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By Rich
January 13, 2009
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Update: Windows 7 512MB Ram Under Normal Use

Many users have asked me how well Windows Seven works with 512MB RAM. Before I continue, I want to state that although I do not recommend using 512MB RAM, it works… as long as you’re willing to be patient.

After conducting several non-scientific tests and after using Windows7, with 512MB RAM, for several hours on end, I can say it works well enough. Yes, you may get some slow downs and yes, everything isn’t instant; however, it works much better than Vista would on 512MB and nearly as good as XP (in my opinion.)

See my task manager screenshots for confirmation. During these shots, I am watching a 3min video with Windows Media Player, have two instances of IE running, and a couple of Windows Explorer windows open.

Windows 7 under Normal Use with 512MB RAM

Windows 7 512mb ram - 1

323MB RAM Running WMP and IE

Windows 7 512mb ram - 2

Low process usage under normal use



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Comments

  • T Intellgence
    Sorry I am a noob... I have a question: Does it mean Win7 works better in 632mb ram than 512mb or same as using a 512mb ? O_o . Coz M\my PC has 632mb ram
  • Rich
    The basic answer is yes, 632MB is better (although I suspect you have 640: 512 + 128.)

    More RAM is usually better. I say usually because you may have 512MB running at 667 Hz and 128MB running at 133Hz. As you would need to run both dimms at 133Hz, you'd usually be better off with just 512. I say usually to that because you could also scrutinize that statement for very specific scenarios where amount of memory is in more demand than memory speed.
  • Danzen Binos
    I have installed Windows 7 Home Basic on my dad's old HP laptop that has a Pentium M 1.6GHz CPU and 512MB RAM and I can say that it works much better than I expected it to. Since he uses it mainly for surfing the net, it isn't much of a memory hog and it seems he's really satisfied with it.
  • Danzen Binos
    I have installed Windows 7 Home Basic on my dad's old HP laptop that has a Pentium M 1.6GHz CPU and 512MB RAM and I can say that it works much better than I expected it to. Since he uses it mainly for surfing the net, it isn't much of a memory hog and it seems he's really satisfied with it.
  • Asbjørn Stokka
    Well, if its as good as XP with 512mb ram its not all that usefull ... but then again its probably mostly a problem for laptops / tablets.
  • Asbjørn Stokka
    Well, if its as good as XP with 512mb ram its not all that usefull ... but then again its probably mostly a problem for laptops / tablets.
  • Mel
    Almost as good as XP? Sounds good enough to me!
  • Mel
    Almost as good as XP? Sounds good enough to me!
  • gerdva
    I installed it on my Kid's computer, 1.8 ghz processor 512 mb RAM. Runs fine, also with messenger running, youtube, videos, music and games. No prob. at all.
  • gerdva
    I installed it on my Kid's computer, 1.8 ghz processor 512 mb RAM. Runs fine, also with messenger running, youtube, videos, music and games. No prob. at all.
  • Master of Desaster
    @Abhinav K
    This isnt a fake, i have test windows 7 with 512 mb ram and its the same usage when i hear musik
  • Master of Desaster
    @Abhinav K
    This isnt a fake, i have test windows 7 with 512 mb ram and its the same usage when i hear musik
  • Jowell
    hah i have this spec a while back ago but den now i upgraded it to max spec and i have to say it was worth it for a decade old machine andd if you have a little patience
    motherboard p4b-la
    1.5 p4 cpu
    1g sdram
    4g of readyboost
    160gb hard drive
    ati x1050 video card
    memorex dvdrw
  • Jowell
    hah i have this spec a while back ago but den now i upgraded it to max spec and i have to say it was worth it for a decade old machine andd if you have a little patience
    motherboard p4b-la
    1.5 p4 cpu
    1g sdram
    4g of readyboost
    160gb hard drive
    ati x1050 video card
    memorex dvdrw
  • Rich
    Sounds good. Thanks for sharing your specs Keith.
  • Keith
    hey!
    haha after i read this thread i got inspired...
    so i tried it out.. and look what i got...
    its like im just running windows xp :P...
    my specs:
    CPU: P4 1.5 GHz RAM: 512 MB HD: 60 GB(the windows 7 partition is only 19.5 GB) GFX CARD: NVIDIA XFX 5200 (you look the specs up but i think its just 128 MB of RAM)

    hey i can also run aero!!! and its still smooth(well not that smooth but its still cool) but i turned it off cause i dont need/use it anyway...

    so finding out a way to reduce more ram usage...
  • Keith
    hey!
    haha after i read this thread i got inspired...
    so i tried it out.. and look what i got...
    its like im just running windows xp :P...
    my specs:
    CPU: P4 1.5 GHz RAM: 512 MB HD: 60 GB(the windows 7 partition is only 19.5 GB) GFX CARD: NVIDIA XFX 5200 (you look the specs up but i think its just 128 MB of RAM)

    hey i can also run aero!!! and its still smooth(well not that smooth but its still cool) but i turned it off cause i dont need/use it anyway...

    so finding out a way to reduce more ram usage...
  • Sounds good. Thanks for sharing your specs Keith.
  • Angie
    Thanks for sharing the info and the screenshots, Rich. I have a 1.5 GHZ Intel Processor with Celeron M and 1.5 GB RAM. Windows 7 is lookin good!
  • Angie
    Thanks for sharing the info and the screenshots, Rich. I have a 1.5 GHZ Intel Processor with Celeron M and 1.5 GB RAM. Windows 7 is lookin good!
  • DanielRemains
    This is what I get with Aero Peek and WMP network service turned off

    http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/657816/Pics/Win7281m... ;)
  • DanielRemains
    This is what I get with Aero Peek and WMP network service turned off

    http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/657816/Pics/Win7281m... ;)
  • NO$GM_Bob
    oh boy. Well I'm glad it runs with 512mb. It also seems to have vistas memory-cache system, just ramped up a bit. I'm running the x64 Win 7 with 4GB dual 667, and it seems to always occupy 1.22GB a minute or two after startup, nothing having been run yet. Vista takes 825MB in this same situation, same drivers (literally, being a laptop, I had to pilfer some nvidia dev drivers for vista..).
    Mind you, this is for quick startup or common services, tasks, etc. When I took out one of the 2GB modules and popped in a 1GB, that 1.25GB dropped to 1GB flat. Windows 7 under testing gives up all non-essential ram instantly to and program that demands more memory, before ever hitting the pagefile. Good system, runs well.
  • NO$GM_Bob
    oh boy. Well I'm glad it runs with 512mb. It also seems to have vistas memory-cache system, just ramped up a bit. I'm running the x64 Win 7 with 4GB dual 667, and it seems to always occupy 1.22GB a minute or two after startup, nothing having been run yet. Vista takes 825MB in this same situation, same drivers (literally, being a laptop, I had to pilfer some nvidia dev drivers for vista..).
    Mind you, this is for quick startup or common services, tasks, etc. When I took out one of the 2GB modules and popped in a 1GB, that 1.25GB dropped to 1GB flat. Windows 7 under testing gives up all non-essential ram instantly to and program that demands more memory, before ever hitting the pagefile. Good system, runs well.
  • John
    I think possibly it is a percentage of the the percentage being used, so mfpmp.exe is using 65% of the 10% in use.

    Not a helpful comment from Chris, but then he is obviously totally l33t and pwns us noobs at looking at task manager.
  • John
    I think possibly it is a percentage of the the percentage being used, so mfpmp.exe is using 65% of the 10% in use.

    Not a helpful comment from Chris, but then he is obviously totally l33t and pwns us noobs at looking at task manager.
  • Chris
    Abhinav.

    Take a look at your task manager before you post noobish remarks.

    They all do that.

    Absolutely Win 7 will run under 512mb normal use.
  • Chris
    Abhinav.

    Take a look at your task manager before you post noobish remarks.

    They all do that.

    Absolutely Win 7 will run under 512mb normal use.
  • Rich
    It's a straight screenshot from my desktop. However, you are correct on the CPU usage... odd. I still affirm Windows 7 works really well with 512MB RAM.
  • Abhinav K
    It think it's fake.....

    In the second screenshot, mfpmp.exe is utilizing 65 % of CPU and Windows Media 4% CPU, but why is the accumulative CPU usage in the status bar is just 10%.
  • It's a straight screenshot from my desktop. However, you are correct on the CPU usage... odd. I still affirm Windows 7 works really well with 512MB RAM.
  • Abhinav K
    It think it's fake.....

    In the second screenshot, mfpmp.exe is utilizing 65 % of CPU and Windows Media 4% CPU, but why is the accumulative CPU usage in the status bar is just 10%.
  • David
    Thanks for the info. Now I will definitely install Windows 7 on my 512mb ram computer. I just have to wait until Jan 17th cause I reached my bandwidth:(

    I like that they removed a lot of junk features that are in vista.
  • David
    Thanks for the info. Now I will definitely install Windows 7 on my 512mb ram computer. I just have to wait until Jan 17th cause I reached my bandwidth:(

    I like that they removed a lot of junk features that are in vista.
  • MSherwood
    Yeah that's what I meant. I probably won't run it on the other computer. Right now it has 256K RAM and it crawls on XP SP3. It does have a 1.5 GHz single core, but I don't want it to explode or anything. Thanks man.
  • MSherwood
    Yeah that's what I meant. I probably won't run it on the other computer. Right now it has 256K RAM and it crawls on XP SP3. It does have a 1.5 GHz single core, but I don't want it to explode or anything. Thanks man.
  • Rich
    2.0 GHZ Single Core processor. 512MB DDR RAM @ 333 Mhz. 64MB Integrated GMA Graphics.

    To make it basic, I just used the standard theme (without Aero.) In fact, under these conditions, Aero doesn't work at all (I just using generic drivers as it works pretty well.)

    Is that what you meant by "Basic"?
  • Windows 7 - discussione uffici
    [...] Use with 512MB RAM Windows 7 under Normal Use with 512MB RAM 323MB RAM Running WMP and IE Continua qui Clicca sullo spoiler per thread [...]
  • MSherwood
    What specs does this computer have? Also, what did you change in the Beta to make it "Basic" 7? Just a couple questions... I might give it a try too.
  • MSherwood
    What specs does this computer have? Also, what did you change in the Beta to make it "Basic" 7? Just a couple questions... I might give it a try too.
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