more ram dilemma - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Dragonlich · 02-13-2005, 11:45 AM

I'm looking for some advice on expanding my computer's memory. Specifically: how much to expand it...

My current situation: I have an Asus P4P800 motherboard, with 4 memory banks. I have 2 x 256 megs DDR400, running in dual-channel mode. (it runs a pentium 4 2.6c, with a WD Raptor harddisk and an ATI radeon 9800 pro. Plenty of power.) I'm looking at the option of getting more memory to increase the speed in certain games (such as BF1942, vampire: bloodlines, etc). I just can't decide on what to buy.

My options:
1) Buy 2 x 256 megs. Total memory 1 gig. Should be enough to play all those games, and should suffice for a while. Downside: all banks will be filled, and I won't be able to expand without *replacing* memory; that's a waste of money.
2) Buy 1 x 512 megs. Total memory 1 gig. Downside: my system will go back to single-channel mode, negating some (all?) speed gains from the extra memory. Advantage: I retain the possibility of expanding my memory at a later date.
3) Buy 2 x 512 megs. Total memory 1.5 gigs. Twice as expensive (170 Euros instead of 90), but it is dual-channel, and it will give me a bit more breathing room in the near future. My memory banks will still be full, but at least I have 1.5 gigs...

Money isn't a problem, but 90 Euros can be spend on lots of other (more useful?) things, such as a faster DVD-burner (current one is 4x speed).

Now, some questions:
a) More memory = better, but where do you draw the line? Can you really notice the difference between 1 gig and 1.5 gigs? (considering I play lots of games...) Does anyone have any experience with this?
b) Does anyone know of benchmarks showing the difference between dual-channel and single-channel mode? I.e. is option 1 clearly better than option 2?
c) Which of the options would you recommend?

thanks.

Moskie · 02-13-2005, 12:15 PM

I find having 1 gig excessively covers everything I need, games and all. I don't think you'll have a need for more than that for quite a while, so I say go for the 2x256. Maybe when it comes to time for another upgrade, such as new motherboard or something, you can look into individual clips with more ram. Whenever that'll be, prices will be less than what they are now, etc etc... so that'd be what I'd do.

gar1976 · 02-13-2005, 12:23 PM

Unless you're burning porn constantly, I'd get the RAM over the burner. What do you use more?

skaven · 02-13-2005, 12:53 PM

I say go the 2x256 route. A gig of memory is much more than most programs need, even games. You'll definitely see a performance improvement as far as playing big levels goes, since the system wont have to hit the hard disk to locate the game data as often. 1.5G is excessive at this point, and by the time it's not, you'll be buying a new motherboard that takes faster memory than PC3200 anyway.

Lasereth · 02-13-2005, 01:02 PM

Dual-Channel is almost an urban legend. The speed increases from it are at most 5%. If you do want to keep the dual channel going, 1 GB (4x256 MB) will be plenty for any game on the market. You won't have to upgrade ever again (until you buy a completely new PC). If you are interested in upgrading to more than 1 GB later on, buying a single 512 MB stick wouldn't hurt. You wouldn't notice the difference from the dual channel and the 1GB non-dual channel.

You could get 1.5 GB, but I've seen a few tests where performance actually goes down after going past 1.25 GB of RAM.

As for seeing a difference, going from 512 MB to 768 MB is MASSIVE, and even going from 768 MB to 1 GB is massive in some cases. I know that Battlefield 1942 basically maxes out at 768 MB though...1 GB won't make it run any better. World of Warcraft will take all the RAM you give it. Either way, I consider having 512 MB of RAM unplayable in the games I play. You need to upgrade to 1 GB whichever way you decide.

-Lasereth

JeremyS · 02-13-2005, 01:11 PM

Personally I'd go to with the 512x2. I had 1GB for the longest, and one of my sticks of ram got messed up and I had to go back to using 512MB, and I could tell a difference, and hated it. Now that I'm once again back to 1GB, everythings back to normal. I don't like using anything less.

Dragonlich · 02-14-2005, 11:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gar1976

Unless you're burning porn constantly, I'd get the RAM over the burner. What do you use more?

I really laughed out loud upon reading that. Is there some sort of spy cam in my house or something?

*ahum* 1 gig seems enough then. And a new burner is coming up...

02-13-2005, 11:45 AM	#1 (permalink)
Dragonlich 42, baby! Location: The Netherlands	more ram dilemma I'm looking for some advice on expanding my computer's memory. Specifically: how much to expand it... My current situation: I have an Asus P4P800 motherboard, with 4 memory banks. I have 2 x 256 megs DDR400, running in dual-channel mode. (it runs a pentium 4 2.6c, with a WD Raptor harddisk and an ATI radeon 9800 pro. Plenty of power.) I'm looking at the option of getting more memory to increase the speed in certain games (such as BF1942, vampire: bloodlines, etc). I just can't decide on what to buy. My options: 1) Buy 2 x 256 megs. Total memory 1 gig. Should be enough to play all those games, and should suffice for a while. Downside: all banks will be filled, and I won't be able to expand without replacing memory; that's a waste of money. 2) Buy 1 x 512 megs. Total memory 1 gig. Downside: my system will go back to single-channel mode, negating some (all?) speed gains from the extra memory. Advantage: I retain the possibility of expanding my memory at a later date. 3) Buy 2 x 512 megs. Total memory 1.5 gigs. Twice as expensive (170 Euros instead of 90), but it is dual-channel, and it will give me a bit more breathing room in the near future. My memory banks will still be full, but at least I have 1.5 gigs... Money isn't a problem, but 90 Euros can be spend on lots of other (more useful?) things, such as a faster DVD-burner (current one is 4x speed). Now, some questions: a) More memory = better, but where do you draw the line? Can you really notice the difference between 1 gig and 1.5 gigs? (considering I play lots of games...) Does anyone have any experience with this? b) Does anyone know of benchmarks showing the difference between dual-channel and single-channel mode? I.e. is option 1 clearly better than option 2? c) Which of the options would you recommend? thanks.

02-13-2005, 12:15 PM	#2 (permalink)
Moskie Pure Chewing Satisfaction Location: can i use bbcode [i]here[/i]?	I find having 1 gig excessively covers everything I need, games and all. I don't think you'll have a need for more than that for quite a while, so I say go for the 2x256. Maybe when it comes to time for another upgrade, such as new motherboard or something, you can look into individual clips with more ram. Whenever that'll be, prices will be less than what they are now, etc etc... so that'd be what I'd do. __________________ Greetings and salutations.

02-13-2005, 12:23 PM	#3 (permalink)
gar1976 Custom User Title Location: Lurking. Under the desk.	Unless you're burning porn constantly, I'd get the RAM over the burner. What do you use more? __________________ Blistex, in regards to crappy games - They made pong look like a story driven RPG with a dynamic campaign.

02-13-2005, 01:02 PM	#5 (permalink)
Lasereth Knight of the Old Republic Location: Winston-Salem, NC	Dual-Channel is almost an urban legend. The speed increases from it are at most 5%. If you do want to keep the dual channel going, 1 GB (4x256 MB) will be plenty for any game on the market. You won't have to upgrade ever again (until you buy a completely new PC). If you are interested in upgrading to more than 1 GB later on, buying a single 512 MB stick wouldn't hurt. You wouldn't notice the difference from the dual channel and the 1GB non-dual channel. You could get 1.5 GB, but I've seen a few tests where performance actually goes down after going past 1.25 GB of RAM. As for seeing a difference, going from 512 MB to 768 MB is MASSIVE, and even going from 768 MB to 1 GB is massive in some cases. I know that Battlefield 1942 basically maxes out at 768 MB though...1 GB won't make it run any better. World of Warcraft will take all the RAM you give it. Either way, I consider having 512 MB of RAM unplayable in the games I play. You need to upgrade to 1 GB whichever way you decide. -Lasereth __________________ "A Darwinian attacks his theory, seeking to find flaws. An ID believer defends his theory, seeking to conceal flaws." -Roger Ebert Last edited by Lasereth; 02-13-2005 at 01:04 PM..

02-13-2005, 12:53 PM	#4 (permalink)
skaven Insane Location: Austin, TX	I say go the 2x256 route. A gig of memory is much more than most programs need, even games. You'll definitely see a performance improvement as far as playing big levels goes, since the system wont have to hit the hard disk to locate the game data as often. 1.5G is excessive at this point, and by the time it's not, you'll be buying a new motherboard that takes faster memory than PC3200 anyway.

02-13-2005, 01:11 PM	#6 (permalink)
JeremyS Crazy	Personally I'd go to with the 512x2. I had 1GB for the longest, and one of my sticks of ram got messed up and I had to go back to using 512MB, and I could tell a difference, and hated it. Now that I'm once again back to 1GB, everythings back to normal. I don't like using anything less.