Minimum required memory for XP

  • Thread starter Thread starter Barry Spiegel
  • Start date Start date
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Barry Spiegel

Hello -- I have been getting very slow performance, and
even some virtual memory-related errors, on a new Dell
with 128K of RAM. I wondered -- what is the minimum
required RAM recommended by Microsoft for using XP as an
operating system? Dell sold me the computer with 128K,
and I wondered if they should be recommending 256K (or
more) as the minimum.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,
Barry Spiegel
(e-mail address removed)
 
128 is the recommended minimum with Xp 256 handles much
better and 512 is better 1gig is sweet......... then again
to some thats over kill...... if u can 512 would be the
best
 
Hi Barry,

128 is the "minimum" recommended for XP. It runs much better if you have at
least 256. If you can, do 512 and you will not have many problems with
memory, that will run most any high demand game you want.

JAX
 
But would you recommend buying Dell bearing in mind the frequent incoming faxes with special Dell offers. It suggests to me that they are overstocked with less saleable products!
 
Barry Spiegel said:
Hello -- I have been getting very slow performance, and
even some virtual memory-related errors, on a new Dell
with 128K of RAM. I wondered -- what is the minimum
required RAM recommended by Microsoft for using XP as an
operating system? Dell sold me the computer with 128K,
and I wondered if they should be recommending 256K (or
more) as the minimum.

Any help appreciated.

Thanks,
Barry Spiegel
(e-mail address removed)
Click to expand...

128 is the minimum to run XP. Personally, though, I like to have an
application or two.

You'll be much happier with 256. A noticeable improvement. 512 is better,
but it depends on your usage. If all you're doing is opening Word and typing
letters, it's not going to matter much, but if you work like most people,
with your mail client, AV program, and a few other things that you switch
back and forth to, the 512 is going to help.
 
There are many users out there that are looking to get a computer as cheaply
as they can and in my estimation when you look at the low end entry level
machines Dell is no different than HP, Compaq, Gateway, Emachines, etc. I
know at least 3 people with XP machines with 128mb of memory and they do
just fine but all they do is surf the internet a little, play a few offline
games and type a letter now and then. For them 128mb is plenty.

But would you recommend buying Dell bearing in mind the frequent incoming
faxes with special Dell offers. It suggests to me that they are overstocked
with less saleable products!
 
In
Barry Spiegel said:
Hello -- I have been getting very slow performance, and
even some virtual memory-related errors, on a new Dell
with 128K of RAM. I wondered -- what is the minimum
required RAM recommended by Microsoft for using XP as an
operating system? Dell sold me the computer with 128K,
and I wondered if they should be recommending 256K (or
more) as the minimum.
Click to expand...


How much memory you need depends on what apps you run, but almost
everyone needs at least 256MB. With only 128MB, it's not
surprising that you have poor performance.
 
i use winxp on intel celeron866 with 256mb memory. i build-up my friends pc
with p4 but memory only 128mb (not enough budget ;). but when every thing
app i want to open, my pc is more faster than that p4 including when startup
the windows. but it's all up to you...
 
Barry said:
Hello -- I have been getting very slow performance, and
even some virtual memory-related errors, on a new Dell
with 128K of RAM. I wondered -- what is the minimum
required RAM recommended by Microsoft for using XP as an
operating system? Dell sold me the computer with 128K,
and I wondered if they should be recommending 256K (or
more) as the minimum.
Click to expand...

128 MB is the minimum 'recommended' by Microsoft. Almost everyone
considers it inadequate in practice. 256 is a reasonable base - but you
can't get back at Dell for mis-selling. One point though is that at 128
the default settings for Virtual memory are quite inadequate. Go to
Control Panel - System - Advanced - Performance; click Settings -
Advanced - Virtual Memory click Change and select the drive where the
page file is. Select Custom, make the initial size 400 MB and the max
900 and click Set.
 
128 MB is the minimum 'recommended' by Microsoft. Almost everyone
considers it inadequate in practice. 256 is a reasonable base - but you
can't get back at Dell for mis-selling. One point though is that at 128
the default settings for Virtual memory are quite inadequate. Go to
Control Panel - System - Advanced - Performance; click Settings -
Advanced - Virtual Memory click Change and select the drive where the
page file is. Select Custom, make the initial size 400 MB and the max
900 and click Set.
Click to expand...
 
128MB should be fine for the usual uses; web browsing, email,
etc. There are some things you can do to make sure
your system is working to it's potential;


Question; Some of the Dell systems have video cards that share RAM
with the OS, and that when I priced a dell system they were giving
extra memory with the system for free, which suggests it's needed for
reasonalble performance. I never figured out how much i used. Is it
possible the OP has one of these sysems. Extra memory doesn't cost
much.

You can go into task manager and see if you've overloaded memory
and which application is eating it up.
(R.M.C. on task bar, pick Task Manager, pick Performance,
and look at the "available" number. It it's not zero
memory isn't your problem. Have all your normal applications
running when you do this.)



The following services can be turned off;

Automatic Updates
Messenger Service
TCP/IP Netbios Helper
Wireless Zero Config (unless have a WiFI adapter in the machine)
Upload Manager
Task Scheduler Server
Error Reporting
Remote Registery
Server Service
Computer Browser

Turn off some of the GUI crap;

Start->Properties Select "classsic" IMHO

Start -> Control Panel > System -> Advanced
-> Performance -> Settings

Select "adjust for best performance"

How big is your disk and how much free space is there ?

Delete all the crap and usless files.
Defrag your disk

Look at the report Defrag produces and see if
any files are still very badly fragmented.
 
My computer runs on P4 1.2ghz w/ 20gigs and 128megs of ram using XP Pro. I don't have any "major" programs running, just a CAD (which requires a lot of space and memory); but the computer runs great, it boots up nicely, connects to the internet like melted butter and it does office applications like there's no tomorrow

In the future though, I plan to upgrade to maybe 2 gigs of ram because of games and editing software

So, it all depends on your taste and function of your computer. If it's a workhorse, I would get more gigs and megs, if it's just a paperweight, 128 would be fine.
 
No, min , it just uses the hd if there isn't enough
ram. Up to abt 256 Meg, it gets faster and faster,
depen din g on what you have it doing. 128k is
probably fine for most things if you only run one at a
time and keep the crap load down.
"Barry Spiegel" <[email protected]>
wrote in message
| Hello -- I have been getting very slow performance,
and
| even some virtual memory-related errors, on a new
Dell
| with 128K of RAM. I wondered -- what is the minimum
| required RAM recommended by Microsoft for using XP as
an
| operating system? Dell sold me the computer with
128K,
| and I wondered if they should be recommending 256K
(or
| more) as the minimum.
|
| Any help appreciated.
|
| Thanks,
| Barry Spiegel
| (e-mail address removed)
 
In
PopRivet said:
No, min , it just uses the hd if there isn't enough
ram.
Click to expand...


Yes, there is certainly a minimum. The official minimum is 64MB.
You can't run it all with less than that.

But you can't run it well with that little. Everybody needs more.
How much more depends on what apps you run, but almost everyone
needs a least 256MB for decent performance. For some people, for
example those who edit large photographic images, more than
256MB--even much more--can be required for good performance.

Up to abt 256 Meg, it gets faster and faster,
depen din g on what you have it doing. 128k is
probably fine for most things if you only run one at a
time and keep the crap load down.
Click to expand...


Some people may find 128MB satisfactory, but it's a rare person
who would.
 
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