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Worth getting 4GB RAM?

Q

Qulzam

n00b
Joined
Sep 14, 2006
Messages
54
My PC specs are

Intel Q6600
Intel D975XBX2
XFX Geforce 8800GTS 320MB
Corsair Dominator 2GB (DDR2/800)
Corsair 620W
320GB Seagate, etc.

I am thinking of upgrading my RAM to 4GB Corsair i.e. TWIN2X4096-6400C5DHX and Evga Geforce GTS 260 (Core 216), is that worth it?
 
No question about it. 4GB with 64-bit OS is the only way to go.
 
I'm currently running a 2 x 1GB PC2-6400 kit in my PC. If I get a 4GB kit and add it to the free memory slots, would I get 6GB in dual channel mode? Are most memory chips compatible with each other? What is the best upgrade path - having a 2 GB and 4 GB kit, two 2 GB kits, or a single 4 GB kit with cost as a consideration? Thanks in advance for your advice.
 
Roboman said:
I'm currently running a 2 x 1GB PC2-6400 kit in my PC. If I get a 4GB kit and add it to the free memory slots, would I get 6GB in dual channel mode? Are most memory chips compatible with each other? What is the best upgrade path - having a 2 GB and 4 GB kit, two 2 GB kits, or a single 4 GB kit with cost as a consideration? Thanks in advance for your advice.
Click to expand...

The best answers are:
If I get a 4GB kit and add it to the free memory slots, would I get 6GB in dual channel mode?
Click to expand...
Probably. Depending on your MOBO and the BIOS your system should run the system in dual channel "flex" mode.

Are most memory chips compatible with each other?
Click to expand...
There is NO way to know until you plug them in together and test.

What is the best upgrade path - having a 2 GB and 4 GB kit, two 2 GB kits, or a single 4 GB kit with cost as a consideration?
Click to expand...
I'd suggest a 4GB kit. That way, if you do get 2 kits that won't mix, you'll still have an usable 4GB kit.
 
Roboman said:
I'm currently running a 2 x 1GB PC2-6400 kit in my PC. If I get a 4GB kit and add it to the free memory slots, would I get 6GB in dual channel mode? Are most memory chips compatible with each other? What is the best upgrade path - having a 2 GB and 4 GB kit, two 2 GB kits, or a single 4 GB kit with cost as a consideration? Thanks in advance for your advice.
Click to expand...

It will run in dual channel but you have to install the RAM in matching banks to run dual channel. I wouldn't recommend running different kits though. Probably better to run a 2 x 2GB kit in dual channel (2 slots).
 
When I got 4GB, I had no regrets, really cheap way to help your PC. I say do it.
 
and what about the card, is Evga GTS 260 (Core 216) worth it or GTS 250 will do just fine?
 
FYI, the GTS250 512MB is a renamed 9800GTX+. The 9800GTX+ is the slightly overclocked 55nm version of the 65nm 9800GTX. The 9800GTX is a renamed 8800GTS 512MB. The 8800GTS 512MB is the G92 version of the older 90nm G80 8800GTS 320/640MB.

8800GTS 320
+ G92 and RAM
= 8800GTS 512
= 9800GTX
+ 55nm
= 9800GTX+
= GTS250 512

8800GTS 320
G80 (681 million transistors)
90nm
96 SPs @ 1200MHz
500MHz core
1600MHz memory
320-bit 320MB

8800GTS 512
G92 (754 million transistors)
65nm
128 SPs @ 1625MHz
650MHz core
1940MHz memory
256-bit 512MB

GTS250 512
G92 (754 million transistors)
65nm/55nm
128 SPs @ 1836MHz
756MHz core
2200MHz memory
256-bit 512MB

GTX260 896
G200/G200b (1,400 million transistors)
65nm/55nm
216 SPs @ 1242MHz
576MHz core
1998MHz memory
448-bit 896MB

Upgrading from the 8800GTS 320MB to the GTS250 is just a few incremental updates to what's basically the same product, not a huge upgrade. The biggest update in those is going from the G80 to the G92 (8800GTS 320 -> 8800GTS 512). If you could overclock an 8800GTS 512MB enough, you could make its specs match a GTS250 exactly.

The GTX260 is more of a real upgrade, and the GTX275 is pushing the price down on it quite a bit too.
 
InvisiBill said:
snip
Click to expand...

Don't forget the 8800GT. That came out to replace the 8800GTS 320/640, and the 8800GTS 512 that came right after was pretty much the 8800GT but with a better cooler, and 128SP instead of 112 or whatever the number was.
 
I'd grab a 4gb kit too... if you have room for it, add it to your.
 
I'm in the same type of situation. I'm running 2x1GB, on 32-bit XP Pro, but I'm considering grabbing 2x2GB and possibly 4x2GB just for when I do move onto Windows 7, because it is inevitable I suppose. It's cheap enough right now where even if I don't use it right away I don't know if the prices will go down much more.
 
Now that x64 is going mainstream (note I said "going" not "is") 4GB is quite practical. Yes, the new versions of Windows may have a larger memory footprint, but at the same time hardware is orders of magnitude more powerful. 2GB is my bare minimum for anything running Vista/7 personally. 4GB is "ideal" even for office machines (SuperFetch = win) and 8GB is for the gamer, the CAD-monger, the VM-user etc. Hell, DDR2 prices bottomed out a while ago, get it while it's cheap(er) IMO.
 
Mike Clements said:
For most of the world, 4GB is plenty. If you are a hardcore gamer, using VMware, Photoshop, CADware, etc you may do better with 8GB.
Click to expand...
Define hardcore gamer. I've been thinking about upgrading to 8GB from 4GB but I've heard of several seemingly random issues that make me wonder if it's worth the effort.
 
With 8gb you can run several game clients simultaneously and it doesn't get laggy. Well 8gb and a quad core in my case. Really I have not had even a drop of OS lag since I last upgraded. The wd 640 black hdd (150gb short stroked) really made a difference over my old 74gb raptor. Anyway back on topic..
I often run another game with wow running in the background, you don't even notice anything performance wise except that I had 5gb in use on my sidebar gadget.

Lots of MMOs have situations where you are playing more than 1 client at once. I don't do it, but if you do 8gb is useful. That could be defined as hardcore gamer right?

I just like 8 cuz I kill the vista page file and enjoy minimal hd thrashing and never worrying about a slowdown. I do work online and game, at the same time on a dual monitor setup. Thunderbird always running with hundreds of business related msgs a day, several other business related apps, and a dozen or pages open in firefox. It feels like there is nothing a powerful quad core and 8gb of ram cannot do. Amazing you get the whole setup(cpu,mobo,ram) for under 400 in my case with amd and ddr2 ;)
This is why I continue to preach using ddr2 over 3 if you are at all tight on cash. C2Q or Phenom 2 + ddr2 is still very powerful even compared to i7 and much cheaper. If you are buying now, IMO intel is already getting good sales on their new stuff, throw AMD some $$ as they have cool stuff coming and need to earn some return on phenom2 and we need em around to keep prices down\!
Ofc Phenom 2 (855 955 720 810 but dont get that one) works with ddr3 as well, but I do not find 2x the price to be worth the speed increase (specifically ddr3-1600 vs ddr2-1066l I would not want to use less than 1600 as its barely faster than 2 and still more expensive!). If you get a good deal go for it tho!
I always go for g.skill or corsair cas5 1066 for the insane value (about $50 per 4gb).

:endrant: :)
 
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4GB all the way unless you are running a 32bit OS with a pair of 1GB video cards.
If you are running 64 bit os then go for it.
Remember 32bit can only address about 4GB (3.5 or so available) but that also takes into account any video card ram.
 
8GB all the way if your on ddr2. I've had 8GB for awhile now and its been good. I noticed increases in video editing programs and stuff like that. Crysis warhead with the texture patch uses a lot of memory. I sometimes create a ram drive and put stuff on it to transfer on a network for top speed. ;)
 
4gig is good but as with anything consider what you will be doing with it first.If your a gamer or use photo software I would go with 8gig.
 
Not really that many games that will use 8 anyway but yeah photo software it does make a difference.
 
ati has the best vid card values. for cheap get a hd4830 (the sapphire one has a+ awesome cooling as i can personally attest!), and their new budget card is as fast as a 4850 for 100 bucks.

Here is neweggs list. I love sapphire cooling setups, they always seem to work the best and not be too loud or die ridiculously fast.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...0048 106792627 1067947628&name=Radeon HD 4770

My 4830 runs all my games at 1920x1200, all max settings. You just cant use AA in the newest games. The 4770 is even faster so it should be fine for most people.
 
i'm upgrading my memory from 2GB to 4GB by adding two more 1GB sticks. i have 32-bit vista, and a 8800GTS 512, which combined with my 32-bit OS and 4GB of addressable memory, leaves me with about 3.5 gigs. would it be worth it to upgrade my OS to 64-bit to claim the last 512 MBs or so of RAM? i really only play games on my computer, with the girlfriend doing the occasional photoshop and illustrator stuff.
 
Not really... I don't think until you get 6-8GB is it worth the extra effort...

64bit is faster, but there are some issues with it...

If it's a fresh install/setup I'd consider it too... but you're already setup so meh...
 
any suggestions for a 2x2gb ddr2 kit to replace my 2x1?

specs in sig

$45+ seems like a lot of money to spend for 2gb more of outdated ram in mid 2009.
 
LOL...of course I am partial to Corsair. But, I'd watch the HOT DEALS section here, wherever it is. There's usually members posting good deals in there frequently.
 
I'm running 4gb of DDR2 667. I haven't even hit the 50 % usage limit yet unless I'm running a VM, then I get close to 80%. I'm probably putting 8 gigs of 800 in it seeing as ram is cheap now. Well DDR2 is.

In my opinion the more ram the better. Now to get a hold of a mac pro with 8-cores and 32gb of ram.
 
Just add a 2x2GB kit. Running 6GB is better than just replacing a 2GB kit with a 4GB kit.

You really shouldn't have any problems. I have VERY mismatched sticks.

They are both PC2-6400 BUT the timings are slightly different and one pair supports ECC.

I am selling my 2x1GB sticks and replacing with a 2x2GB PC2-8500 kit and possibly replacing my current 2x2GB kit with another 2x2GB PC2-8500 kit depending on how testing goes in respect to running higher fsb than I already am.
 
It all depends on the mobo and the memory sticks, as others mentioned, no way to know but to test it. You might have to relax timings, up voltage, etc. If it works great, if not then 2x2GB is still noticeably better than 2x1GB. There's lots of practical upsides even if you aren't a hardcore gamer or CAD-user or run multiple VMs. Alt+Tab'ing in and out of games is much quicker for one thing, your machine will cache more of your often-used programs, etc.

I'd say go for it, RAM's cheap as heck atm, and the GTX 260 as well. I'm happy with the kit listed in my sig, was going for a Corsair DHX kit but it went up in price on Newegg at the time I was going to buy it (significantly, dunno why, it's come back down again now). Just don't pay more than $60-65 for a 2x2GB DDR2 kit.
 
haffey said:
Define hardcore gamer. I've been thinking about upgrading to 8GB from 4GB but I've heard of several seemingly random issues that make me wonder if it's worth the effort.
Click to expand...

As a gamer you will notice no difference going from 4 to 8, 4 is definitely the sweet spot right now.

Going from 2 to 4 makes a big difference though.
 
ubergeek14 said:
i'm upgrading my memory from 2GB to 4GB by adding two more 1GB sticks. i have 32-bit vista, and a 8800GTS 512, which combined with my 32-bit OS and 4GB of addressable memory, leaves me with about 3.5 gigs. would it be worth it to upgrade my OS to 64-bit to claim the last 512 MBs or so of RAM? i really only play games on my computer, with the girlfriend doing the occasional photoshop and illustrator stuff.
Click to expand...

I think so. If you have 4gb or more, thats plenty to run vista 64. No reason not to use it.

HarkovAdm said:
any suggestions for a 2x2gb ddr2 kit to replace my 2x1?

specs in sig

$45+ seems like a lot of money to spend for 2gb more of outdated ram in mid 2009.
Click to expand...


G.skill cas5 ddr2-1066 is only 55 shipped 2x2gb @newegg. Its fantastic ram!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231166
I suggest 2 sets =) 8gb ftw
 
You can get a 64-bit disc for $10 mailed in directly from MS, or you can just copy it off someone or DL the ISO, it'll still work with your existing Vista key... No reason not to upgrade, other than laziness or possible compatibility issues w/essential software (which are few and far between these days, but there's still several).
 
The only piece of hardware Ive had trouble with was my Hauppage PVR-150, it simply cannot work with more than 4gb of ram. Nothing to do with vista though =)
 
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