How much memory do you need?

When it comes to adding system memory, the general rule of thumb is the more, the better.
On average, doubling the amount of memory in your system will give you ample "space" to work and make an obvious difference in overall speed, especially with today's memory-hungry applications, such as office programs and graphics-intensive games. You'll be able to run more programs at once, and your system will be less likely to lock up or behave strangely. You'll also find it easier and faster than ever to edit graphics and sound. The bottom line is that adding memory makes your computer more efficient and allows you to do more things at once.

Here's what you do:	Here's what you need:
Minor Administrative Some word processing, occasional e-mail	384MB – 512MB
Fair Administrative Word processing and e-mail, spreadsheets, fax and communication software, simple graphics programs, two applications open at once	384MB – 512MB
Intense Administrative/Student Word processing and e-mail, spreadsheets, fax and communication business graphics, general gaming software, three or more applications open at once	384MB – 512MB
Executive/Management Word processing and e-mail, spreadsheets, fax and communication software, presentation software, illustration software, photo editing, Web browser	512MB – 1GB
Professional and Gamer Word processing and e-mail, photo editing, font packages and multimedia software, CAD software, CAM software, gaming	1GB – 2GB
Heavy Graphics Design 3-D CAD software, modeling software	2GB and up

OS Software
Software title	Minimum requirements	Crucial recommendations
Microsoft Windows® Vista™ 64-bit	2GB	2.5GB
Microsoft Windows® Vista 32-bit	1GB	2GB
Microsoft Windows® XP® Professional	128MB	512MB – 1GB
Windows XP Home	128MB	512MB – 1GB
Windows 2000	128MB	512MB
Mac® OS X	128MB	256MB

Design Software
Software title	Minimum requirements	Crucial recommendations
Adobe® Acrobat® 6.0 Standard	64MB	128MB
Macromedia® Studio MX™ 2004	256MB	512MB
Microsoft FrontPage® 2003	128MB	512MB
Adobe Illustrator® CS	128MB	512MB
Pinnacle® Studio™ Version 9	128MB	1GB – 1.5GB
Adobe Photoshop® CS	128MB	1GB – 1.5GB
Adobe Premiere® Pro	256MB	1GB +
Adobe After Effects® 6.0	128MB	1GB – 1.5GB

Games
Software title	Minimum requirements	Crucial recommendations
Half-Life® 2: Lost Coast™	256MB	1.5 – 2GB
Battlefield® 2™	512MB	2GB
Battlefield 2142™	512MB	2GB
Call of Duty 2™	512MB	1.5GB
Star Wars® Battlefront™ 2	512MB	1.5GB
F.E.A.R ™, F.E.A.R. Extraction Point	512MB	2GB
Company of Heroes®	512MB	1.5GB – 2GB
Neverwinter Nights™ 2	512MB	1.5GB – 2GB
Medieval II: Total War™	512MB	1GB – 2GB
Need for Speed™ Carbon	256MB	1GB – 2GB
Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Double Agent™	512MB	1GB – 2GB
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six® Vegas	512MB	1GB – 2GB

(The OS, design, and games software specs on this page are current as of 11-15-06.)

The Crucial Memory Calculator
How does more RAM affect system performance? Explore our database of benchmark test results to see the impact of memory on various motherboard, processor, and operating system combinations.
If you build systems, the Memory Calculator can show you how much RAM to install for optimum performance.

What is the maximum amount of RAM the Windows operating system can handle?

That depends on two factors: the amount of memory your computer hardware can handle, and the amount of memory your Microsoft® Windows® operating system (OS) can handle.

First, your computer hardware (motherboard) is designed to hold a maximum amount of RAM. When you look up your computer in the Crucial Memory Advisor™ tool or scan your system with the Crucial System Scanner, you will see the system maximum listed on the page that shows the compatible upgrades for your system.

Second, the OS maximum is the maximum amount of memory that your particular version of Windows, Linux, or Mac® OS can handle.

When purchasing your memory upgrade, make sure that you do not exceed the lower of the two maximums (OS and computer maximums.) Too much RAM can lower your system's performance or cause other problems. (In most cases, the system maximum is lower than the OS maximum.)

Windows Vista (32 bit)

Ultimate: 4 GB

Enterprise: 4 GB

Business: 4 GB

Home Premium: 4 GB

Home Basic: 4 GB

Starter: 1 GB

Windows XP (32 bit)

Professional: 4 GB

Home: 4 GB

Starter Edition: 512 MB

Windows Server 2003 (32 bit)

Datacenter SP2: 128 GB

Enterprise SP2: 64 GB

Standard SP1: 4 GB

Datacenter R2: 128 GB

Enterprise R2: 64 GB

Standard R2: 4 GB

Web Edition: 4 GB

Small Business Edition: 4 GB

Windows Server 2008 (32 bit)

Datacenter: 64 GB

Enterprise: 64 GB

Standard: 4 GB

Web Server: 4 GB

Windows Vista (64 bit)

Ultimate: 128 GB

Enterprise: 128 GB

Business: 128 GB

Home Premium: 16 GB

Home Basic: 8 GB

Windows XP (64 bit)

Professional: 128 GB

Windows Server 2003 (64 bit)

Datacenter SP2: 2 TB

Enterprise SP2: 2 TB

Standard SP1: 32 GB

Datacenter R2: 1 TB

Enterprise R2: 1 TB

Standard R2: 32 GB

Small Business Edition: 128 GB

Windows Server 2008 (64 bit)

Datacenter: 2 TB

Enterprise: 2 TB

Standard: 32 GB

Web Server: 32 GB

Here are the OS maximums for some older versions of Microsoft Windows:

• Windows 95: 1GB
• Windows 98: 1GB
• Windows 98SE: 1GB
• Windows ME: 1.5GB
• Windows NT: 4GB
• Windows 2000 Professional: 4GB
• Windows 2000 Server: 4GB
• Windows 2000 Advanced Server: 8GB with PAE enabled
• Windows 2000 Datacenter Server: 32GB with PAE enabled

Here are the maximums for some other platforms:

• OS X (including v. 10.4 "Tiger"): 8GB due to current hardware limitations (the current maximum memory capacity of Apple's highest-end system, the Power Mac G5)
• OS 9.x: 1.5GB (no single application can utilize more than 1GB)
• Red Hat Linux 2.4 kernel: 64GB