[dba-Tech] Poll: System Memory amount

1) Triple boot: XP for work/ XP for DJ'ing / Vista for
testing/experience
2) regular user 512MB, usually 1GB, 2G is pointless for regular users.
3) 2 GB (notebooks) 1 GB in desktops. The only way I get to and over 2
GB is when I load in a mass of pictures in Coreldraw. Even in Vista.
4) Yes, but it's not always clear what to do. I hate the principle of
per-2 they introduced again with some types after it was gone for so
many years (EDO RAM?). Some systems support per one and per 2, but it
will run slower when per one.
5) Read an tried a lot. It's mostly pointless.
Only two configs matter from y experience.
a) A swap file on a separate different physical disk, you don't use for
data (or not a lot like me).
In case of a laptop with two physical disks, like mine, don't do it, it
consumes more battery power because both disk are running all the time. 
b) "No swap file" for real time apps. But you most have plenty of RAM
for what you are doing.
I use "no swap file" for my "XP DJ'ing" boot. For a hobby I beatmix with
DJ software in my XP music boot. It's a common advice when u use
realtime apps with lots of disk activity. Good DJ software with a good
audio card uses has less than 10 milliseconds of buffer. Each little
"swap" at the wrong time can lead to a "crack" in the audio.

I tried a swap file on a "separate and dedicated" logical disk but on
the same physical disk as my os. This actually slows down your computer.
The disk head needs to move to much back and forward.

Setting a swap file on other logical disk than your os is rather a
commonly used solution when having not enough space.
You better not do that unless it's a separate physical disk.



Erwin


-----Original Message-----
From: dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:dba-tech-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of jwcolby
Sent: Monday, February 18, 2008 5:47 AM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'; 'Discussion of
Hardware and Software issues'
Subject: [dba-Tech] Poll: System Memory amount

Memory is incredibly cheap at least in the US.  I am interested in how
much
memory you guys run on your desktops.

1) What OS do you run on your personal / work machines.
2) What do you consider the minimum useful memory for running Windows
XP.
3) How much do you have in your machine(s)
4) Are you comfortable adding memory to your machine(s)
5) How do you set up your swap files?

My answers:
1) XP Professional, 2003 standard.
2) 512 mbytes
3) 4 gigs in desktops, 2 gigs in laptops
4) Yes
5) System administered on C:, 2X system memory on each additional drive

John W. Colby
Colby Consulting
www.ColbyConsulting.com 

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