Is it time to add more RAM?

[gilm0re3]

So, I've been upgrading a lot of stuff with my whole computer setup. However, the one thing that I have not yet touched is RAM. Like probably most of you, I have 8 gigs of memory holding down the fort. I've been looking into upgrading to 16 gigs, but I'm not sure yet if I really need to. 

 

Basically, with *my* light to medium usage, I sit anywhere from around 70 percent to 85 percent ram utilization with spikes up in the mid 90's, and when I'm really hitting my computer hard with gaming and multiple chrome windows and tabs open, as well as probably 6-8 other programs running plus all background programs (of which I run a fair number of them) my RAM usage definitely gets pegged up towards the limits of the capacity that I have. 

And as a reference point, when I start up my computer fresh with no programs opened, the background apps and processes are enough to put RAM utilization at around 40 to 50 percent.

So is it probably a good idea to go with 16 gigs, or should I just try to gut out my computer for all the extra background programs or any applications that I leave running that I could definitely terminate when gaming or heavily multitabbing/tasking in Chrome? 

 

And just as an example, right now I have about 35 chrome tabs across 5 different windows, I always an running 3 virtual desktops bare minimum, I have 7 programs currently opened, and 10 running in the system tray in the background. RAM is currently at 82 percent and holding. That's my medium to heavyish workload.

 

 

Thanks

 

 

[Josephdalepi]

get the 16

itll help a lot on that load

[Predrag]

get the 16

itll help a lot on that load

 

So, I've been upgrading a lot of stuff with my whole computer setup. However, the one thing that I have not yet touched is RAM. Like probably most of you, I have 8 gigs of memory holding down the fort. I've been looking into upgrading to 16 gigs, but I'm not sure yet if I really need to. 

 

Basically, with *my* light to medium usage, I sit anywhere from around 70 percent to 85 percent ram utilization with spikes up in the mid 90's, and when I'm really hitting my computer hard with gaming and multiple chrome windows and tabs open, as well as probably 6-8 other programs running plus all background programs (of which I run a fair number of them) my RAM usage definitely gets pegged up towards the limits of the capacity that I have. 

And as a reference point, when I start up my computer fresh with no programs opened, the background apps and processes are enough to put RAM utilization at around 40 to 50 percent.

So is it probably a good idea to go with 16 gigs, or should I just try to gut out my computer for all the extra background programs or any applications that I leave running that I could definitely terminate when gaming or heavily multitabbing/tasking in Chrome? 

 

And just as an example, right now I have about 35 chrome tabs across 5 different windows, I always an running 3 virtual desktops bare minimum, I have 7 programs currently opened, and 10 running in the system tray in the background. RAM is currently at 82 percent and holding. That's my medium to heavyish workload.

 

 

Thanks

It is time, my friend.

[ShadowCaptain]

Sounds like you could use it

[tbroadwater2010]

So, I've been upgrading a lot of stuff with my whole computer setup. However, the one thing that I have not yet touched is RAM. Like probably most of you, I have 8 gigs of memory holding down the fort. I've been looking into upgrading to 16 gigs, but I'm not sure yet if I really need to. 

 

Basically, with *my* light to medium usage, I sit anywhere from around 70 percent to 85 percent ram utilization with spikes up in the mid 90's, and when I'm really hitting my computer hard with gaming and multiple chrome windows and tabs open, as well as probably 6-8 other programs running plus all background programs (of which I run a fair number of them) my RAM usage definitely gets pegged up towards the limits of the capacity that I have. 

And as a reference point, when I start up my computer fresh with no programs opened, the background apps and processes are enough to put RAM utilization at around 40 to 50 percent.

So is it probably a good idea to go with 16 gigs, or should I just try to gut out my computer for all the extra background programs or any applications that I leave running that I could definitely terminate when gaming or heavily multitabbing/tasking in Chrome? 

 

And just as an example, right now I have about 35 chrome tabs across 5 different windows, I always an running 3 virtual desktops bare minimum, I have 7 programs currently opened, and 10 running in the system tray in the background. RAM is currently at 82 percent and holding. That's my medium to heavyish workload.

 

 

Thanks

35 chrome tabs is enough to cripple a hardcore RAM setup! LOL.

 

Chrome is notorious for using a lot of RAM. 16GB will do nicely!

[DevilishBooster]

Just curious.... Why are you constantly running multiple VMs?

As to an answer, the RAM usage actually seems pretty great considering what you are throwing at it, but yeah, I would bump it up to 16GB total RAM.

[Syntaxvgm]

who knew it would be browsers and not games that would push us to more ram?

And as a heavy VM user myself, I must have 16GB. 8 doesn't cut it. 

[NinJake]

Definately get the additional RAM, I don't even use half as many programs or have more than 3-4 tabs open in firefox at once, and moving from 8 to 16gb of RAM was great! Definately recommended. But with all of your virtualization and what not, try to get two 8gb sticks, so you can easily upgrade and put two more 8gb sticks for 32gb of RAM in the future

[gilm0re3]

Just curious.... Why are you constantly running multiple VMs?

As to an answer, the RAM usage actually seems pretty great considering what you are throwing at it, but yeah, I would bump it up to 16GB total RAM.

Virtual desktops. So the new Windows 10 feature. Which just helps me organize my workflows.

[DevilishBooster]

Virtual desktops. So the new Windows 10 feature. Which just helps me organize my workflows.

Ooooooooh, I get it. I gottcha now. I'm pickin' up what you're laying down.

Dur-dee-dur. Lol

[OmarM89]

i have a laptop with 8 GB of ram and i am using outlook with any where from 10 to 30 chrome tabs open at same time, about 10 of those usually in PRTG monitoring system. and few other applications lying around some lite applications and some have fairly high CPU and memory usage ( usually 5-10 Winbox instances) and RAM MAX  reaches 70 to 80% load. i would grab the 16 GB but my PC is old enough at this moment that i don't want to spend more on it and rather save my money to get a new one. 

 

 

get it bro. you will need it

[gilm0re3]

Ooooooooh, I get it. I gottcha now. I'm pickin' up what you're laying down.

Dur-dee-dur. Lol

Totally off topic, buy I love your user profile picture.

[gilm0re3]

Just curious.... Why are you constantly running multiple VMs?

As to an answer, the RAM usage actually seems pretty great considering what you are throwing at it, but yeah, I would bump it up to 16GB total RAM.

And to respond to your point

 

I've been told that it's definitely a good thing to have fairly high RAM usage because that means that you don't have RAM just sitting around doing nothing. In fact, I've heard that that's one of the reasons Chrome uses so much RAM, because it's coded to since you want to be utilizing all the RAM that you have. I just really wanted to know if constantly sitting around 70 to 85 percent without sweating it is probably the point at which 8 gigs is not enough. Thanks!

[DevilishBooster]

Totally off topic, buy I love your user profile picture.

Lol, thanks. Jay is one of my fav YouTubers. I keep meaning to go back and make a better gif so that you can't see it looping, but I'm don't know how. If you know of a program that would allow sub-second start and stop points that would be awesome. If I extract the video from YT, would I be able to do that in Adobe Premiere?

 

And to respond to your point

 

I've been told that it's definitely a good thing to have fairly high RAM usage because that means that you don't have RAM just sitting around doing nothing. In fact, I've heard that that's one of the reasons Chrome uses so much RAM, because it's coded to since you want to be utilizing all the RAM that you have. I just really wanted to know if constantly sitting around 70 to 85 percent without sweating it is probably the point at which 8 gigs is not enough. Thanks!

I've never heard that, but I guess it makes sense? I guess I just don't see why having a program be as memory efficient as possible so that you have more overhead room would be a bad thing.

[gilm0re3]

Lol, thanks. Jay is one of my fav YouTubers. I keep meaning to go back and make a better gif so that you can't see it looping, but I'm don't know how. If you know of a program that would allow sub-second start and stop points that would be awesome. If I extract the video from YT, would I be able to do that in Adobe Premiere?

 

I've never heard that, but I guess it makes sense? I guess I just don't see why having a program be as memory efficient as possible so that you have more overhead room would be a bad thing.

http://www.howtogeek.com/128130/htg-explains-why-its-good-that-your-computers-ram-is-full/

 

Here's a much more detailed explanation for why it's good to be using all the memory you have.