Pages: 1

 

2006-03-26 10:42:39
[e-s]Viper
Member
+0|6927
Im thinking of upgrading to 2gb of RAM but i think i need a second opinion before i get some. My current system specs are...

Athlon 3800+ (Stock)
Leadtek 7800GT (Stock)
1gb of PC-3200 RAM (Matched pair with Elixier modules and made by Nanya in 2x512mb sticks)
Maxtor 160gb SATA HDD
Abit AN8 Mobo

Currently, my ram runs in duel channel mode but i only have 1 gig, i can't afford to scrap the old stuff and get a completely new set of matched 2x1gb sticks. My worry is that if i get 2 new 512 sticks from a different manufacturer (either Nanya but newer modules or GeiL with faster CAS timings than my current sticks) to make it up to 2gb would i see a performance increase in games from the extra capacity or no difference (or god forbid, worse performance) since it would be running in single channel mode?

anyone have any ideas or advice that could help? Thanks in advance for any replies.
2006-03-26 11:46:20
SuB
Member
+50|6962
it MIGHT run dual but u'll still see a big performance increase bf2 wise.. seems to eat ram up and spit it out.. go for it i'd say dual channel isn't noticably different tbh
2006-03-26 19:39:48
Rofl_My_Waffle
Member
+11|6978
you will definetly notice preformance although your ram will only run as fast as the slowest ones so don't go for super fast RAM. Your best bet is to get another two sticks of what you have currently. It will still run dual channel if you have different manufacturers as long as they are the same type because i use different ones.

Preformance wise you will notice that your game loads times faster, you have no lag when you just join a server, can ALT+TAB in and out of bf2 instantly. Also your game will generally run alot smoother, not graphics wise but less lag when there is alot of activity such as a congested place where there is a lot of gunfire or people.

Last edited by Rofl_My_Waffle (2006-03-26 19:43:45)

2006-03-26 21:52:16
unnamednewbie13
Moderator
+2,056|7058|PNW

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a … 6820145574

In most cases, mixing and matching memory (even from the same mfg) can decrease performance. People generally recommend two sticks of the fastest, highest-capacity memory you can resonably get your hands on. High-speed 2x1GB memory modules can be had for less than $200. Sell those 512MB tugs.

Last edited by unnamednewbie13 (2006-03-26 21:54:00)

2006-03-26 23:27:47
KingLou
Banned
+79|6910|Las Vegas
You know, I am far from a RAM expert.  In fact, it is probably my area of least knowledge.  But I will give my personal opinion........more ram is better.  I'm sure good timings, dual channel, blah blah, is all helpful......but I think the biggest improvements come in simply having more.  I have read numerous benchmark reviews of CPUs and vid cards......and can see clear, and noticeable differences amongst different chips and cards.  I haven't really seen much that indicates "uber ram" will give you a noticeable difference over something less expensive (but then, I haven't seen everything, if someone has an article, I honestly would love to see it and be educated).  I, myself, run 4 sticks of 512mb Corsair Value Select ram, and it works for me.

Honestly, I think people that go for the high end stuff do it because they need "the best."  I just can't imagine ram that produces such noticeable differences over other ram (but again, I am not very educated here, so if someone can school me, I'm all ears).

So, my uneducated guess is......the extra capacity will be beneficial for you.  I can give you an example.  My friend and I have basically the same systems (same mobo, cpu, PSU, and vid card, though he only has one).  However, I have 2 gigs of ram, and he has about 1.3 i think.  I load into games MUCH quicker than him....and like I said, I have cheapo ram.

KiL
2006-03-27 05:20:01
junkpi1e
Captain Input
+4|6915|Sunshine Coast, Queensland
I'm going to disagree with KingLou and say that speed of the ram is much more essential as opposed to volume.

Buying two new sticks should run fine, duel channel or not, providing you make sure you match the CAS timing on each module. Matching speed is another necissary procedure, otherwise you're just wasting money on high speed ram that will only run as fast as the slowest you've got.

Make sure you manually set the ram timings in bios to suit your sticks (the label on the ram will say what the timings are) - I'm running an old Asus A7V8X board with 1GB Geil PC3200 Ultra ram and I had my settings on automatic. It was running at 2-3-3-7 instead of 2.5-3-3-6 (Or something like that), and the performance upgrade when I corrected it was incredible, at least 25% more fps in every day I played. I always thought my PC wasn't running at full capacity and I finally realised why.
2006-03-27 06:40:51
[e-s]Viper
Member
+0|6927
Thanks for the advice guys. ill go out and get some more 512 sticks then
2006-03-27 07:17:33
psychotoxic187
Member
+11|6996

[e-s]Viper wrote:

Thanks for the advice guys. ill go out and get some more 512 sticks then
I don't recommend doing that. I had 2 512 sticks of Kingston value RAM, it ran fine with those 2 sticks. I then bought 2 more 512 sticks of the exact same RAM. Then my performance dropped, the RAM never ran at advertised speeds, it ran at 150 instead of 200, and when I overclocked my FSB to 218 they only ran at 175. I then went and bought some PC4000 mushkin extreme 2 1 GIG strips, and they run flawless, and at the same speed as my FSB. I picked up that 2 GIG set for $200 at newegg, which is the exact same price I paid for my Kingston value RAM. If you want 2 gigs, get 2 1 gig strips.

 

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