Upgrading Ram

[RobcioPL]

If i were to upgrade my ram from 512mb to 1024mb would there be a big difference? Where would i see it? Gaming? Would my programs open up faster?

 

[xAkirax2004]

Yeah. Espically if you're running in dual-channel mode. 👍

 

[Solid Lifters]

If i were to upgrade my ram from 512mb to 1024mb would there be a big difference? Where would i see it? Gaming? Would my programs open up faster?

I bought a cheap PC that had only 128MB or RAM. I bought my own memory stick, and 256'er and wow, what a big difference. Programs would loaded up a lot faster. Start up was quicker, shutdown was quicker, changing users was a flash, logging onto ithe nternet was quicker and other such stuff.

 

[Burnout]

I bought a cheap PC that had only 128MB or RAM. I bought my own memory stick, and 256'er and wow, what a big difference. Programs would loaded up a lot faster. Start up was quicker, shutdown was quicker, changing users was a flash, logging onto ithe nternet was quicker and other such stuff.

Adding RAM will generally only increase performance if you use more than 75% or your current RAM. So, if in a game, you load the level and 75% of your RAM or more is used, you'll notice some kind of increase.

As far as opening programs, loading Windows, the same applies. If when loading Windows you don't use that much RAM, or when opening a program RAM usage doesn't go past 75%, you probably wont notice too large of an increase.

However, a rule to remember:
You can never have too much 👍

 

[Event]

You can never have too much 👍

Although the average user won't need more than 1024MB of RAM. You only would need more for 3D design, intense drafting, animation, advertisement, etc.

 

[Burnout]

Although the average user won't need more than 1024MB of RAM. You only would need more for 3D design, intense drafting, animation, advertisement, etc.

You'd be suprised how much RAM some games can use.

 

[halfracedrift]

However, a rule to remember:
You can never have too much 👍

I heard that if you give the motherboard too much ram it actually slows down the overall performance?

 

[Burnout]

I heard that if you give the motherboard too much ram it actually slows down the overall performance?

Well, yes.

The capacity of a RAM chip, the slower it is. Wont go into the technical details as to why, but for a larger capacity, the timings get worse.

Considering motherboards don't have infinate ammounts of RAM slots, upgrading a motherboard with say 2 slots from 1024MB (2x512) to 2048MB (2x1024), you may end up with a slower computer. Of course, higher quality products can be bought with a larger memory chip being just as fast as the smaller, but obviously comes at a higher premium. It wont, however, be highly noticably slower. However, this is also mostly dependant on your uses of the computer.

Also, I suppose with a really lousy memory control, a sort of 'overloading' it could occour, but I don't see that being a big problem, if you'd even call it that, either.

 

[Event]

Well, yes.

The capacity of a RAM chip, the slower it is. Wont go into the technical details as to why, but for a larger capacity, the timings get worse.

Considering motherboards don't have infinate ammounts of RAM slots, upgrading a motherboard with say 2 slots from 1024MB (2x512) to 2048MB (2x1024), you may end up with a slower computer. Of course, higher quality products can be bought with a larger memory chip being just as fast as the smaller, but obviously comes at a higher premium. It wont, however, be highly noticably slower. However, this is also mostly dependant on your uses of the computer.

Also, I suppose with a really lousy memory control, a sort of 'overloading' it could occour, but I don't see that being a big problem, if you'd even call it that, either.

You took the words right out of my mouth, Joel.

The happy medium for RAM is still 2x512MB. You can get excellent timings and just the right amount of space. Plus, you get dual channel mode. If you want to be a big spender and really go for classy RAM, go for bandwidth enhanced models. However, the trade-off there is higher timings...

 

[VT]

If you're just looking for faster performance, the best way to acheive that is to go and buy a WD Raptor HD. You will see much more of an improvement in performance through a faster HD than you will with more RAM.

 

[LoudMusic]

512MB is a lot. I would say you're probably not going to need much more than that. However, 1GB is pretty awesome and it's at least something to brag about.

I have to agree with VTGT07 at this point. You've got plenty of memory, time to find the next weakest link. Usually that's going to be the HDD. Though I've not heard of this Raptor thing.

 

[CAMAROBOY69]

If i were to upgrade my ram from 512mb to 1024mb would there be a big difference? Where would i see it? Gaming? Would my programs open up faster?

Just like they said....Yes huge difference. Especially gaming, programs, videos anything. And around here right now you can get 512 ram for under$70 at most any store. So if you look around I bet you can find it for probably around $40.00 for 512.
We really noticed a huge difference when backing up games and movies.

 

[xAkirax2004]

It's one of the best HD's on the market.

Although it's storage is low (74gb) It makes up for it's fast seek time and RPM's. 10,000 RPM's to be exact.

EDIT: That was for LM.

 

[LoudMusic]

It's one of the best HD's on the market.

Although it's storage is low (74gb) It makes up for it's fast seek time and RPM's. 10,000 RPM's to be exact.

EDIT: That was for LM.

74GB low? Yeah, tell that to someone who's been computing for 8 years and see what they say. My first computer had less than 500MB of storage, and I was lucky to even have a hard drive.

Besides, the way you work this is to stripe two of these faster ones so you really end up with 140GB for your system and applications (not to mention doubling the read / write speed), then you get four or five 300GB and RAID 5 them for your data. Yep.

 

[VT]

It's one of the best HD's on the market.

Although it's storage is low (74gb) It makes up for it's fast seek time and RPM's. 10,000 RPM's to be exact.

EDIT: That was for LM.

I've heard that WD was working on a higher capacity raptor, something over 100GB I believe, and IIRC it is supposed to be out sometime in April/May.

 

[RobcioPL]

I have a $150 budget. What should i get? The extra 512 ram or a 80GB hard drive? If you can, show me which company to get, and so on. I can only get 80GB more of hard drive beacuse that's what it says my computer is expandable too.

 

[VT]

Well then it sounds like the Raptor is almost a perfect match for your budget. Its technically $180 but it has a $25 mail in rebate.

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=22-144-160&depa=1