4GB Ram enough?

[euless]

Hi,
I just switched my Thinkpad over to W10. I was distro hopping on Linux for about a year with my Thinkpad. I downloaded W10 from Microsoft.
I need to use Windows Photos app alot. I got thousands of photos to go over and fix. However, the Windows Photos app runs a bit slow. I mean...for example, it would take a second to completely load an iPhone JPEG (4032x3024). A low resolution image pops up instantly, but the high res takes a second to load...which is annoying. All my photos are stored on the SSD in the Thinkpad. I assume it is due to my machine has only 4GB of ram. The Task Manager says Memory is 85% full, when the only app running is Photos.

Do yall think that if I upgrade to 16GB of ram will help the slowness? Or is there something else going on?

Btw, Edge runs pretty fast. For example, I can watch 1080p youtube video with very few frame drop.

My machine is T440P with i5-4300M, 4GB Ram, Intel HD graphics, 1600x900 TN display, Kingston a400 SSD.

Btw, Linux load my photos very fast. I was using Shotwell on Linux to manage my photos. But I much prefer the user-interface of MS Photos.

Thanks!

[RealBlackStuff]

4GB is not enough, upgrade to at least 8GB, best would be 16GB RAM.
Another option: replace the CPU with an i7-4700MQ (TDP=47W) or better, but more expensive: i7-4702MQ (TDP=37W).
And instead of MS-Photo, have a look at Irfanview.

[kfzhu1229]

I just switched my Thinkpad over to W10. I was distro hopping on Linux for about a year with my Thinkpad. I downloaded W10 from Microsoft.
I need to use Windows Photos app alot. I got thousands of photos to go over and fix. However, the Windows Photos app runs a bit slow. I mean...for example, it would take a second to completely load an iPhone JPEG (4032x3024). A low resolution image pops up instantly, but the high res takes a second to load...which is annoying. All my photos are stored on the SSD in the Thinkpad. I assume it is due to my machine has only 4GB of ram. The Task Manager says Memory is 85% full, when the only app running is Photos.

That seems pretty strange amount of RAM usage for just opening the Photos app, as that's not the case on my machines running Windows 10.
While 4GB of RAM is technically fine for the earlier/slower Core 2 duo machines running WIndows 10, it will most certainly hold your system back once you go newer to things like 1st gen Core i5 and newer/faster.
Since 4GB DDR3 sticks are so readily available, upgrading the RAM to 8GB is essentially harmless. 16GB would be better and more futureproof, but 8GB DDR3 sticks might not be as easy to find.

[Cigarguy]

For photo and video editing I prefer a desktop machine with at least 16 to 32 GB ram.

[euless]

Can someone recommend the best cheap brand of ram?

[TPFanatic]

I like buying OEM brands (Samsung, Crucial, Micron, (SK) Hynix, Elpida, etc.) on the used market, they tend to be much cheaper than buying new, at the trade off of warranty.

[kfzhu1229]

I like buying OEM brands (Samsung, Crucial, Micron, (SK) Hynix, Elpida, etc.) on the used market, they tend to be much cheaper than buying new, at the trade off of warranty.

Same. They are much cheaper and I never run into any problems with them provided that I tested the RAM sticks enough when I am meeting up with the seller.
Fortunately it seems like 8GB DDR3/DDR3L prices is coming down in the used market too.
Besides for older things like DDR2 that's your only option anyway.

[madicetea]

Can someone recommend the best cheap brand of ram?

For (single-stick) 16GB of DDR3 RAM, in particular, I don't know of too many options out there. I have always used the Crucial brand (whichever country I was in and buying from).
I could pull up the exact records of the model number of what I have been putting in my x250 machines too, if you think it would help.