On 08/23/11 5:57 PM, Thomas Dukes wrote: >> > 8 GB RAM > Was wanting at least 4GB would settle for 2. > on the upper grades of the current Intel CPUs (for instance, the CoreI7 4 and 6 core processors), there are three memory channels, and right now the best bang per buck is 4GB DIMMs, so you get 3 x 4GB == 12GB in one of those systems. most of the better motherboards for these CPUs have 6 dimm slots, so its easy to add a 2nd 12GB for 24GB total. if you're even thinking of virtualization, you want lots of RAM :) the low end budget version processors often have features disabled, such as the VTx thing that lets you run 64bit virtual machines, so its useful to study the specs closely. oh, and don't trust the specs on store websites, check with the chip and board makers to verify. -- john r pierce N 37, W 122 santa cruz ca mid-left coast