Virtual Memory??

[Dabomb18359]

I was playing my Knights of Honor demo the other day and had a run with "Virtual Memory." The demo requires 256 RAM but recommends 512 and my laptop only has 256. No problem normally except like when I'm in the game and minimize it or maximize it again, which takes a few minutes to load back up. Other than that, no problem.

But since it is a demo it has no save feature. So the other night I slept over at a friend's house (where I stole his neighbour's internet wirelessly, hehhehheh) and so I put my laptop in hibernate during the night because it can't save. When I loaded up, though, it was it's usual laggy self since I had the game still on (but not running). So this little tab (Windows XP) showed up in the bottom right little icons area. It was a yellow triangle with a "!" I think and it said like "Your computer doesn't have enough virtual memory. Now creating more." Umm. I looked it up in the help but it isn't really helpful and if the computer can create virtual memory what's the point in buying the actual thing?

Any help appreciated.

 

[ainwood]

Virtual memory is simply data stored on the hard-drive, whereas RAM is its own chip. The reason why RAM is preferred over virtual memory is speed. Access times for virtual memory are about 9 milliseconds (at best), where RAM is (IIRC about 2 - 4 milliseconds).

 

[Zelig]

Heheh, my ram benches at under 40 nanoseconds.

 

[ainwood]

Heheh, my ram benches at under 40 nanoseconds.

Yes - you're right.

This article is not too bad. 9 to 70 ns for RAM, and I think the 9 ms is right for virtual.

 

[Dabomb18359]

So basically real RAM is faster than the faux version.

 

[CruddyLeper]

MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH faster, yes.

Thing is, virtual RAM is MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH cheaper.

 

[Zakharov]

MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH faster, yes.

Thing is, virtual RAM is MUCH, MUCH, MUCH, MUCH cheaper.

That's like saying a Lada is cheaper than a Ferrari, except that RAM doesn't carry a 6 figure price tag.

If your pc is lacking in performance, an investment in extra RAM will easily be worth the cost.

 

[ainwood]

You can get 512 MB of RAM for around $40 - might be a bit more for a laptop, but shouldn't be too expensive. RAM tends to be the best performance increase / $ spent (up to about 1 GB of RAM nowadays).

 

[oldStatesman]

You can get 512 MB of RAM for around $40 - might be a bit more for a laptop, but shouldn't be too expensive. RAM tends to be the best performance increase / $ spent (up to about 1 GB of RAM nowadays).

Yeah - if you are running XP I found out it loves at least a Gig of RAM - it's amazing how much better it runs; I used to think 512 was enough - but a full gig or more and it really flies. And at today's prices a bit more RAM may make your clunker turn back into a chugger for another year or two.

 

[Dabomb18359]

Well my laptop comes with 256 RAM. It's okay but could really benefit from a RAM update. Thing is, it's only got one open slot. 512 seems to work at maybe $60 for a laptop, but 1024 would be the most. Thing is that'd be like over $100. What do you all think I should get? I don't really play any huge games as well.

 

[oldStatesman]

Well my laptop comes with 256 RAM. It's okay but could really benefit from a RAM update. Thing is, it's only got one open slot. 512 seems to work at maybe $60 for a laptop, but 1024 would be the most. Thing is that'd be like over $100. What do you all think I should get? I don't really play any huge games as well.

Get the most you can afford. More RAM never hurts. Are you running XP? IMO it is a dog with only 256 - 512 is better but it really only comes into it's own with a full GIG or more. Add a 1 gig memory stick and your 1.25 Gig total will really smooth things out. If you plan to keep the laptop at least another year then I would recommend going for the gusto. You may be able to get it cheaper than $100 at places like eBay...but be careful, all memory is not equal. Laptop RAM is more expensive than RAM for workstations.

 

[Dabomb18359]

Well actually I'm only in 9th grade now so if I can keep several more years (at least three) would you definitely recommend 1024 MG?

 

[oldStatesman]

Well actually I'm only in 9th grade now so if I can keep several more years (at least three) would you definitely recommend 1024 MG?

Yes - as long as you can afford it. Memory will keep your machine in the running longer even if it becomes outdated in other aspects... and three years is a good time ... 18 months is the generally accepted life span of hardware before it is considered "last generation", but most corporate leases last for 3 years, so you will be okay. (Hmmm, 3 years, sounds like you will be ripe for a new pc for graduation? )

 

[Zelig]

Get the most you can afford. More RAM never hurts. Are you running XP? IMO it is a dog with only 256 - 512 is better but it really only comes into it's own with a full GIG or more. Add a 1 gig memory stick and your 1.25 Gig total will really smooth things out. If you plan to keep the laptop at least another year then I would recommend going for the gusto. You may be able to get it cheaper than $100 at places like eBay...but be careful, all memory is not equal. Laptop RAM is more expensive than RAM for workstations.

Actually, with anything over 1GB of RAM, most Athlon 64 chips (except the new "E" revision chips) have to run the memory at a slower speed... so more ram can hurt.

 

[Dabomb18359]

Umm, I don't have Athlon 64. Just old Athlon XP-M.

And @oldStatesman, a new one at graduation sure sounds good.