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36GB Raptor or extra 512MB RAM

Z

Zimdesign

Member
Hey guys, I am building a new rig around an Athlon 64 3000+. I have a limited budget and I was wondering if I should get a 36GB Raptor for my OS and programs and use my current 60GB WD as storage or buy an extra 512MB of PC3200 RAM (for a total of 1GB).

What are your thoughts on this?
 
get the ram - you'll be able to buy 2 of the same thing now, instead of searching for a matching module a year form now when 512 isn't enough to IE anymore...
 
Good point... that was one of the things I was thinking about. I wonder how fussy the Athlon 64 boards are about running unmatched pairs of DIMMS.
 
RAM is super-expensive now. 😉

I don't have a problem running 2 DISsimilar (matched pairs) of RAM with my O/C'd P4 (2x256 Mushkin PC3500 2-3-3-6 and 2x256 OCZ PC3500 2-3-3-7 . . . your a64 will be even LESS picky.

Not sure a SINGLE raptor will make that much dif; and i cant justify 2 for RAID. 😛

Get a better videocard. :roll:
 
As always, it depends on your uses. 512 MB is plenty for many people - and will be for years. But 512 MB is pitifully small for other people.

Assuming you play the latest and greatest games, get the memory. A computer without enough memory is basically useless (for the programs that require more). A computer with a slow HD can run anything.


This is what I do myself:

At home, I personally would get the Raptor, since I don't need more than 512 MB and probably won't need more than 512 MB. Heck I run just 384 MB now. The Raptor does give good 10%-15% boosts in most real world tests. While more memory would do nothing for me. I don't play the latest and greatest games. I don't do memory intensive tasks.

At work, I'd get the memory. Some of my programs won't run at all without at least 1 GB.
 
I don't know how 1 Raptor "feels",I have 512 ram...and 2 Raptor's (36gb fluid bearings in raid0.)..cpu fan is all i hear😉

and i am a gamer ut 2003, ut 2004, unreal 2, farcry all run better...yes I am "saving up" for more ram😉

While I am not sure how this ranks with you folks, but I run lifemapper 2 instances...mcafee security center...while i benchmarked this...on hdd tach 8 mb here and 32 mb here

lifemapper is a distributed computing project.CPU utilization was 100% during the test.



mike
 
Your 60GB HDD is relatively slow nowadays. Looking at AT's latest HDD article, the current generation drives (even the regular 7200RPM 8MB drives) are quite a bit faster. I think it would help your system run a bit snappier.

But if you multitask heavily or really like to game, then try the extra 512MB.
 
your hard drive isn't as old as mine. I'd say go for RAM

I upgraded from a 40GB 2MB cache 7200RPM Maxtor Fireball to a 74GB 8MB cache Raptor 10K RPM

and felt the difference!
 
Thanks for all the replies guys... looks like it is pretty clear what I should do, especially since I do play the latest games plus I use Adobe Photoshop almost daily.
 
RAM is you uses PS daily get RAM

hell i have a gig and want to get more

i woudl love to be running 2x 1gigs of PC3500 my 2400+ @ 2.52GHz woudl love that
 
I would say ram also. But I'd also suggest you look for hard drives newer than your 60GB and older than the Raptor. You would be surprised some of the decent HDs you can get for a little money.
 
why not just buy an older raptor? the 36 gig drives are just fine, 1/2 the cost (yes 1/2 2the storage) and then you still have the $100 you would've otherwise spent for the 512 stick... i went from a 120 gig 7200rpm 8mb cache drive...to a single 36gb rap, it was an amazing difference, not only with boot time, but game loading time too, BF1942 maps loaded SUBSTANTIALLY faster!!

thats what i'd suggest...buy both, it'd still be in your budget and it'd equalize your system

EDIT: ok im a dumbass i swear i saw you say you wanted a 74 gb version....meh...buy both anyways
 
I suppose I've been beating this horse to death lately, but the Raptor 36G is a waste of money these days.

The 36G Raptor is $111. The 160G SATA Hitachi 7k250 is $105.50 (price keeps going up) and it's just as fast as the 36G Raptor (note that regular ATA Hitachi 7k250's aren't as fast, don't have 8MB cache, and don't have a 3-year warranty). The 80G SATA Hitachi 7k250 is $74.

Only you can decide if you need the memory. If you're going to be doing high-DPI photoshop work, get the extra RAM. Otherwise, there's nothing wrong with getting 512MB. Just make sure you get good memory from a big brand and you'll be able to match it easily in 6 months.

I certainly wouldn't get the Raptor, though. I'd get a Hitachi or else save up for the Raptor 74G.
 
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