memory - Processor upgrade on a laptop vs. Ram upgrade. Also does ram always matter?

07
2014-07
  • Evan

    This question already has an answer here:

    • Answers
  • Siddharth

    If, your OS is 64bit, then why not opt for a dual chanel RAM configuration, having two similar RAM sticks installed. For integrated graphics, that seems to be the best option to increase performance, even if the increase is of about 10-20%

  • ISAAC

    core i5 with 4GB gives better performance. Performance rarely rely on RAM, it's used to store data that can be accessed by CPU. If your RAM filled up then performance won't rely on CPU until the memory is freed up..

    If your Operating System is a 32-bit version, then NO programs can use more than 4 GB, so it's waste on 32-bit OS. But in 64-bit version, the running program also have to be a 64-bit version to utilize more than 4GB..

    Upgrade your CPU.

    i5 has more cache-memory(6MB) than i3(3MB), integrated grahics is better than i3, if more ram, then i3 has to send instructions to fetch and search for whole 8GB.. upgrading RAM won't give performance. trust me.see here and also see this comparision


    • Related Question

    windows 7 - Upgrade RAM or CPU
  • Sammy

    I have an IBM X31 with 1GB of RAM and a 1.4GHz proccessor running Windows 7 Home premium. Which would be more worthwhile to upgrade, the RAM to 2GB or the processor to a max of maybe 2GHz? Thanx in advance =)


    • Related Answers
  • Michael

    It depends on your usage.

    If you have several programs open simultaneously and find that the computer gets slowed down in that regard, upgrade your RAM. 1GB of memory can get filled up pretty quickly, and using swap a lot will really slow you down.

    If you're using any high-CPU programs like movie/music/photo editing then you'll see faster processing performance by upgrading your CPU.

    Basically, if you run many programs at once, upgrade your RAM. If you run one or only a few, upgrade the CPU.

  • David

    With only 1GB of RAM, you're going to be swapping in and out of memory mercilessly. In addition, memory is easier to upgrade (no worries about gluing heat sinks if you're doing it yourself)

  • NginUS

    No matter what you're doing, that's very little RAM.

    Even with a faster CPU there's no where for what it's doing to go. It'd be a waste.