Laptop help with RAM and OS
Hey, I have a couple questions. I have an older Gateway Core 2 Duo running Vista Home Premium 32 bit. This came with 3GB of RAM installed, and during the FS sale a couple years ago I switched it to 4GB (2x2GB). Lately I've been thinking about upgrading the RAM, as performance information says that is what is holding the computer back. Now, I know that 32bit OS's limit the RAM to 3.xx, so I'm wondering if I should upgrade to Win7 64bit.
Now, what do you guys think? I'm competent when it comes to hardware and software, but I'm no expert. Should I go Win7, or just wait for 8? And what do you guys think about upgrading the RAM? I know I'd get a big boost with an SSD, but I just sent it away and got a new HDD and battery (Staples extended warranty), so I don't want to go replacing that right now. I've listed the specs below from Gateway's website.
Processor Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5750
2 MB L2 Cache | 2.0 GHz | 667 MHz FSB
Chipset Intel® PM965
Display panel 15.4-inch Ultrabright™ WXGA TFT display (1280 × 800)
Memory 3072 MB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (1 × 1024 and 1 × 2048)
Operates at 667 MHz
Total slots: 2 DDR2 slots | Available slots: 0 DDR2 slots
Video controller ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 2600 XT PCI Express Graphics
512 MB GDDR3 Dedicated Memory
HDMI HDMI version 1.2 connector
Webcam 1.3 Megapixel
Fingerprint reader No
Audio High definition audio - 2 channel
Hard drive 250 GB 5400 RPM SATA hard drive
And here are the Performance Information specs.
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5750 @ 2.00GHz 4.9
Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB 4.5
Graphics ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 5.9
Gaming graphics 1791 MB Total available graphics memory 5.2
Primary hard disk 160GB Free (298GB Total) 5.9
Windows Vista (TM) Home Premium
System
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manufacturer Gateway
Model M-6874h
Total amount of system memory 4.00 GB RAM
System type 32-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 2
64-bit capable Yes
Storage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total size of hard disk(s) 298 GB
Disk partition (C: ) 160 GB Free (298 GB Total)
Media drive (D: ) CD/DVD
Graphics
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Display adapter type ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600
Total available graphics memory 1791 MB
Dedicated graphics memory 512 MB
Dedicated system memory 0 MB
Shared system memory 1279 MB
Display adapter driver version 8.631.0.0
Primary monitor resolution 1280x800
DirectX version DirectX 10
Also, final question. System Requirements Lab is giving my GPU a failing grade for Diablo 3, but its on the list of supported cards. Do you think it will run alright? Not looking to max it out, just minimum at a decent framerate.
Thanks in advance.
Now, what do you guys think? I'm competent when it comes to hardware and software, but I'm no expert. Should I go Win7, or just wait for 8? And what do you guys think about upgrading the RAM? I know I'd get a big boost with an SSD, but I just sent it away and got a new HDD and battery (Staples extended warranty), so I don't want to go replacing that right now. I've listed the specs below from Gateway's website.
Processor Intel® Centrino® Duo Mobile Technology
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo processor T5750
2 MB L2 Cache | 2.0 GHz | 667 MHz FSB
Chipset Intel® PM965
Display panel 15.4-inch Ultrabright™ WXGA TFT display (1280 × 800)
Memory 3072 MB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM (1 × 1024 and 1 × 2048)
Operates at 667 MHz
Total slots: 2 DDR2 slots | Available slots: 0 DDR2 slots
Video controller ATI Mobility Radeon™ HD 2600 XT PCI Express Graphics
512 MB GDDR3 Dedicated Memory
HDMI HDMI version 1.2 connector
Webcam 1.3 Megapixel
Fingerprint reader No
Audio High definition audio - 2 channel
Hard drive 250 GB 5400 RPM SATA hard drive
And here are the Performance Information specs.
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T5750 @ 2.00GHz 4.9
Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB 4.5
Graphics ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600 5.9
Gaming graphics 1791 MB Total available graphics memory 5.2
Primary hard disk 160GB Free (298GB Total) 5.9
Windows Vista (TM) Home Premium
System
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Manufacturer Gateway
Model M-6874h
Total amount of system memory 4.00 GB RAM
System type 32-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 2
64-bit capable Yes
Storage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total size of hard disk(s) 298 GB
Disk partition (C: ) 160 GB Free (298 GB Total)
Media drive (D: ) CD/DVD
Graphics
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Display adapter type ATI Mobility Radeon HD 2600
Total available graphics memory 1791 MB
Dedicated graphics memory 512 MB
Dedicated system memory 0 MB
Shared system memory 1279 MB
Display adapter driver version 8.631.0.0
Primary monitor resolution 1280x800
DirectX version DirectX 10
Also, final question. System Requirements Lab is giving my GPU a failing grade for Diablo 3, but its on the list of supported cards. Do you think it will run alright? Not looking to max it out, just minimum at a decent framerate.
Thanks in advance.