[Answered] Increased Ram has lead to increased ram usage. Strange!

DrGreenthumb · 07-19-2004

Wonder if anyone can help. I've recently installed 256mb of sd ram 133mhz to my system, giving me a total of 512mb. Before installing the new ram, the actual usage of ram when the computer is swithched on but not running any programmes was about 140mb. Since i have added the new ram the usage has risen to 190mb. I havent insalled any extra programmes to cause an increase in ram usage. Is this increase normal and is 190mb usage about right for a system running xp with very few programmes installed and background tasks.

Also, the new ram i've added has a lower refresh rate that the ram already installed on the system. The older ram has a rate of 14 ('normal'), where the new ram has a rate of 7 ('reduced'). Is it ok to mix ram modules with different refresh rates, even though otherwise they are exactly the same type of ram.

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers.

Hengis · 07-19-2004

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I think it's best to try and answer your question in 2 parts.

Wonder if anyone can help. I've recently installed 256mb of sd ram 133mhz to my system, giving me a total of 512mb. Before installing the new ram, the actual usage of ram when the computer is swithched on but not running any programmes was about 140mb. Since i have added the new ram the usage has risen to 190mb. I havent insalled any extra programmes to cause an increase in ram usage. Is this increase normal and is 190mb usage about right for a system running xp with very few programmes installed and background tasks.

I think the reason your Windows memory usage is going up is because you have "Let Windows manage the swap file" enabled in System - Advanced...the idea being that the more memory (RAM) you have installed, the more Windows will choose to use. It's still a good idea to leave this set as it is and I wouldn't be concerned with the extra usage.

Also, the new ram i've added has a lower refresh rate that the ram already installed on the system. The older ram has a rate of 14 ('normal'), where the new ram has a rate of 7 ('reduced'). Is it ok to mix ram modules with different refresh rates, even though otherwise they are exactly the same type of ram.

I am certainly not a memory expert and would welcome someone elses input into this BUT I would think that yes, you can mix different (ns) rates, as long as the mhz(133) is the same...I think that the RAM will clock down to the lower speed of 14ns...but this won't really amount to a whole heap of difference on this type of "lower end" system (with all due respect

)

DrGreenthumb · 07-19-2004

Thanks for the quick response!

You say that the RAM will clock down to the lower speed of 14ns, do you think it would stay lower if i took both ram modules out and put the one with the lower refresh rate in the first slot.

I know its a pretty low-end system. I'm currently trying to upgrade at the moment to save on cash. Dont particularly want to shell out for a new pc -the last one cost me over a grand a few years ago. The more i think about it pc's are probably the biggest waste of money around, they go out of date far too fast!!

Hengis · 07-19-2004

Originally Posted by DrGreenthumb

Thanks for the quick response!

You say that the RAM will clock down to the lower speed of 14ns, do you think it would stay lower if i took both ram modules out and put the one with the lower refresh rate in the first slot.

To be brutally honest I think at these sorts of speeds, it isn't really gonna make much difference IMHO

....they go out of date far too fast!!

Amen to that my friend.

Simonl · 07-21-2004

Originally Posted by Hengis

Originally Posted by DrGreenthumb

Thanks for the quick response!

You say that the RAM will clock down to the lower speed of 14ns, do you think it would stay lower if i took both ram modules out and put the one with the lower refresh rate in the first slot.

To be brutally honest I think at these sorts of speeds, it isn't really gonna make much difference IMHO

....they go out of date far too fast!!

Amen to that my friend.

Echo this comment.

07-19-2004	#1
DrGreenthumb Bronze Member Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 28	[Answered] Increased Ram has lead to increased ram usage. Strange! Wonder if anyone can help. I've recently installed 256mb of sd ram 133mhz to my system, giving me a total of 512mb. Before installing the new ram, the actual usage of ram when the computer is swithched on but not running any programmes was about 140mb. Since i have added the new ram the usage has risen to 190mb. I havent insalled any extra programmes to cause an increase in ram usage. Is this increase normal and is 190mb usage about right for a system running xp with very few programmes installed and background tasks. Also, the new ram i've added has a lower refresh rate that the ram already installed on the system. The older ram has a rate of 14 ('normal'), where the new ram has a rate of 7 ('reduced'). Is it ok to mix ram modules with different refresh rates, even though otherwise they are exactly the same type of ram. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers.

07-19-2004	#2
Hengis PCHF Founder & Owner Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The PCHF Bunker Posts: 14,069 PC Experience: Microsoft Certified Professional	Increased Ram has lead to increased ram usage. Strange! Hi and welcome to the forum! I think it's best to try and answer your question in 2 parts. Wonder if anyone can help. I've recently installed 256mb of sd ram 133mhz to my system, giving me a total of 512mb. Before installing the new ram, the actual usage of ram when the computer is swithched on but not running any programmes was about 140mb. Since i have added the new ram the usage has risen to 190mb. I havent insalled any extra programmes to cause an increase in ram usage. Is this increase normal and is 190mb usage about right for a system running xp with very few programmes installed and background tasks. I think the reason your Windows memory usage is going up is because you have "Let Windows manage the swap file" enabled in System - Advanced...the idea being that the more memory (RAM) you have installed, the more Windows will choose to use. It's still a good idea to leave this set as it is and I wouldn't be concerned with the extra usage. Also, the new ram i've added has a lower refresh rate that the ram already installed on the system. The older ram has a rate of 14 ('normal'), where the new ram has a rate of 7 ('reduced'). Is it ok to mix ram modules with different refresh rates, even though otherwise they are exactly the same type of ram. I am certainly not a memory expert and would welcome someone elses input into this BUT I would think that yes, you can mix different (ns) rates, as long as the mhz(133) is the same...I think that the RAM will clock down to the lower speed of 14ns...but this won't really amount to a whole heap of difference on this type of "lower end" system (with all due respect ) __________________ Pre-Work / System File Checker / Promote PCHF!

07-19-2004	#3
DrGreenthumb Bronze Member Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 28	Increased Ram has lead to increased ram usage. Strange! Thanks for the quick response! You say that the RAM will clock down to the lower speed of 14ns, do you think it would stay lower if i took both ram modules out and put the one with the lower refresh rate in the first slot. I know its a pretty low-end system. I'm currently trying to upgrade at the moment to save on cash. Dont particularly want to shell out for a new pc -the last one cost me over a grand a few years ago. The more i think about it pc's are probably the biggest waste of money around, they go out of date far too fast!!

07-19-2004	#4
Hengis PCHF Founder & Owner Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: The PCHF Bunker Posts: 14,069 PC Experience: Microsoft Certified Professional	Increased Ram has lead to increased ram usage. Strange! Originally Posted by DrGreenthumb Thanks for the quick response! You say that the RAM will clock down to the lower speed of 14ns, do you think it would stay lower if i took both ram modules out and put the one with the lower refresh rate in the first slot. To be brutally honest I think at these sorts of speeds, it isn't really gonna make much difference IMHO ....they go out of date far too fast!! Amen to that my friend. __________________ Pre-Work / System File Checker / Promote PCHF!

07-21-2004	#5
Simonl Silver Member Join Date: Jan 1970 Posts: 160	Increased Ram has lead to increased ram usage. Strange! Originally Posted by Hengis Originally Posted by DrGreenthumb Thanks for the quick response! You say that the RAM will clock down to the lower speed of 14ns, do you think it would stay lower if i took both ram modules out and put the one with the lower refresh rate in the first slot. To be brutally honest I think at these sorts of speeds, it isn't really gonna make much difference IMHO ....they go out of date far too fast!! Amen to that my friend. Echo this comment. __________________ Life, The Universe and Everything

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