Hello-

My workplace is upgrading computers and I have been offered an Elitebook 8460p laptop with the following specifications: Intel Core i5-2520M CPU at 2.5GHz, 1.91 GB RAM, and 3MB L3 cache. The architecture is x86 Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7 which will support the XP 32 bit operating system with Microsoft Office 2007.  I also need to upgrade my Dragon Naturally Speaking to version 11.5. Because I have a chronic  repetitive strain injury, my voice recognition software will be paid for by another agency which states that the minimum RAM must be a 3GB. I will also request to purchase Voice Power and Knowbrainer to augment the upgraded version of Dragon Naturally Speaking.

Today I spoke with the IT help desk about needing additional memory for this laptop.  It was explained to me that this computer has two RAM slots with 1GB of memory allocated to each slot. I stated that I wanted to request an additional 2GB of RAM to bring me to a total of 4GB.  My thinking is that this is economical because we are already opening up the laptop to add RAM and it should not be that expensive.  The IT person told me that the real issue is that XP won't recognize more than 3.5GB of RAM.  He stated that I should only request 1 stick of 2GB RAM and that the IT desk would remove 1GB from one of the slots and make the switch -the resulting in me having a total of 3GB of RAM.

I have done some research on the forum and that know that this topic has been discussed before, but I find it confusing, as I'm not that technically astute with regard to computers.  I have read that having more than 3GB of RAM will not impact the speed or performance of Windows (32 bit). Based on a prior thread, Chucker stated that Windows XP 32 bit will utilize approximately 3.25GB of RAM because Windows XP requires anywhere from 256MB to 768MB for its own use, which leaves between 2.98 and 3.25GB available for applications.  This explanation seems to imply that having 4GB of RAM is better than having only 3GB of RAM. 

Based on my understanding of the slot configuration (which is very little) it seems that either both slots have to be replaced with higher level of RAM sticks, or one slot stays at 1GB and the other slot is increased to 4GB, resulting in a total of 5GB of memory.  Again I have only the most rudimentary understanding of all of this.  However, I want to try and get as high a functioning laptop as possible.  I can only do this if I make the request and provide a justification to the funding agency.  

My question is this: Should I request additional RAM to bring me to at least 4MB or just stay with the 3MB of RAM that the IT person suggests? 

I should also mention that I use my voice recognition for eight to 10 hours per day.  I need to be hands-free because of my right arm which hurts very much if I have to use the mouse more than a little.  I don't know if it makes a lot of difference, but I am on a networked system in the office.  Right now all of my Word documents are saved to the urive which is on the network.   

Any assistance provided in answering this inquiry would be greatly appreciated.  Regards, Rita      

Office Laptop: HP Elitebook 8540w i5-540M @2.53GHz, 2.98GB RAM, 3MB L3 cache, Windows XP, SP3, MS Office 2007, The BoomC microphone, DNS 11.5 Professional, Voice Power, Knowbrainer - request to install sent to IT

Flexi-place Laptop(waiting for IT to configure):  HP Elitebook 8560p i7 2760QM @2.2Hz, 4 GB RAM, 6 MB L3 cache, Windows 7, Office 2010, DNS 11.5 Professional, Voice Power, Knowbrainer  

Windows XP 32-bit can use up to 4 Gb of RAM which would be better than 3 but not necessarily by a wide margin because part of that RAM, as you noted, is dedicated to your video card. Installing 3 Gb of RAM will give you access to the entire amount but installing 4 Gb of RAM would probably give you access to anywhere from 3.4 - 3.6 Gb of RAM. It really depends on your system but you would probably be able to access a bit more than 3.25 Gb because you only have 1 video card. It's unfortunate that anyone is insisting on staying with Windows XP but RAM is cheap and we recommend going with 4 Gb which is your systems limit. We just purchased an additional 8 Gb of RAM for our Lenovo W520 and the price was only $79 from the manufacturer who isn't exactly famous for discounting RAM

Click KB 2012 REV D to Download a 30 Day Evaluation of KnowBrainer 2012 

Hello Lunis-

Thank you for the reply which is very helpful.  I work for a government agency and the decision to keep the XP operating decision is not mine.  I'm told that my agency will probably continue with the XP operating system until Microsoft stops supporting it in 2014. However, I'm hoping that a change will be made before then. Regards, Rita

Office Laptop: HP Elitebook 8540w i5-540M @2.53GHz, 2.98GB RAM, 3MB L3 cache, Windows XP, SP3, MS Office 2007, The BoomC microphone, DNS 11.5 Professional, Voice Power, Knowbrainer - request to install sent to IT

Flexi-place Laptop(waiting for IT to configure):  HP Elitebook 8560p i7 2760QM @2.2Hz, 4 GB RAM, 6 MB L3 cache, Windows 7, Office 2010, DNS 11.5 Professional, Voice Power, Knowbrainer