How much of a performace difference is there between 2GB and 3GB of ram?

[Guest Kilroy44]

Hey guys, I am going to order up a laptop this summer, (I'm looking at a MacBook Pro) to dual boot Windows Vista and OSX off of. Anyways there is an option for 3GB of ram but its like another 500 bucks. So I'm curious in Vista/OSX will there be a real noticeable performance difference between 2gb and 3gb?

Help would be appreciated

[tommie gorman]

From what I have read it is doubtful. How much would you pay for the RAM otherwise? When I bought my PC I imediately upped the RAM anyway. 1-2 out of possible 4. I like to make sure, and then I do not have to back track. 

[Buntz]

Three GB of  ram (PC2-5300/667MHz)

Should be able to get 3 GB of ram for under $300.00

[tommie gorman]

So yeah, if you can get it yourself cheaper just add it when you want. 

[Guest kamil234]

depends on what you're doing.

[Guest Kilroy44]

I was looking and I can get an additional 2gb stick for like $287. I was just wondering for normal internet surfing,etc Maybe a rar occasion of video encoding

[tommie gorman]

Internet surfing you won't need it. You have plenty. Otherwise you can never have enough.

And for $500-287=$213 you make a pretty penny for you. 

[Guest kamil234]

i presonally dont think you need it but its whatever. you can buy whatever you want.

[Guest Kilroy44]

Sounds good I guess 2 gb will be plenty. I guess I can always upgrade later if i need to

[Swimmer]

2 GB seems to be Vista's sweet spot.. there will be a little advantage in games and video editing.. but with a dual core pc and 2 GB of ram you should be pretty good.

[bryanlautt]

Yeah i'll agree with you on that swimmer, 2gig is the sweet spot.  Vista uses about 1 gig so i always about about 1 gig left.

[Guest PeePs]

**** i only have 1 GB of memory and I do a lot of intense computing things (video encoding, gaming, etc.) and it seems to be enough, but then again i have XP and not Vista. Yeah, but really I don't think you need the extra GB of memory. I'd save the money and maybe go to IHOP a few of times instead  .

[bryanlautt]

yeah Vista handles memory alot better, the more the better.  XP cant really take advantage of huge amounts of memory, 4gigs on XP is all it can handle. actually a friend of mine has 4 gigs on XP and actually 3 show up but the BIOS reports 4 lol

[php]

yeah Vista handles memory alot better, the more the better.  XP cant really take advantage of huge amounts of memory, 4gigs on XP is all it can handle. actually a friend of mine has 4 gigs on XP and actually 3 show up but the BIOS reports 4 lol

windows won't see all 4 unless it's 64-bit...

[bryanlautt]

windows won't see all 4 unless it's 64-bit...

Was that with Vista for you or XP because my brother has 4 Gigs on his Vista machine and it all shows up running a 32 bit system.

[Guest kamil234]

i think vista is supposed to show up to 128 gigs?

idk if its 64 or 32 tho

[php]

Was that with Vista for you or XP because my brother has 4 Gigs on his Vista machine and it all shows up running a 32 bit system.

when i can afford 4 gigs, i'll let you know.. lol

that's just my understanding...