RAM - how to best utilise in 2 x PCs

Guest 81 · 23-11-2006, 18:40

I have two PCs, one is the Study 'workhorse' which does everything you can think of - runs XP SP2 and has 512mb, separate AGP card and a 2ghz Athlon XP. The other is a Lounge based MCE 2005 machine which does no recording but all the other MCE type operations currently 512mb (minus VGA RAM allocation) and a 2ghz Athlon XP.

I have a total of 2GB to spread around the two and wonder which would benefit from what. I am thinking leave the XP machine at 512 and go for 1.5gb in the MCE machine. However, I wonder if the MCE machine will really thrive on 1.5gb over 1gb with a 2ghz processor. So, perhaps I would be better off with 1gb in each - or should I split the difference and go with 1.25gb in each?

ozric99 · 23-11-2006, 23:38

Put more in the machine that's going to be used interactively.

Welshlad · 24-11-2006, 09:01

I would say it depends on how they perform on a day-to-day basis. Does one run smoothly in what its used for and one run like a dog? Or do both seem to cope fairly well?
If they both cope well and you dont plan on changing their use, then i'd split the ram between the two personally (as long is it doesn't cause more problems than it solves!)

Guest 81 · 24-11-2006, 09:31

The XP machine runs fine, but I wonder if the MCE machine will really use all 1.5gb - if it will then that's what I will do as the MCE really chuggs when it's in MyMusic for instance.

ozric99 · 24-11-2006, 13:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Just

The XP machine runs fine, but I wonder if the MCE machine will really use all 1.5gb - if it will then that's what I will do as the MCE really chuggs when it's in MyMusic for instance.

You didn't say that before! If one is running slow of course you should put more memory in it and see if it helps.

ian turner · 24-11-2006, 13:27

stick another 1 GB in the MCE and see if that helps . If it doesn't then its not the memory thats the problem though i'd consider 512MB a minimum for running XP properly whatever the sepcs may say.
If it solves the chugging problem then stick the other 1 GB in the other PC as the more apps you are running at the same time the higher your memory requirements tend to be.

Guest 81 · 24-11-2006, 14:03

Ok, the 2GB was a total to spread across the two machines rather than additional. I was ultimately trying to gauge if MCE 2005 will work that much better with 1.5gb over 1gb. As it currently has 512mb I expect going to 1gb to make a marked improvement, but wondered whether 1.5gb was just overkill with that processor (and thus wasted). I'll just stick the 1.5gb in the MCE machine and see how it goes, take out 512mb and see if there is a big difference backwards.