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Many users have asked me how well Windows Seven works with 512MB RAM. Before I continue, I want to state that although I do not recommend using 512MB RAM, it works… as long as you’re willing to be patient.

After conducting several non-scientific tests and after using Windows7, with 512MB RAM, for several hours on end, I can say it works well enough. Yes, you may get some slow downs and yes, everything isn’t instant; however, it works much better than Vista would on 512MB and nearly as good as XP (in my opinion.)

See my task manager screenshots for confirmation. During these shots, I am watching a 3min video with Windows Media Player, have two instances of IE running, and a couple of Windows Explorer windows open.

Windows 7 under Normal Use with 512MB RAM

Windows 7 512mb ram - 1

323MB RAM Running WMP and IE

Windows 7 512mb ram - 2

Low process usage under normal use



About Rich

Rich is the owner and creator of Windows Guides; he spends his time breaking things on his PC so he can write how-to guides to fix the problems he creates.

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Comments

  • Windows Seven 7 Runs Flawlessl

    […] More information on running Windows 7 on 512MB RAM under normal use […]

  • Windows 7 – discussione uffici

    […] Use with 512MB RAM Windows 7 under Normal Use with 512MB RAM 323MB RAM Running WMP and IE Continua qui Clicca sullo spoiler per thread […]

  • MSherwood

    What specs does this computer have? Also, what did you change in the Beta to make it “Basic” 7? Just a couple questions… I might give it a try too.

  • MSherwood

    What specs does this computer have? Also, what did you change in the Beta to make it “Basic” 7? Just a couple questions… I might give it a try too.

    • 2.0 GHZ Single Core processor. 512MB DDR RAM @ 333 Mhz. 64MB Integrated GMA Graphics.

      To make it basic, I just used the standard theme (without Aero.) In fact, under these conditions, Aero doesn’t work at all (I just using generic drivers as it works pretty well.)

      Is that what you meant by “Basic”?

  • MSherwood

    What specs does this computer have? Also, what did you change in the Beta to make it “Basic” 7? Just a couple questions… I might give it a try too.

    • 2.0 GHZ Single Core processor. 512MB DDR RAM @ 333 Mhz. 64MB Integrated GMA Graphics.

      To make it basic, I just used the standard theme (without Aero.) In fact, under these conditions, Aero doesn’t work at all (I just using generic drivers as it works pretty well.)

      Is that what you meant by “Basic”?

  • Pingback: Windows 7 - discussione ufficiale - Pagina 285 - Forum di Tom's Hardware Italia()

  • Rich

    2.0 GHZ Single Core processor. 512MB DDR RAM @ 333 Mhz. 64MB Integrated GMA Graphics.

    To make it basic, I just used the standard theme (without Aero.) In fact, under these conditions, Aero doesn’t work at all (I just using generic drivers as it works pretty well.)

    Is that what you meant by “Basic”?

  • MSherwood

    Yeah that’s what I meant. I probably won’t run it on the other computer. Right now it has 256K RAM and it crawls on XP SP3. It does have a 1.5 GHz single core, but I don’t want it to explode or anything. Thanks man.

  • MSherwood

    Yeah that’s what I meant. I probably won’t run it on the other computer. Right now it has 256K RAM and it crawls on XP SP3. It does have a 1.5 GHz single core, but I don’t want it to explode or anything. Thanks man.

  • MSherwood

    Yeah that’s what I meant. I probably won’t run it on the other computer. Right now it has 256K RAM and it crawls on XP SP3. It does have a 1.5 GHz single core, but I don’t want it to explode or anything. Thanks man.

  • David

    Thanks for the info. Now I will definitely install Windows 7 on my 512mb ram computer. I just have to wait until Jan 17th cause I reached my bandwidth:(

    I like that they removed a lot of junk features that are in vista.

  • David

    Thanks for the info. Now I will definitely install Windows 7 on my 512mb ram computer. I just have to wait until Jan 17th cause I reached my bandwidth:(

    I like that they removed a lot of junk features that are in vista.

  • David

    Thanks for the info. Now I will definitely install Windows 7 on my 512mb ram computer. I just have to wait until Jan 17th cause I reached my bandwidth:(

    I like that they removed a lot of junk features that are in vista.

  • Abhinav K

    It think it’s fake…..

    In the second screenshot, mfpmp.exe is utilizing 65 % of CPU and Windows Media 4% CPU, but why is the accumulative CPU usage in the status bar is just 10%.

  • Abhinav K

    It think it’s fake…..

    In the second screenshot, mfpmp.exe is utilizing 65 % of CPU and Windows Media 4% CPU, but why is the accumulative CPU usage in the status bar is just 10%.

    • It’s a straight screenshot from my desktop. However, you are correct on the CPU usage… odd. I still affirm Windows 7 works really well with 512MB RAM.

  • Abhinav K

    It think it’s fake…..

    In the second screenshot, mfpmp.exe is utilizing 65 % of CPU and Windows Media 4% CPU, but why is the accumulative CPU usage in the status bar is just 10%.

    • It’s a straight screenshot from my desktop. However, you are correct on the CPU usage… odd. I still affirm Windows 7 works really well with 512MB RAM.

  • Rich

    It’s a straight screenshot from my desktop. However, you are correct on the CPU usage… odd. I still affirm Windows 7 works really well with 512MB RAM.

  • Chris

    Abhinav.

    Take a look at your task manager before you post noobish remarks.

    They all do that.

    Absolutely Win 7 will run under 512mb normal use.

  • Chris

    Abhinav.

    Take a look at your task manager before you post noobish remarks.

    They all do that.

    Absolutely Win 7 will run under 512mb normal use.

  • Chris

    Abhinav.

    Take a look at your task manager before you post noobish remarks.

    They all do that.

    Absolutely Win 7 will run under 512mb normal use.

  • John

    I think possibly it is a percentage of the the percentage being used, so mfpmp.exe is using 65% of the 10% in use.

    Not a helpful comment from Chris, but then he is obviously totally l33t and pwns us noobs at looking at task manager.

  • John

    I think possibly it is a percentage of the the percentage being used, so mfpmp.exe is using 65% of the 10% in use.

    Not a helpful comment from Chris, but then he is obviously totally l33t and pwns us noobs at looking at task manager.

  • John

    I think possibly it is a percentage of the the percentage being used, so mfpmp.exe is using 65% of the 10% in use.

    Not a helpful comment from Chris, but then he is obviously totally l33t and pwns us noobs at looking at task manager.

  • NO$GM_Bob

    oh boy. Well I’m glad it runs with 512mb. It also seems to have vistas memory-cache system, just ramped up a bit. I’m running the x64 Win 7 with 4GB dual 667, and it seems to always occupy 1.22GB a minute or two after startup, nothing having been run yet. Vista takes 825MB in this same situation, same drivers (literally, being a laptop, I had to pilfer some nvidia dev drivers for vista..).
    Mind you, this is for quick startup or common services, tasks, etc. When I took out one of the 2GB modules and popped in a 1GB, that 1.25GB dropped to 1GB flat. Windows 7 under testing gives up all non-essential ram instantly to and program that demands more memory, before ever hitting the pagefile. Good system, runs well.

  • NO$GM_Bob

    oh boy. Well I’m glad it runs with 512mb. It also seems to have vistas memory-cache system, just ramped up a bit. I’m running the x64 Win 7 with 4GB dual 667, and it seems to always occupy 1.22GB a minute or two after startup, nothing having been run yet. Vista takes 825MB in this same situation, same drivers (literally, being a laptop, I had to pilfer some nvidia dev drivers for vista..).
    Mind you, this is for quick startup or common services, tasks, etc. When I took out one of the 2GB modules and popped in a 1GB, that 1.25GB dropped to 1GB flat. Windows 7 under testing gives up all non-essential ram instantly to and program that demands more memory, before ever hitting the pagefile. Good system, runs well.

  • NO$GM_Bob

    oh boy. Well I’m glad it runs with 512mb. It also seems to have vistas memory-cache system, just ramped up a bit. I’m running the x64 Win 7 with 4GB dual 667, and it seems to always occupy 1.22GB a minute or two after startup, nothing having been run yet. Vista takes 825MB in this same situation, same drivers (literally, being a laptop, I had to pilfer some nvidia dev drivers for vista..).
    Mind you, this is for quick startup or common services, tasks, etc. When I took out one of the 2GB modules and popped in a 1GB, that 1.25GB dropped to 1GB flat. Windows 7 under testing gives up all non-essential ram instantly to and program that demands more memory, before ever hitting the pagefile. Good system, runs well.

  • DanielRemains

    This is what I get with Aero Peek and WMP network service turned off

    http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/657816/Pics/Win7281mb.jpg ;)

  • DanielRemains

    This is what I get with Aero Peek and WMP network service turned off

    http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/657816/Pics/Win7281mb.jpg ;)

  • DanielRemains

    This is what I get with Aero Peek and WMP network service turned off

    http://dl.getdropbox.com/u/657816/Pics/Win7281mb.jpg ;)

  • Angie

    Thanks for sharing the info and the screenshots, Rich. I have a 1.5 GHZ Intel Processor with Celeron M and 1.5 GB RAM. Windows 7 is lookin good!

  • Angie

    Thanks for sharing the info and the screenshots, Rich. I have a 1.5 GHZ Intel Processor with Celeron M and 1.5 GB RAM. Windows 7 is lookin good!

  • Angie

    Thanks for sharing the info and the screenshots, Rich. I have a 1.5 GHZ Intel Processor with Celeron M and 1.5 GB RAM. Windows 7 is lookin good!

  • Keith

    hey!
    haha after i read this thread i got inspired…
    so i tried it out.. and look what i got…
    its like im just running windows xp :P…
    my specs:
    CPU: P4 1.5 GHz RAM: 512 MB HD: 60 GB(the windows 7 partition is only 19.5 GB) GFX CARD: NVIDIA XFX 5200 (you look the specs up but i think its just 128 MB of RAM)

    hey i can also run aero!!! and its still smooth(well not that smooth but its still cool) but i turned it off cause i dont need/use it anyway…

    so finding out a way to reduce more ram usage…

  • Keith

    hey!
    haha after i read this thread i got inspired…
    so i tried it out.. and look what i got…
    its like im just running windows xp :P…
    my specs:
    CPU: P4 1.5 GHz RAM: 512 MB HD: 60 GB(the windows 7 partition is only 19.5 GB) GFX CARD: NVIDIA XFX 5200 (you look the specs up but i think its just 128 MB of RAM)

    hey i can also run aero!!! and its still smooth(well not that smooth but its still cool) but i turned it off cause i dont need/use it anyway…

    so finding out a way to reduce more ram usage…

    • Sounds good. Thanks for sharing your specs Keith.

  • Keith

    hey!
    haha after i read this thread i got inspired…
    so i tried it out.. and look what i got…
    its like im just running windows xp :P…
    my specs:
    CPU: P4 1.5 GHz RAM: 512 MB HD: 60 GB(the windows 7 partition is only 19.5 GB) GFX CARD: NVIDIA XFX 5200 (you look the specs up but i think its just 128 MB of RAM)

    hey i can also run aero!!! and its still smooth(well not that smooth but its still cool) but i turned it off cause i dont need/use it anyway…

    so finding out a way to reduce more ram usage…

    • Sounds good. Thanks for sharing your specs Keith.

  • Rich

    Sounds good. Thanks for sharing your specs Keith.

  • Jowell

    hah i have this spec a while back ago but den now i upgraded it to max spec and i have to say it was worth it for a decade old machine andd if you have a little patience
    motherboard p4b-la
    1.5 p4 cpu
    1g sdram
    4g of readyboost
    160gb hard drive
    ati x1050 video card
    memorex dvdrw

  • Jowell

    hah i have this spec a while back ago but den now i upgraded it to max spec and i have to say it was worth it for a decade old machine andd if you have a little patience
    motherboard p4b-la
    1.5 p4 cpu
    1g sdram
    4g of readyboost
    160gb hard drive
    ati x1050 video card
    memorex dvdrw

  • Jowell

    hah i have this spec a while back ago but den now i upgraded it to max spec and i have to say it was worth it for a decade old machine andd if you have a little patience
    motherboard p4b-la
    1.5 p4 cpu
    1g sdram
    4g of readyboost
    160gb hard drive
    ati x1050 video card
    memorex dvdrw

  • Master of Desaster

    @Abhinav K
    This isnt a fake, i have test windows 7 with 512 mb ram and its the same usage when i hear musik

  • Master of Desaster

    @Abhinav K
    This isnt a fake, i have test windows 7 with 512 mb ram and its the same usage when i hear musik

  • Master of Desaster

    @Abhinav K
    This isnt a fake, i have test windows 7 with 512 mb ram and its the same usage when i hear musik

  • gerdva

    I installed it on my Kid’s computer, 1.8 ghz processor 512 mb RAM. Runs fine, also with messenger running, youtube, videos, music and games. No prob. at all.

  • gerdva

    I installed it on my Kid’s computer, 1.8 ghz processor 512 mb RAM. Runs fine, also with messenger running, youtube, videos, music and games. No prob. at all.

  • gerdva

    I installed it on my Kid’s computer, 1.8 ghz processor 512 mb RAM. Runs fine, also with messenger running, youtube, videos, music and games. No prob. at all.

  • Mel

    Almost as good as XP? Sounds good enough to me!

  • Mel

    Almost as good as XP? Sounds good enough to me!

  • Mel

    Almost as good as XP? Sounds good enough to me!

  • Asbjørn Stokka

    Well, if its as good as XP with 512mb ram its not all that usefull … but then again its probably mostly a problem for laptops / tablets.

  • Asbjørn Stokka

    Well, if its as good as XP with 512mb ram its not all that usefull … but then again its probably mostly a problem for laptops / tablets.


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