How much computer memory do you need?

Computer memory (RAM) used to be expensive stuff. However, there had been tremendous drop in RAM price around 2008 and bottomed up in mid-2009. Although now the RAM price has risen back about 100% from its historical bottom, it is still consider affortable to buy RAM in Gigabytes (instead of in Megabytes).

However, buying too much RAM is still a kind of wastage, as there might be portion of RAM that will never be used. So, how much computer memory do you actually need?

I have done some study about this in the Internet, including a report in Tom's Hardware which concluded that having more RAM does not always mean getting faster performance, and would like to put down my opinion as follow:

• If your computer is running on 32-bit operating system, you do not need more than 3GB RAM, as the maximum supported RAM by your operating system is around 3.5GB only. Any amount of RAM more than that will be completely wasted.
• There is a maximum amount of RAM supported by your computer motherboard. Older model (typically manufactured before 2007) might only support up to 2GB RAM only. Any amount of RAM more than supported will be completely wasted. Check the specification of the motherboard.
• If you use the computer for 3D games, audio and video encoding, 3GB RAM is sufficient to you.
• If you use the computer for normal application which is not too memory intensive, 2GB RAM is sufficient to you.
• If you use the computer for multitasking, always running several applications at the same time, 4GB RAM should be sufficient to you.
• If you use the computer as database server, or running multiple operating systems with virtualization, then you should go for the maximum affortable RAM amount. Nowadays RAM module of 2GB is still cheap, but more than that would still be expensive. If your computer motherboard has 4 RAM slots, you can go for 4 x 2GB = 8GB of RAM.
• Unless you are using the computer as multiuser server, normally you don't need more than 8GB RAM.

It is always a good idea to leave some spare RAM slots for future expansion when the RAM price gets even cheaper, and the computer software become more memory hungry then. As such, no need to spend money on more RAM than 8GB unless really needed now.

Calculate the recommended power supply wattage for desktop computer

If you are going to DIY build a desktop computer, you might be wondering how much wattage of power supply unit (PSU) should your computer use, that will be sufficient and not overkill.

In fact, you can calculate the recommended power supply wattage using the online eXtreme Power Supply Calculator, claimed to be "the only power supply calculator trusted by PSU manufacturers and computer enthusiasts".

Just click on either one of the links below:

• The default eXtreme PSU Calculator Lite
• Thermaltake Power Supply Calculator
• Cooler Master Power Supply Calculator

This handy tool will calculate the estimated power consumption based on information including the motherboard, CPU, video card, RAM, harddisk, disc drives, PCI cards, PCI Express cards, USB devices, fans, cooling system, etc.

Dell Malaysia monitor deals

Good news if you plan to buy a new monitor: Dell Malaysia is having monitor deals now. Last day is 29 July 2010 26 August 2010.

Here are the deals:

17" monitors:

• E170S - RM164 RM109 discount
• P170S - RM122 RM132 discount
• E1709W - RM159 RM114 discount

18.5" monitor:

• IN1920 - RM100 discount

19" monitors:

• E190S - RM194 RM132 discount
• P190S - RM113 discount
• E1910 - RM83 discount

20" monitors:

• ST2010-BLK - RM150 discount
• E2010H - RM93 RM103 discount
• 2007FP - RM305 RM239 discount
• 2009W - RM443 RM143 discount

21.5" monitors:

• SX2210T (multi-touch with webcam) - RM430 RM530 discount
• U2211H - RM169 discount
• E2210H - RM107 discount
• P2211H - RM120 RM140 discount
• U2211H - RM169 RM179 discount

22" monitors:

• 2209WA - RM262 RM190 discount
• E2210 - RM177 RM115 discount
• P2210 - RM237 RM165 discount
• U2211H - RM179 discount

23" monitors:

• U2311H - RM131 RM151 discount
• E2310H - RM243 RM160 discount
• P2311H - RM112 discount + RM50 coupon code "C55HJQRH7$5N4C"
• U2311H - RM131 RM151 discount

24" monitors:

• ST2410 - RM270 RM290 discount
• U2410 - RM316 discount + RM150 coupon code "5F7137L?4685FX" RM233 discount
• G2410H - RM127 discount

27" monitors:

• U2711 - RM437 discount + RM500 coupon code "QNS1W96C1MT$LZ"

30" monitors:

• 3008WFP - RM1,132 discount + RM700 discount RM1581 discount

Visit Dell Malaysia website for detail specification and pricing information.

* The above information is for reference only, and might not be the latest information. For actual latest discount and pricing information, please refer to Dell Malaysia website.

You might probably be interested to also read about:

• Compare LCD screen size of standard and widescreen monitors