How much RAM do we really need?

Ok, so I installed an extra 512MB of Geil Ultra to see if having a GB of RAM would really mke a difference. Ran my programs, played my games etc. Can't figure something out......What is really the point of having 1GB of RAM or more unless your doing major web design or editing? For gaming it doesn't seem to help one bit, I just don't understand. I have friends who have 1GB of RAM and there PC doesn't seem any faster, and in fact in one instance is much slower. I know a large part of that is his timing, and another part is he doesn't have dual channeling. I really would like more info on what ways more RAM helps because I sold that RAM a few months back, but I'm thinkingof buying more again, I dunno maybe that keeping up with the joneses feeling. Just wanted to get some more opinions and I figured this should spark some decent convo and I'm bored. lol

 

From my understanding, having excess ram that isn't used is a waste of money! Reading posts by different users on different forums seem to support this. If you have 512 megs of ram and any application(s) that you run don't utilize it to its max, then adding more ram is a waste of time and money.

 

It depends. What I do is go to task manager in XP while running my most intensive programs and see how much RAM is free. I had 512mb and my upgrade to 768mb yielded no results.

 

It basically depends on how much stuff you have running in the background at all times (i.e. autoloading startup programs, and many more that you might not know anything about!!) plus what you are currently running while you are actually playing on the computer!!

Do you keep alot of stuff in the system tray (down by the clock)?? have you checked your startups in "msconfig"??

Windows XP kind of need 256mb for a base figure!! From there...It just depends on like what I explained above!!

Roger

 

more ram = fps life, especially in MMOs or new intense games like BF2 and the likes. Diff between Single and dual is about 1-3% so not much. Remember that RAM comes in all performance spectrums, from the very low to the extremely fast; so not all results are the same. Also if you have a low end PC and your packing it down with the most amount of ram you've ever seen that wont help either as you ahve large bottle necks all over the place.

 

I probably have about as much stuff as the average pc enthusiast running usually. a/v,spyware resident protection, driver enhancements, AIM, MSN Msgr, Windows desktop searcg, and WinDVD scheduler are down there at all times pretty much, and when ripping cd's using WMP, playing music with Napster, and playing tv programs with WINDVD, I generally am using about 1/2 of my RAM. when playing music and Counterstrike Source at the same time it's about 2/3rds. So like I said, I'm just wondering if anyone can defend this trend of needing 1GB more RAM before I go buy like 3GB of Corsair to shut my friend up.lol

 

That makes sense Ome, but I don't understand why it didn't make much difference. Back when I still had my 9600XT in here, I had that extra 512MB of RAM still dual channeled and all with low timing, and it didn't perk HL2 or anything up at all. I mean, I don't have quite as good a system as you, but I think my system is still pretty decent, so I don't understand why I wouldn't notice a difference at all. I blame my friend for this whole thing.lol . This whole thing started mostly out of insecurity because my friend built a new PC and kind of was a jerk about rubbing it in. Now I feel inferior and wanted to justify not buying more RAM.lol

 

Buy it try it...and if it doesn't do it for you...sell it on E-bay, or take it back (you didn't hear that from me!!!)...otherwise you're not going to know 110% unless you try it!! Unfortunately!! Just keep it under wraps while you are in the lab!!!

Roger

 

Well as mentioned before I actually have tried it. I had 1GB total and it did nothing. This isn't really an asking for help so much as it is just being bored and having wanted to start a lively conversation, and get some info. But yeah, did try it, but thanks for the input buddy.

 

I have noticed once for sure, when I 1st got neverwinter nights, I was running 512 of ddr333. when I upgraded to 1 gig, things got noticeably smoother and faster. my belief is that the strength of windows XP is its ability to use memory wisely, so too much might be a waste but I dont think it will ever make you run slower (unlike previous versions).

 

Lots and lots and lots and lots

 

it depends on what you do with your system, what settings you use and what the rest of your system looks like.
that you didn't notice anything when you had 1GB was quite logical really, the 9600XT was holding you back.

 

You wont get any improvements because your video card is an extreme low end one. Remember that you always have choke points on your system. Specific ones being RAM, CPU, and Video card. Of course those aren't the only ones but they play the biggest role. If you want to justify having a better spec PC, consider saving about 160-200$ and buying a 6600GT. Then you will see tons of improvements.

 

Play Everquest 2. You will understand the need for 1gb, and even more.

 

You may also not be seeing a difference if you don't reconfigure your system to make use of it. I have a friend who has 3 gigs of RAM, and has totally disabled his paging file (from what he said), which is Window's attempt to make up for a lack of ram, which you don't have! of course, if you use photoshop or something similar, you may still use it all, but it does its own paging. You can search for RAM XP tweaks to maximize the use of your new RAM

 

Thats been discussed for a long time across the internet. Windows XP will still page ram, whether or not you disable the paging file or not. You cannot disable virtual memory in XP, no matter how hard you try. If XP decides it wants it, it will re-enable it. In addition, disabling your paging file does not help performance at all.

 

If you've played Battlefield 2 or Everquest 2 you will understand why its important to have 1GB+ of ram... Typically every gamer has 1gb or more ram in his comp due to the demands of newer games and the next generation of games will probably be even more demanding!

 

XP will always try to use all the ram available,it will assign a chunk of ram for each prog you use,if all the ram has been taken it will take the assigned chunk away from a program thats no longer running,one of the benifits of having plenty ram is that the chunk of ram for a program you have used and closed will still have information cached,so you can access and use the program alot faster,just like visiting a website that you have already visited,the information from the site is already loaded in your temporary internet files making it faster.

 

I think the only time you will notice difference in adding RAM is if you are using all of it. Then windows starts paging files in and out of memmory which slows down your machine. 512 MB of memmory is not enough for video games now days. Doom 3 at ultra quality uses more then 500 MB, which leaves 12 MB for your othyer programs. You will also notice difference if you run many programs at the same time. Adding memory will stop windows from paging in and out.

Funny thing is today at work a guy asked me to tell him what I think about some old laptop. I looked at it, it was a gateway 2000 with 16 MB of memory. I went to google.com and it crashed.

 

Hehe, whatd you tell him? Its cr*p you need more ram? lol

 

i Have an asus a8v deleuxe motherboard with wifi
connect3d 9600xt 256mb graphics
amd 64 winchester 3500 939pin

looking at there ram guide it only surgests basic stuff, i have a budget of £100, am i best getting loads of cheap stuff or one bit of expensive, i play lots of games. it can take ddr400 pc3200.

hope you can help

 

I have no idea where to buy in the UK, but here is what I'd suggest:

Corsair 1G (2x512Mb) Dual Channel: (US $136)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145450

or

Kingston 1G (2x512Mb) Dual Channel: (US $133)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820144114

 

Alright, so I just sold my mobo,RAM, and cpu for 220 bucks. Gonna buy either Chaintech or MSI NF4 motherboard, 6600GT PCIe video card, and Athlon 64 3200 cpu. I have 80 bucks for RAM. Would you guys suggest 1GB of Corsair Value or 512MB of Geil Ultra/Corsair XMS?

 

http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/ProductInfo.asp?WebProductID=71473

Agree with earp,Exact memory I have runs cas 2 at 200mhz,cas 3 225mhz,lifetime warranty

Jason without a SHADOW of a doubt 1gb value memory

 

I would really like to see if anyone happens to know the latency on the Corsair Value RAM before I buy, however I respect the opinion of my fellow geek so I reckon I will go ahead. See this is why I love this place, I'm quite knowledgeable and so are all of you, but we are always willing to take one anothers advice and listen. Geek unity, it's a beautiful thing. lol. But yeah if anyone can find the latency on that RAM I'd appreciate it.

So anyways, let's take a look at the final system specs I'm looking at and see what you guys think.

Gigabyte nForce 4 GA-K8NF-9 mobo
Athlon 64 3000 (Venice Core) Retail
Gigabyte 6600GT PCIe
1GB Corsair Value Select
Antec 430 Watt PSU
Yellow Chieftec Dragon case w/ autobots logos and uv
MS 802.11g wifi
i/o Magic PCPVR
Asus 16x Dual LAyer DVD+RW
Asus 52x CD-RW
Creative Audigy 2zs Platinum
200GB Maxtor SATA

So hows that looking?

 

i'v seen it before somewhere,I know the cas latency is 2.5 in the uk,so it will look something like 2.5-3-3-8,looking at this in new egg its 2.5-3-3-8,but I'v also seen it at 3-3-3-8,you may be lucky though and be able to set it at 2

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16820145440

 

Amen to that! I play EQ2 with a Geforce 6600 GT and 1gb of RAM. I upgraded to 1 GB from 512mb because EQ2 used so much ram and I wanted to multitask with EQ2. I personally think 512mb of RAM is fine for most people. IMHO, anything over 1gb is a waste for the average user.

 

So change that final system spec. I'm getting Geil Value instead. I prefer Geil to Corsair. But I will be ordering everything come Tuesday or Wednesday. Will report to you guys on how well it runs.