasted" RAM. Even a large WoW session of 1.5GB (mine typically averages 1.0GB, though I haven't checked after 4.0.1) would leave half of the RAM "wasted".

    Sorry for the off-topic ramble, but that screenshot was the perfect example.

    Finally, OP, there's no reason to get Windows 7 32-bit. Unless you have some absolutely necessary hardware/software that only operates in a 32-bit environment, don't limit yourself.
    It's alright. My post was to show how multi-tasking is not advised with only 2gb of ram, but running Win7 with 2gb is doable. I know 8gb is useless. Most of my computer parts were gifts, and if you could have 8gigs given to you instead of 4 wouldn't you? When I decide to build my GF a new computer I already have 4 gigs of ram for her :P

  10. #10
    Moderator Cilraaz's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Kyocere View Post
    It's alright. My post was to show how multi-tasking is not advised with only 2gb of ram, but running Win7 with 2gb is doable. I know 8gb is useless. Most of my computer parts were gifts, and if you could have 8gigs given to you instead of 4 wouldn't you? When I decide to build my GF a new computer I already have 4 gigs of ram for her :P
    My post wasn't intended to pick on you or your computer, and I apologize if it seemed that way. It was just a good illustration of a comment that gets made a lot in the forum.

  11. #11
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    The difference is minimal at best... maybe 100MB.
    Might be crucial with 2GB of RAM

  12. #12
    Moderator Cilraaz's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Reguilea View Post
    Might be crucial with 2GB of RAM
    Get another 2GB? I don't know about prices in your area, but we're looking at 4GB matched pairs (2x2GB) for $65 and 2GB matched pairs (2x1GB) for $40. If you get a 32-bit OS, you're looking at a $100+ investment that's technologically outdated before you buy it.

    Essentially, you're looking at $100 OS now, then upgrading RAM at some point, then another $100 OS upgrade to fully utilize your system vs $140 now. (obviously values would be different based on country, but the main point stands)

  13. #13
    The Lightbringer Asera's Avatar
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    I use Win7 x64 on my laptop with 2 gigs of ram. I don't do a whole lot on it, but I can say WoW is painfully slow on it compared to when it had XP.
    red panda red panda red panda!

  14. #14
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    Damn ://

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