What happens if I put too much RAM in my computer?

Question

I heard that at a certain point, it becomes a dimensing returns sort of thing...how much RAM should I use to maximize performance (if that idea is true) with a pentium iv 2.66 processor? I already have 1.128 Gig now...the manual says I can't go past 2.0? What happens if i do?

Answer 1

If you put in chips too big for the motherboard, it simply won't accept them. The computer may not boot, or may boot with the wrong amount, or some other problem. I think 2 GB is the most you would really need anyway.

Answer 2

You're asking two separate questions.

The answer to the last one is you can only add as much memory as your motherboard supports. If the limit is 2GB and you have two slots, the max capacity for each if 1GB. Four slots means the max capacity for each is 512MB. Otherwise, the chipset cannot address the memory on the chips which will results in one of two things:

1. The system won't startup, or
2. The system will allow the chips to be used, but only address some of the available memory.

To answer your first question, there is a point of dimishing returns with any operating system...a point where the benefit gained from adding more memory begins to level off. Sources disagree on the exact cutoff, but, generally, for Windows XP, it is around 1.2GB of memory. This is not to say you will not see any benefit from going higher. It is just that the gains are not as noticeable as going from smaller amounts to larger. One exellent benefit from going higher is the diminished (or no) need for virtual memory (disk space as memory). At 2GB your system should have enough memory to handle just about any applications without needing to use disk space (save Photoshop).

Answer 3

If you have over a Gig you should be happy! Windows only recognizes 4 gig on most motherboards (actually 3.5, the other .5 is reserved for PCI functions.)

You only need more than that if you are running a server (like me) and keep lots of stuff running!

I'm guessing that your motherboard has 2 slots, and the manual says that 1 gig is the max in a slot?

Answer 4

It won't support it, it will be in the computer, it will probably even function, but it will max out and run as if 2g's were in it.

Or it may be telling you that with the slots that it posesses it can only carry that much amount of RAM because of the amount of RAM that can come in each stick. I.E. if you have 2 slots, it's telling you 2ghz because at the time 1 stick could only carry 1ghz and that's what it was designed for.

P.S. I wouldn't try testing your PC with stuff it says it can't handle, you might end up shocking the RAM and motherboard, or starting a fire in it.

Answer 5

You will be wasting your money/or it won't work. It might be so designed that the bus cannot handle more than x amount of memory in total, or it could be on a per slot basis. If it is total, then the size of the cards is not an issue... but if it is on a per slot basis, then if you have a RAM chip that is too large in size, the computer will not recognize it.

Answer 6

Actually the more RAM you have the better, you will be able to open more applications at once with a higher RAM.

The manual said you can't go pass 2GB, because that is the maximum upgrade of RAM at this time, unless a new technology is discovered which has a bigger RAM capacity.

Which I think apple is going to launch, but not yet

Answer 7

you ought to continuously placed more desirable RAM than a pc desires, it keeps each thing operating easily this is going to really no longer boot if there's a topic with the RAM or no matter if it really is more desirable than the computer bodily helps

Answer 8

It depends on the unit. Check the specifications for the unit / Motherboard and see what the system RAM is upgradable to. Hope that helps.

Answer 9

There is not too much RAM,the more Ram the better.You can
not put more Ram than your motherboard supports.

Answer 10

I have 2 GB and it is running good.