RAM: Have enough?

I was tinkering with my computer, tryin to find out why my it kept crashing during certain programs, and my dad suggested I look at the RAM. Apparently, I dont' have enough, so I was wondering if this indeed could be what is causing my coputer to crash.

If so, what would you recommend for a better performance? Thanks for your time.

Well I doubt your computer would crash from not having enough RAM. Only be very slow...
I've seen your other threads and what you need is a good old fashion format.
Now I know you have no idea what that is... But you will need to find out.
Check around on Google there will be plenty of easy step by step guides
Like this one:
http://rcc.bgsu.edu/computing/xpformat/

Just print it off or something... But before you do that you will need to backup all your current data.. That inclues My Documents..All your pictures/Music/Bookmarks/Emails.. Make a list of all the programs you will need again under "Add or Remove Programs" which is in Control Panel.

Once you've got everything you need burn it to a CD or along those lines.
Then just follow that guide and you should be sweet.

Your computer should run perfectly again like it once did... If not you may start thinking about upgrading your computer or scrap it all together and ask your parnets for a new PC for Christmas =P

Good luck, your gonna need it. (And remember if you need to figure out how todo something just type it into Google... Google is your best friend when it comes to computer repairs )

Lack of RAM can cause a computer to crash, but it would be incredibly slow first.

Could you please post your computer's specs? and what specifically your problems are? Apparently this isn't your first thread. To get a reliable list of computer specs click on 'Start' then 'Run' then type in 'dxdiag'. After that program has loaded perform every test on all of the tabs. Then click on the 'Save all information button' and copy the text from that file and paste it here.

Then give us a list of all of your problems, if there's a way to fix them without reformatting I'd like to find it, as I doubt that you'd want to reinstall Windows and all of your games/programs if it could be avoided.

Edit: Please also post when you get problems, as it may be a software issue.

------------------
System Information
------------------
Time of this report: 12/4/2005, 21:52:45
Machine name: KATIESARAH
Operating System: Windows XP Home Edition (5.1, Build 2600) Service Pack 1 (2600.xpsp1.020828-1920)
Language: English (Regional Setting: English)
System Manufacturer: Compaq Presario 061
System Model: DK214A-ABA S4020WM NA210
BIOS: Phoenix - AwardBIOS v6.00PG
Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) XP 2400+, MMX, 3DNow, ~2.0GHz
Memory: 112MB RAM
Page File: 149MB used, 119MB available
Windows Dir: C:\WINDOWS
DirectX Version: DirectX 9.0 (4.09.0000.0900)
DX Setup Parameters: Not found
DxDiag Version: 5.03.0000.0900 32bit Unicode



Well, there you go. If you can make sense of it because I sure can't. Now, for a list of the problems.

1. Whenever I am on Internet Explorer and AIM simultaneously, my computer will often freeze, so I tend to avoid running both applicatinos at the same time.

2. I have vidoe clips downloaded of the web in windows media player format for the new Zelda game. When ever I run these video clips, or any other video files for that matter, my computer will freeze. Sometimes it will play through the whole video, but rarely, and everytime I try to play it again, it immdiately freezes.

3. I own a SNES and A Link to the Past, although my SNES broke awhile ago, so I downloaded an emulator and the ROM, which I checked and it is perfectly legal since I own both of those items. Whenever I run this program, my computer will sometimes work for awhile and then freeze, or immediately freeze.

That's about it, hope this can help you...

Memory: 112MB RAM

That is rediculously insufficient.

Please tell me you're not putting yourself through XP's visual themes with only that much memory.

LOL! 112MB RAM.... Yep.. ok you DO need some more RAM. Thats crazy... You need atleast 256mb for it to be stable... But I'd go for 512mb of I was you.

That means you have 16MBs shared for your videoram lol. If I were you I would get a 512 card and enter your system bios or setup at startup and increase your shared video memory to its maximum which should be 32 or 64. If its allready at its maximum then its time for a new video card.

Originally Posted by V99

LOL! 112MB RAM.... Yep.. ok you DO need some more RAM. Thats crazy... You need atleast 256mb for it to be stable... But I'd go for 512mb of I was you.

My PC has 1200, alough I'm usually only using 300 MB of it. But yes, 112 MB is insane, you seriously need more.

I would seriously suggest dumping that RAM stick and getting a pair of Corsair TwinX 512MB PC 3200 RAM. I got those sticks in my setup and couldn't be happier. Although I would like a pair of low-latency OCZ 1GB sticks >.>

Originally Posted by Yami

I would seriously suggest dumping that RAM stick and getting a pair of Corsair TwinX 512MB PC 3200 RAM. I got those sticks in my setup and couldn't be happier. Although I would like a pair of low-latency OCZ 1GB sticks >.>

lol for what he's doing any crappy cheap RAM would do the trick

Originally Posted by Yami

I would seriously suggest dumping that RAM stick and getting a pair of Corsair TwinX 512MB PC 3200 RAM. I got those sticks in my setup and couldn't be happier. Although I would like a pair of low-latency OCZ 1GB sticks >.>

Expensive and Unesseary, RAM is cheep now day and with program using more and more its worth picking some up and having a Mobo with at least 3-4 slots in my opinion.

I'd agree with the above, you need more RAM, 112 isn't enough to run Windows XP and two other programs. I'd recommend getting about 384/512 MB of RAM. Also, do you do much video gaming? If so you will want to upgrade your video card, I personally reccomend the ATI Radeon 9800 Pro, but the 9600 is a good alternative if that costs too much. You can either order these parts online and put them in yourself, if you know what your doing, or send your computer into a store (Not Best buy or Future shop) and have them install the RAM/video card for you. If you don't play many games on your PC then you can ignore the video card and just get the RAM.

As you don't seem to have an amazing grasp of how computers work or how they are put together I'd reccomend you call up your local computer store (Again, not Best buy or Future shop) and ask them how much 512 Megabytes of RAM would cost to buy and install. You will also need to know what kind of RAM your computer has, if you don't know when you call the shop ask them if you could just bring in your computer and have them see what kind you have.

Edit: ROMs and Emulators are illegal whether or not you own the games. Every game manual has a line in it stating, and I quote:
"Warning: Copying of any Nintendo game is illegal and is strictly prohibited by domestic and international intellectual property laws. "Back-up" or "archival" copies are not authorized and are not necessary to protect your software. Violators will be prosecuted."

Short form: You cannot, under any circumstances, make copies of or use copies of Nintendo games.

I have the lowest RAM in these forums I think. 64MB memory, a measely amount. I hate my computer with a passion. I have cheap slow internet to top it off. But that will all end once I get a job, I will atleast get DSL and get a new computer. My computer has been around since '98, I'm surprise it's still running after how many attacks it went through (both from me and viruses).

Originally Posted by Robin 125

Expensive and Unesseary, RAM is cheep now day and with program using more and more its worth picking some up and having a Mobo with at least 3-4 slots in my opinion.

You misread me.

What I mean would be to get rid of the 128MB ram stick and stick in a pair of Corsair TwinX sticks. Chances are, the mobo has only two slots, but if it has more, the 128MB stick won't give a great performance enhance due to them being totally different.

Originally Posted by Ganma

I have the lowest RAM in these forums I think. 64MB memory, a measely amount. I hate my computer with a passion. I have cheap slow internet to top it off. But that will all end once I get a job, I will atleast get DSL and get a new computer. My computer has been around since '98, I'm surprise it's still running after how many attacks it went through (both from me and viruses).

lol well you don't win any prize.. Im sure there is someone here with 32mbs or maybe even 48Mbs of RAM =P

That is horrific... I feel bad for whoever has that burden on them. I remember my computer wiz cousin asking me about my RAM over the phone a while back, and I said 64MB thinking that it was really big amount to have. He laughed his a** off about it. Told me I needed to buy and new computer which have even more than that now.

Yea, 112mb is way too little, but don't feel bad, I have a computer that I get circuits from that has 32mb. I suggest 256mb if you aren't doing anything special, and 512mb if you are running video games. Of course if you have the money either get 1gb (like lucky ole me) or a brand new comp with 512mb., I say a new comp because you care currently running at 2.0 ghz, if it is a laptop, its cool, but a compaq should have much more than 2.0. Get 2.8ghz pentium 4, or an AMB athalon with 512 or 1gb of ram.

Just remember, the more you know about computers, the more you will spend. The origonal comptuer I was looking at was $300, after 6 months of reashearch i ended up buying one worth over $1000.

Also, you should think about deleleting everyhting in that spec post but the first thing, I'm sure somehow, someway your IP adress is in there, which means someone can hack you. (DOn't worry, I wont, because I don't know how )