New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

2GB or 4GB

Poll Results: Which Option should I take

Poll expired: Jul 29, 2007  
  • 40% (6)
    Keep the T7200 and 2GB RAM
  • 26% (4)
    Keep the T7200 and get 4GB RAM
  • 26% (4)
    Get the T7600 and keep the 2GB RAM
  • 6% (1)
    Get the T7600 and the 4GB RAM
15 Total Votes  
post #1 of 6
6/15/07 at 2:23am
Thread Starter 
now i know i'm gonna be told "you'll only get 3GB n Change" because of xp pro, so to avoid any bleating of that issue, i will pre-emptively say i know this going into the situation.

In my XPS m1710 i'm debating to the following: I have tried to run protools on my xps with the stats you see in my signature and it currently freezes up due to lack of available memory to it. I am considering going to 4GB (YES I KNOW what you're going to say about the 32-bit limit). I was thinking that an extra gig and change that goes from going to 4GB would make for a much stabler computer when under stresses such as PT.

On the other hand, i was also contemplating a CPU upgrade to a T7600 to maximize the useful life of my XPS. I know this is about a $650 upgrade, but it could maximize the useful life of my XPS (arguably till 2011 to 2012, because even after getting a new gaming PC, it will still be quite good for typing basic documents and powerpoints).

Here's my quandary: Do i just get the 4GB RAM and live with the 3.25 limiter, or should I go all out and get a T7600 installed and the 4GB RAM for absolute maximum useful life cycle? I'm not really looking to go Santa Rosa as my XPS really does what I need it to do, and i'm not going to DX10 for a while.


Thanks


Jason
Reply
Reply
post #2 of 6
6/15/07 at 5:29am
I wonder how much ram that MS office 2012 will use. :-p
Reply
Reply
post #3 of 6
6/15/07 at 9:59pm
oh that font looks terrible in old style....
Anyway, gotta go with 3 gb route but I'll vote as well
Reply
Reply
post #4 of 6
6/17/07 at 9:20pm
You're talking about a minor upgrade in CPU clockspeed (2.0 -> 2.33). That just isn't worth it.

As for RAM, 2GB is fine for now. Why replace it now, when you'll be able to do it cheaper in the future? After all, it's not like you're deciding this BEFORE buying the laptop, you've already got the 2GB. If, in the future, you need the extra RAM, it'll be cheaper then as prices come down.
Reply
Reply
post #5 of 6
6/26/07 at 9:21pm
I think what he is saying is that he might indeed NEED the RAM now. I agree that the CPU upgrade is quite minimal for the cost and not really efficient use of your dollar, with that said, the cost of 2 x 2GB sticks will not be cheap either. and for the actual usage of the RAM, well... it can only really be answerred by you.

Is PT more CPU limited or RAM limited... your now getting RAM errors so that tells you to hit up the RAM path. No guarantees though. If another app is hemoraging memory, that could be the real culprit and not PT. Have you checked this avenue?

Either way, you are headed in a very good spot for future proffing the machine and I would tend to say, if your not hurting on cash and dont mind the prices... go for the RAM first, and see what happens.

Good Luck.
Reply
Reply
post #6 of 6
6/27/07 at 12:32am
Thread Starter 
i did a reformat of the HD, and it turns out i only freed up 5MB total before and after, so RAM Hemorrhaging isn't going on. The immediate verdict is i'm going for the 4GB so i can be assured futureproofing for a bit, and so i know protools will work. If later on i want more gigglegas, i'll put in the T7600
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Dell Notebooks - General