More RAM for SW - Good or Bad?

I'v heard the same and are now looking at upgrading to a 64bit 8Gb system instead.....2Gb seems to be a bit too less these days ...even with the 3Gb switch on. Managed to peak 2,7Gb of used memory once at ta photorendering. But everything seems slow today...and the new settings in PW 2008 is not the same as before, so more memory is a must.

// Krister

search for /3gb switch for windows it provides access to extra memory.

it even works if you have less than 3gb.

"SeanMc" wrote in news:c_y5j.12523$ snipped-for-privacy@newsfe22.lga:

Like Kenneth points out, look into the /3GB switch. If you have XP SP2 it's simple to do. 32 bit Windows normally has 4GB of address space. The system reserves half of that, with the other half available for applications. This is true no matter how much physical RAM is installed. The /3GB switch forces this bias so that the system only reserves 1 GB, and 3 GB are available for applications. Now then, SW has not always supported this. I think it was added in 2004, maybe a 2004 service pack. So if you're using something newer, it can use up to 3 GB on 32 bit Windows XP Pro, if Windows is configured to allow it. Not everything supports running Windows this way, so other tools may begin to behave strangeley or destabilize the system. If SW wants more then 3 GB you'll need to run on 64 bit XP.

Even without the /3GB switch, SW will be able to use the full 2 GB without paging to the hard drive. So, there would still be a big performance benefit.

Adding RAM to a system should not cause a BSOD unless there is a problem with the memory. A bad or incompatible memory module or incorrect BIOS settings could cause a BSOD when upgrading. I had no trouble transitioning from 1 to 2 GB, and I know of other systems that run 4 GB with no problems. Just power down, unplug the machine and stick it in there (with appropriate static electricity precautions).

About BIOS settings... any reasonably modern system should be able to correctly detect the memory settings automatically. Dell's BIOS may have something strange going on, but it would have to be VERY strange.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. Gave me enough info to find the rest of what I needed.

Thanks again, Sean