How Much RAM for a Linux Desktop?

MrApples · Guru Joined: 13 Dec 2002 Posts: 511

OK so im looking at getting some new hardware and i have already decided on the processor (2600+ Mobile) and the motherboard (Shuttle AN35N-Ultra), but what im not sure about it how much memory i should get, 512mb or 1gig

this computer would be a desktop and i run my share of servers, so what would everyone suggest, it will be running dual channel if that weighs on your suggestions
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subrahmanyan · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 5:01 am Post subject:

You didn't say what desktop you're going to use. But if money is not a problem for you, take 1GB, otherwise 512MB. It is the minimum for a desktop like KDE. I have 256MB in two machines (KDE on both of them) and it swaps all the time :cry:

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miseiler · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Posts: 118

Archangel1 · Veteran Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 1212 Location: Work

I've got two machines, with 512 and 640, and they both get on okay in KDE.
With RAM being fairly cheap now I'd say it's worth going for the GB unless money's a problem. It'll be nice in a couple of years time when programs will be more demanding.

Depends what you're going to do with it though - you'll definately appreciate the RAM if you're gaming, or running a bunch of memory hungry apps. If you're only planning on light desktop use 512 would be okay - you can probably upgrade it down the line if you want anyway.

John5788 · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 5:41 am Post subject:

512 is nothing now, go with 1gb

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Suicidal · l33t Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 959 Location: /dev/null

I pretty much agree with the rest 512 or better for a quick desktop.

monkeyhead · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:07 am Post subject:

i have 512 and it keeps up most of the time, but there are times I wish I had more, like when I'm running vmware, got several x servers running and trying to compile the latest and greatest.

blue.sca · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 7:30 am Post subject:

i have 768MB, thats pretty ok for all my needs. but if youre going for 1GB than be carefull, if you dont have the 1G_lowmem kernel patch, you have to enable high memory support in your kernel to use all your memory but that can make your system smaller (larger adress table i believe)
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DaMouse · Apprentice Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 233

I ran one at 200MHz with 96MB of RAM and GNOME so there

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Muso · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 8:44 am Post subject:

512mb is fine ......... 768mb if you don't mind the cash ..... and 1gb if you never want to think about ram for the next 2 years
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Archangel1 · Veteran Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Posts: 1212 Location: Work

sabaisabai · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:31 am Post subject:

I used to run KDE with full eye-candy turned on with 256MB on my 2.8G laptop, and it ran very well. The only noticable difference that increasing to 640MB made was faster re-opening of apps.

My usage is mainly for development (several DB/Internet servers running, and compiling/emerging) and Internet use, with not much use of multimedia besides GIMP.

rush_ad · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:20 am Post subject:

working fine with 384mb here.

seppe · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 12:14 pm Post subject:

I have 3 computers,

My new laptop has 1Gb, and it's great! Most of the time, it's filled for 30% and things never get swapped.

My older desktop has 512Mb, and Gnome is a bit slow. But that could be due to the 800Mhz CPU. Sometimes, things get swapped.

My very old desktop has 64Mb, and Fluxbox and XFCE4 works great! It's 133Mhz machine

. I have no idea about swapping here, because I barely use this machine (and certainly not X, more console apps)

So I guess it depends on what you're going to do with your machine. But I suggest you to take 1Gb, otherwise you'll have to upgrade within a year or so.
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dyqik · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 12:52 pm Post subject:

I'm using Konqueror in KDE 3.3 to write this with Knode open, Kopete logged into MSN, my PhD thesis (including figures) open in lyx, Noatun playing mp3s and several Konsoles doing their thing. I'm also emerging openoffice. My memory usage is 176 MB of 512 MB, with 256MB disk cache (that'll shrink when I get short on RAM) and nothing in the swap. Also running are iptables, dhcp and ssh servers. So 512 MB is plenty for a desktop.

RexM · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 2:14 pm Post subject:

I'm running an AMD Duron 900 with 384MB of PC100 RAM. It seems to be pretty fast, but then again, I don't really have anything to compare it to. I'm hoping to get an AMD Athlon 64 3500+ and 1GB of RAM soon, so that should help me out a tad.

I run Openbox3, Xorg 6.8, gaim, beepmp, firefox, xchat, enemy-territory, and it all runs fine. When I first boot up I use about 50MB of memory and 0 Swap, after a game of ET it's up to about 170MB of memory and about 30MB of Swap.

I don't really understand why my system touches swap when there's still memory to use, but oh well, I didn't design the Linux kernel

luisfeser · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 2:32 pm Post subject:

I'm running with 512Mb and sometimes i see more than 300 Mb in use, but it's rare, and never i seen 512 used. My desktop is Xfce4, or fbpanel

(but i use konqueror and k3b)

i'm thinking to buy 2x256 (400mhz) because of the nforce2 and dual-chanel. But 1Gb is so expensive and i'm sure that I don't need it...
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DaMouse · Apprentice Joined: 18 Jul 2003 Posts: 233

To · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 3:59 pm Post subject:

You can't ever say that you have enught ram. Go for 1G :roll:

Tó
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Naib · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 5:56 pm Post subject:

Well if you just want a desktop my GNOME uses 100meg of RAM just after booting into it.

However, as I start to run things it obviously goes up.

generally 1Gig is good

DizL · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 6:35 pm Post subject:

Hi,

I'm using KDE 3.3.0 and programs like kmail, knode, xmms, mozilla (normal work)
and 512 MB is really enough for it :]

DizL
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MrApples · Guru Joined: 13 Dec 2002 Posts: 511

codergeek42 · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:20 pm Post subject:

Using Openbox, Firefox, Thunderbird, OO.o-Ximian, Gaim, etc. with 256 MB RAM. It runs good using zSNES and Quake III, Tux Racer, etc, also (I have 512 MB swap, usually using 10 MB or so of it, as reported by free, usually alot more while I'm gaming.) DUDE I need new RAM lol...
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