1GB RAM with New Vista Laptop--will it work??

[Voy Por Ustedes]

Hi,

I'm buying a new laptop that I intend to use to play poker, browse the internet and do some word document type stuff. I've heard bad things about Vista running with less than 2Gb of RAM. Could anyone have a look at the following specifications and tell me what they think?

Acer Aspire 9301AWSMi - Turion 64 mobile technology MK-36 - RAM : 1 GB - HD : 120 GB - Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium - 17" Widescreen TFT 1440 x 900 ( WXGA+ )


Processor
Processor AMD Turion 64 mobile technology MK-36
64-bit Computing Yes
Chipset Type NVIDIA GeForce Go 6100
Cache Memory
Type L2 Cache
RAM
Installed Size 1 GB / 4 GB (max)
Technology DDR II SDRAM
Configuration Features 2 x 512 MB
Storage Controller
Type IDE
Storage
Hard Drive 120 GB
Optical Storage
Type DVD±RW (+R double layer) / DVD-RAM - integrated
Card Reader
Type 5 in 1 card reader
Supported Flash Memory Cards SD Memory Card, Memory Stick, Memory Stick PRO, MultiMediaCard, xD-Picture Card
Display
Display Type 17" TFT active matrix
Max Resolution 1440 x 900 ( WXGA+ )
Widescreen Display Yes
Colour support 24-bit (16.7 million colours)
Features CrystalBrite
Video
Graphics Processor / Vendor NVIDIA GeForce Go 6100
Video Memory Shared Video Memory (UMA)
Max Allocated RAM Size 128 MB
Audio
Audio Output Sound card
Compliant Standards Sound Blaster Pro, High Definition Audio
Audio Input Microphone
Notebook Camera
Camera Type Integrated
Sensor Resolution 0.3 Megapixel
Image Sensor Type CMOS
Camera Features 225 degree rotation
Input Device(s)
Type Keyboard, touchpad, 4-way scroll button
Telecom
Modem Fax / modem
Max Transfer Rate 56 Kbps
Protocols & Specifications ITU V.92
Features Wake on Ring
Networking
Networking Network adapter
Wireless LAN Supported Yes
Wireless NIC Acer InviLink 802.11b/g
Data Link Protocol Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, Gigabit Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
Features Acer SignalUp
Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, Wi-Fi CERTIFIED
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Slots Total (Free) 2 ( 0 ) x memory ¦ 1 ( 1 ) x PC Card - type II
Interfaces 4 x Hi-Speed USB - 4 PIN USB Type A ¦ 1 x display / video - S-video output ¦ 1 x display / video - VGA - 15 pin HD D-Sub (HD-15) ¦ 1 x modem - phone line - RJ-11 ¦ 1 x network - Ethernet 10Base-T/100Base-TX/1000Base-T - RJ-45 ¦ 1 x microphone - input - mini-phone 3.5mm ¦ 1 x audio - line-In - mini-phone 3.5mm ¦ 1 x audio - SPDIF output/headphones
Miscellaneous
Features Security lock slot (cable lock sold separately), administrator password, system password, wake on LAN
Compliant Standards ACPI 2.0
Power
Power Device External
Voltage Required AC 120/230 V ( 50/60 Hz )
Battery
Technology 6-cell Lithium Ion
Installed Qty 1
Run Time (Up To) 2.5 hour(s)
Operating System / Software
OS Provided Microsoft Windows Vista Home Premium
Software Norton AntiVirus, Acer Launch Manager, N
TI CD-Maker, CyberLink PowerProducer, Acer GridVista, Acer Arcade, Adobe Reader, Acer Empowering Technology

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/Acer_...54/version.asp

Thanks.

[kerowo]

The bigger problem is going to be that it uses shared memory for the video card. If you can afford it upgrade to a video card that doesn't share system memory. In general though, more memory is better.

[Voy Por Ustedes]

Thanks for that Kerowo. If you had to pick between the specifications I posted above and the following which would you go for? Considering I can't afford anything particularly flashy, it seems that avoiding Vista might be sensible.

http://www.laptopsdirect.co.uk/MSI_L.../version-1.asp



# Processor: AMD Turion 64 X2 TL-52 - 1.6GHz (x2), up to 1.6GHz FSB, 2x256KB L2 Cache
# RAM: 1024MB DDR2-533MHz - Low Cost Double Memory Offer - Call For Details!
# Hard Drive: 100GB Serial ATA 5400rpm
# Screen: 17" Widescreen TFT
# Optical Drive: DVD±RW Super Multi
# Graphics: nVidia GeForce 6100
# Wireless LAN: 802.11b/g - Call for advice on Wireless Networking
# Battery Life (Depending on Use): 3 hrs
# Warranty: 2 Year
# Operating System: Windows XP Media Center Edition
# Windows Vista Compatible
# Gigabit Ethernet 10/100/1000
# 5-in-1 Card Reader (SD/MMC/XD/MS/MS Pro)
# Free Mouse and Carry Case
# Bluetooth Enabled

Thanks very much.

VPU

[kerowo]

They both have the same video card, looking at the Nvidia site it looks like it can run all the bells and whistles on Vista and for your price range I'd be surprised if you were going to find a non-integrated video card. The Acer has a bigger hard drive which would push me towards it. The first upgrade you can afford would be more memory though.

[MadMat]

Looks very similar specs to my Dell laptop with Vista. I can 4-table a cryptologic site with PT and a HUD running with no signs of slowdown or drive thrashing, and crypto sites used to kill my old XP based machine!

Mat

[stabn]

Will it work? yes. But 2gb is 10000x better.

[pvn]

[ QUOTE ]
The bigger problem is going to be that it uses shared memory for the video card. If you can afford it upgrade to a video card that doesn't share system memory. In general though, more memory is better.

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
I'm buying a new laptop that I intend to use to play poker, browse the internet and do some word document type stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

In your situation, more RAM would help a lot more and probably be cheaper than a better graphics adapter.

[buckslayer80]

[ QUOTE ]
Will it work? yes. But 2gb is 10000x better.

[/ QUOTE ]

QFT

[nation]

is vista worth upgrading to now? or is it still bad?

[buckslayer80]

[ QUOTE ]
is vista worth upgrading to now? or is it still bad?

[/ QUOTE ]

I would recommend waiting for the first service pack. Mainly for application compatibility.