[vox-tech] Optimum memory for a Linux workstation?

[Jonathan Stickel]

Matt Roper wrote:
> On Wed, Jul 30, 2003 at 08:52:35AM -0700, Tim Riley wrote:
> 
>>Jim Lowman wrote:
>>
>>
>>>In reading the latest Linux Journal, I noticed an ad from EmperorLinux.com,
>>>where they offer an enhanced version of the Dell Inspiron 8500 notebook
>>>that I have,
>>>but built for Linux.
>>>
>>>The "Rhino," as they call it, has 2GB of memory.  Isn't that a bit of
>>>overkill for
>>>a workstation?
>>>
>>>I have a dual boot between Windows XP Pro and RH9 Linux running on my
>>>machine, and it seems to do well.
>>>
>>>Are there any statistics available that show where the performance curve
>>>flattens out as memory is added above, say, 256 MB?
>>
>>You can do your own test using "top." This'll let you see how your
>>current usage strains the available memory. When memory runs out,
>>pages start to "swap" to disk, slowing things down.
> 
> 
> You probably don't want to use top for this -- the memory usage that top
> displays includes memory that is being used as a disk cache so it will
> always look like you're using almost all of your memory.  Use "free"
> instead and then check the line labelled "-/+ buffers/cache" for a more
> realistic view of how much memory will be available to applications if
> they need it.

Perhaps I am being naive, but why not use KDEs System Monitor applet (or 
Gnome's equivalent)?  I leave the applet on continuously to observe my 
CPU, memory, and swap use.  The memory bar is differentiated by color 
for memory used, buffer, and cache.  Anyway, I can clearly observe my 
home desktop's 128 MB memory fill up and spill into swap, bogging 
everything down.  However, my laptop with 512 MB hardly ever uses swap, 
and performance seems to remain constant.

Jonathan