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Resolved Question

Windows eats up RAM

Oct 19, 2013 2:32AM PDT

HP HDX18T
4GB DDR2 RAM
1TB C:
500GB D:
Windows 8 64 Bit

My computer was giving me a black screen then shutting off if I had my browser (with about 5 tabs open), Yahoo IM, VLC player and a Windows Update all open at the same time. Is this the usual with Windows 8 64 (bit)?

It seems to run alright if I do not open too many programs. I did not have this problem at all with Windows 7 (32 bit).

Discussion is locked

DoctorOFDoom has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
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Clarification Request
What are your paging file settings?
Oct 19, 2013 3:00AM PDT

If you don't have enough space allocated to the paging file, this could happen. Someone would've had to have altered the settings from the default or possibly you could be out of space on your C: drive. Otherwise it's definitely not normal.

Best Answer

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No problem here.
Oct 19, 2013 5:31AM PDT

But the last 4GB PC is some Asus k55n and it goes and goes for dozens of tabs so my thought here is that something else is going on.
Bob

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Is more DDR2 RAM the answer ?
Oct 21, 2013 1:44AM PDT

Bob,

On this Windows 8 (64 bit) issue.... is getting more DDR2 RAM the answer ?....
IF I go to 8 GB of DDR2 RAM will my system operate better irregardless of the Page File size ?


I had one tech say "no"..but Crucial.com says this:

" Question
Why doesn't Windows recognize all of my memory?
Answer
The maximum amount of memory that your system can use is actually limited in two ways — not only is there a maximum amount of memory that your computer motherboard can accept, there is also a maximum amount of memory that your operating system (OS) can accept.

For instance, when you install 4GB of memory in a 32-bit Windows operating system (the most common version; 64-bit systems are typically used only by high-end users), your system will see (and utilize) only 3GB or 3.5GB. Is the problem bad memory?

Relax, there isn't a problem with the memory. Windows allows for 4GB of memory to be addressed, but this isn't 100 percent the same as having 4GB of physical memory.

What happens is that some of the addressable memory (regardless of how much you have physically installed) is reserved for use by page files or by some of the devices that you are using, such as a graphics card, PCI card, integrated network connections, etc., so it's unavailable for use as normal main memory.

The amount of memory needed for these devices is calculated by your system at startup; if you haven't maxed out the memory in your system, it's invisible to you, and all your physical memory (the RAM that's installed) is available for use. However if you've maxed out the DRAM in your system, this amount will be deducted from your physical memory, so you can't use 100% of your DRAM.

The maximum memory limitation varies by operating system; for instance, the 4GB memory limitation doesn't exist in 64-bit versions of Windows.

Memory maximums for current Microsoft® Windows OSs include:

Windows 8 (32 bit)
Windows 8 Enterprise: 4 GB
Windows 8 Professional: 4 GB
Windows 8 Home: 4 GB "

SO what is your opinion about me getting more DDR2 RAM....I want to go to 8 GB total which is all my computer can hold me thinks...

Jesse Jr

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RAM is pretty cheap so go for it.
Oct 21, 2013 2:00AM PDT

There's no good reason not to increase your RAM, but don't expect miracles. When I upgraded my Windows 7 laptop from 4 to 8 GB, I saw SOME improvement, but not a whole lot, and I usually run close to 20 concurrent tasks in 3 different browsers (IE, FF, & Chrome) plus a few others.
I have to tell you that I have a test computer that's running 64 bit Windows 8.1 in 2 GB (that's right TWO GB), and it works just fine as long as I don't start more than 7 or 8 concurrent tasks. Windows 8 in general uses less RAM than Windows 7.
`
Good luck.

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The answer is maybe. But my bet is on something else.
Oct 21, 2013 2:27AM PDT

Back a few years we hit a spat of memory issues as folk installed McAfee and Spybot that created an issue where memory and CPU would get consumed. Adding RAM might help but given what I see so far my bet is something else.

Remember I'm starting with your story and making a BIG ASSUMPTION the machine is stock, has a good OS install from its maker and you haven't done anything odd such as install much else.
Bob

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One thing about multitasking and page file
Oct 22, 2013 10:37PM PDT

When you have multiple tabs open the computer basically uses one task as active and stores the rest. These tasks can be stored in the pagefile or memory. Memory is WAY faster at data retrieval then a hard drive is. So if you have the memory it will use it. But as Bob said the amount of memory that Windows can access is limited in the 32 bit environment. So adding memory will never hurt as long as it's the correct memory.

My system at home has a 256 SSD drive and page file aren't recommended on SSD's. I have 16 gb of ram with no pagefile and my system is fast. My system came with 8 gb of ram and a HD which was set to let Windows determin the size of the page file. I added a SSD first and moved the HD to the second bay and I redirected the page file to that drive. Next I added 4 GB of ram to make it 12 and I saw immediate results even when not multi tasking. I then added 4 more GB and really didn't see a performance boost like I did from 8 to 12 gb.

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Still a great move. Link tells why.
Oct 23, 2013 3:06AM PDT
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Thank you !!!
Oct 23, 2013 11:07AM PDT

This finally answers my question on DDR2 RAM.
I knew it would help...IF I added it ...and I will go up to 8 Gb RAM
Thanks Robert !

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Answer
Usually if its a RAM issue
Oct 20, 2013 10:36PM PDT

its programs that are running at startup. Usually if you have multiple things open the apps in the background are cached to your hard drive in your page file as was mentioned. No on systems with lots of memory you don't need the page file as much and on SSD it's not recommended to have a page file on the SSD. Having the programs cached to memory rather then the HD also will make your system faster.

Another thing is because Windows programs all don't close all the way sometimes and they leave things up and running which we call memory leaks you should maybe reboot your system once a day. In basic terms what this means is sometimes windows programs leave remnants that take up resources. Rebooting clears out these hanging programs from memory.