amc11890 0 Report post · CID: 599027366511 Posted August 2, 2005 Im curious, i myself only have 384mb of ram, will be upgrading soon. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fred 0 Report post · CID: 6155948669451 Posted August 2, 2005 remember that ram is to speed as cubic inch displacement is to horse power in other words ram is one of the more important factors in computer building as is bore x stroke is to cubic inch configuration in engine building, they are both needed for power and that my dear Mr's. and Mrs's.is my take on this survey. More is always better in this particular instance. p.s. Good question how about this one? Ram power vs Processor power where does that equation stand in the mix of things and which one has more importance? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Hyperspace Report post · CID: 634757011760 Posted August 2, 2005 I have 512MB...but only use on average about less then 200MB of it. So if I installed 2GB of RAM, it would not speed my PC up at all. But a faster processor sure would! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milchama 1 Report post · CID: 1120453350959 Posted August 2, 2005 It is almost always cheaper to upgrade ram vs. a processor and the benefits are usually greater. Unless you have my PC I built it 3+ years ago I have a P4 2.26 533fsb w/ 512Mb of PC1066mHz Rambus. I could upgrade to a 2.8-3.0 w/ H.T. proc but it would cost near $500 to upgrade my ram to a gig. Rambus cost the same as it did 3 years ago. and beside my Mobo only supports 4x AGP. So if your in my shoes your screwed. But if you have DDR a 1 gig module runs for approx $100. Upgrade ram first and later when ya have the cash upgrade the CPU as prices will have dropped on that flag ship proc by then. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swimmer 3 Report post · CID: 119551405281 Posted August 2, 2005 Good question how about this one? Ram power vs Processor power where does that equation stand in the mix of things and which one has more importance? As milchama mentioned there becomes a point that a new cpu is needed. If you are going to do a new system to day say based on an AMD 64 bit cpu. The difference between the processors, 3000 v 3200, is between 10%- 20%. Which mean that you pay more for the 3200 but you really never see the extra speed. However, RAM... you put an extra 512mb in your system you will see proformance difference.. you can store more which means that less hard drive access. Having to go to the hard drive for information is a performance killer! Now if you have 2 gigs in a 650MHz computer it is time for you to upgrade. If you have a Athlon 64 2800+ with 512mb of ram.. and you think your system is "slow" i would recommend the memory upgrade. If you are going to build a system.. Unless you have to have the latest chip and are using money that you really should you for ram.. I would get the one below the processor and get more memeory.. If you are looking to upgrade your system.. Unless you have atleast 400-500 bucks dont wasted your time.. You are going to have to get a processor, motherboard, and memory.. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fred 0 Report post · CID: 6155948669451 Posted August 2, 2005 How's it go swimmer That was the point I was trying to elude to, as in engine building there is no replacement for cubic inch displacement, which is equal to ram in my uneducated mind, it always boils down to cost :D Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
amc11890 0 Report post · CID: 599027366511 Posted August 2, 2005 wat do u recommend for my pc with amd athlon xp 1800 and 384 mb of ram, would a processor upgrade do the trick or more ram????? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fred 0 Report post · CID: 6155948669451 Posted August 2, 2005 (As milchama mentioned there becomes a point that a new cpu is needed. If you are going to do a new system to day say based on an AMD 64 bit cpu. The difference between the processors, 3000 v 3200, is between 10%- 20%. Which mean that you pay more for the 3200 but you really never see the extra speed. However, RAM... you put an extra 512mb in your system you will see performance difference.. you can store more which means that less hard drive access. Having to go to the hard drive for information is a performance killer! Now if you have 2 gigs in a 650MHz computer it is time for you to upgrade. If you have a Athlon 64 2800+ with 512mb of ram.. and you think your system is "slow" i would recommend the memory upgrade. If you are going to build a system.. Unless you have to have the latest chip and are using money that you really should you for ram.. I would get the one below the processor and get more memory.. If you are looking to upgrade your system.. Unless you have at least 400-500 bucks dont wasted your time.. You are going to have to get a processor, motherboard, and memory..) that was a quote from one of our mods that has been here for a long time, your question was answered before you asked it :D Fred Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Hyperspace Report post · CID: 63471856195 Posted August 2, 2005 The bottom line: If you are not using all of the RAM you have now, getting more will NOT speed up your PC. Now, getting a "more advanced" type of RAM might help. Also, your hard drive RPMs and all kinds of other factors come into play as far as making you computer go "faster". Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
fred 0 Report post · CID: 6155948669451 Posted August 2, 2005 and to determine how much ram you are using go to tweak now.com and download their utility called ram idle Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Hyperspace Report post · CID: 63471856195 Posted August 2, 2005 ...or if you have Windows XP...open your Windows Task Manager and pick the Performance tab. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
php 6 Report post · CID: 612855240 Posted August 2, 2005 ...or if you have Windows XP...open your Windows Task Manager and pick the Performance tab. lol, you took the words right out of my mouth Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swimmer 3 Report post · CID: 119551405281 Posted August 2, 2005 That was the point I was trying to elude to, as in engine building there is no replacement for cubic inch displacement, which is equal to ram in my uneducated mind, it always boils down to cost I know squat about engines.. other then they make my car go.. It is more of a balancing act between processor speed, amount of ram, and how old the system is. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billybob12345 2 Report post · CID: 641210696255 Posted August 2, 2005 i have 640... because i got tired of running xp home with only 128mb of ram so i bought 512 more Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milchama 1 Report post · CID: 1120453350959 Posted August 2, 2005 Many games recomend 1 gig of ram as it would also come in handy if editing video although you may only be using 200 of 512 mb of ram. However, when you get into battlefield 2 or any video editing software you will be impressed with more ram over a faster proc. and when your proc just dosent cut it any more get a new one and so on this is all supposing that ya'll have at least a 7200 rpm HD with an 8meg cache or greater yea, 128 mb is XP's min requirement. If you want to see perfomance always try to exceed recomended requirements Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swimmer 3 Report post · CID: 119551405281 Posted August 2, 2005 I bet that helped out alot? like the computer booted faster then 5min? I dont think i would even try to install on anything less than 256 or 512. Hell an unpatched fresh install of the original copy takes 78.3mb of ram to boot.. Many games recomend 1 gig of ram as it would also come in handy if editing video although you may only be using 200 of 512 mb of ram when you get into battlefield 2 or any video editing software you will be impressed with more ram over a faster proc. and when your proc just dosent cut it any more get a new one and so on this is all supposing that ya'll have at least a 7200 rpm HD with an 8meg cache or greater Speaking of Bf2.. I have found that if i alt tab out of the program i am running close to 700mb used while in game.. That is HUGE!!! that is also before the memory leak was repaired by 1.02 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milchama 1 Report post · CID: 1120453350959 Posted August 2, 2005 Speaking of Bf2.. I have found that if i alt tab out of the program i am running close to 700mb used while in game.. That is HUGE!!! that is also before the memory leak was repaired by 1.02 yea I played the demo on my PC w/ 512 mb of ram and I could play well but was not greatly impressed I am gonna just wait till it comes out on the 360, and or get the game when I build a new PC sometime next year when Longhorn is released Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shug7272 38 Report post · CID: 632403689111 Posted August 3, 2005 I just baught a new laptop yesterday with 512 of ddr2 and went straight to newegg.com, got a 1 gig stick for 99 bucks and installed today. That makes 1.3 gig of ddr2 ram 4200... WOOOO freaking HOOO this baby flies. It also has a 17 inch widescreen and x700 ati card, great for a laptop. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Swimmer 3 Report post · CID: 616108352568 Posted August 3, 2005 very cool.. what manufacturer? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
pitbull481 1 Report post · CID: 616006946702 Posted August 3, 2005 1st Com - 768Mb of RAM ('04 Gateway) 2nd Com - 512MB of RAM ('04 Dell) 3rd Com - 56 MB of RAM ('99 Compaq) Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest wmmc Report post · CID: 612853590 Posted August 3, 2005 Nothing special, meets my needs. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Shug7272 38 Report post · CID: 632403689111 Posted August 3, 2005 very cool.. what manufacturer? Gateway, but I still like it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sholsten 0 Report post · CID: 598473103877 Posted August 4, 2005 I have 768 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
6arett 0 Report post · CID: 6521105774867 Posted August 4, 2005 I have 768 tommarow my order should come in so i'll have 1GB and if you wanted to know what type of RAM you should get for your computer, use this http://www.crucial.com/systemscanner/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MarkX 0 Report post · CID: 1844435403082 Posted August 7, 2005 256 used to be more than enough a few years ago, now i am running with 512 and it seems like minimum requirements. These days i see more and more ppl with 1GB of RAM. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
