4 or 8, that is the question

[DawsonsDada]

I am in the process of finishing (finally after 3 years) a new build based on a Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3 (rev. 1.1) motherboard and Intel 3800 dual-core processor. All memory is DDR2 667

I will be running Windows XP 32-bit and using it for gaming (HL2, CoD, etc.), web browsing and family matters.

I intend to rip my son's DVD's to a RAID 5 array (built using the motherboard RAID controller) with 3 x 750Gb HDD's and a separate boot/application drive.

My question is how should I configure the memory installed? All memory is DDR2 667


My options are:

4 x 1Gb Modules - 4 Gb Total, all slots occupied
or
2 x 2 Gb modules - 4 Gb total, two slots open
or
4 x 2 Gb modules - 8 Gb total, all slots occupied

This is the first time I will be running more than 1Gb of RAM. I would like to run Win7 64 bit someday but that probably won't be until my next build (a few years, 2-3 from now) or I come back from a year in Afghanistan after which I will build a completely new machine using whatever is price/performance king then.

Any idea's suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Spikesoldier]

For WinXP (x86) i would run four gigs of ram, preferably in a 2x2GB configuration.

4x1GB wont hurt either, but you lose the capability of putting in 2x2GB more in later for 8GB.

 

[DawsonsDada]

For WinXP (x86) i would run four gigs of ram, preferably in a 2x2GB configuration.

4x1GB wont hurt either, but you lose the capability of putting in 2x2GB more in later for 8GB.

Thanks, that is what I was leaning towards also. Like to find out what others think along them same lines also

 

[zuffy]

2 x 2gb. 32-bit XP is not gonna see more than 3gb or 3.25gb anyway.

 

[DawsonsDada]

2 x 2gb. 32-bit XP is not gonna see more than 3gb or 3.25gb anyway.

True, I had read about a switch to put at the end of the ARC path in the boot.ini that is /maxmem (article is here: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/108393)

It doesn't specifically talk about XP though it does list Server 2003

I will just go with the 2 x 2Gb for 4Gb total. That should be more than enough for the needs of the people using the system with the OS that will be running on it.

Thanks all!

If anyone else stills has thought/ideas/suggestions will gladly read those as well.

 

[taltamir]

I will be running Windows XP 32-bit and using it for gaming (HL2, CoD, etc.), web browsing and family matters.

That is a really bad idea.
There is no reason not to use win7 over winXP, win7 is faster in almost every benchmark.
There is no reson not to use 64bit over 32bit. 64bit is more secure AND it allows more ram AND it is faster.
32bit limits you to around 3GB of ram, I recommend you get 64bit and 8GB of ram.

 

[DawsonsDada]

That is a really bad idea.
There is no reason not to use win7 over winXP, win7 is faster in almost every benchmark.
There is no reson not to use 64bit over 32bit. 64bit is more secure AND it allows more ram AND it is faster.
32bit limits you to around 3GB of ram, I recommend you get 64bit and 8GB of ram.

I would MUCH PREFER to run 64-bit Windows 7 on this system, however, financial needs dictate I run what I have a license for.

It has taken me more years than I care to admit to save the money to get what I have now to replace the machine I have been using which was, literally, "rescued" from a trash bin along with it 3 predecessors.

I will definitely being moving to 64-bit when I am able too, now isn't the time though.

Thanks for the advice though!

 

[taltamir]

financial limitations are understandable.

Well, from the options you suggested I would go with 2x2GB

 

[DawsonsDada]

financial limitations are understandable.

Well, from the options you suggested I would go with 2x2GB

Thanks! I figured that was going to be the case from reading the forums hear but still like to know that I am not "completely" nuts

 

[tweakboy]

Windows XP 32bit and all 32 bit OSes only support up to 3.2GB RAM

Choose 2x2GB , but you will only see 3.2GB in Windows.

If you want more then 3.2GB then you need to switch to XP 64 bit, then you can use 4GB ram and above. gl

FYI, If you do anything with video, like convert DVD or make DVD etc.. its going to take VERY VERY long as your CPU is very weak. So you say you want to put your sons stuff and rip it,, be patient its going to take some nice time.

 

[taltamir]

Windows XP 32bit and all 32 bit OSes only support up to 3.2GB RAM

Choose 2x2GB , but you will only see 3.2GB in Windows.

Yea but the alternative is to get 2x1GB + 2x512MB and:
1. Be a few hundred megs short compared to 2x2GB
2. Have compatibility issues from using all slots and with non identical modules.
3. Consume a little more power (increasing operational costs slightly)

Considering the delta in cost between 2x2 and the 2x1+2x0.5 option it seems overall wiser to go with 2x2.

 

[razel]

I would MUCH PREFER to run 64-bit Windows 7 on this system, however, financial needs dictate I run what I have a license for.

Win7 can be run between 3 to 6 months without activation. You can even find legitimate ISOs from Microsoft online. Check the notebookreview forums. The good old slmgr -rearm command still works for 3 months. After that do the registry edit and slmgr command monthly to extend it another 3 months. You'll be able to instructions off Google easily.

If you can organize your data to simplify back ups you won't mind those 'annoyances' at all and only do an install every 6 months until you can get a new machine.

I have a cheap buddy (but has money) with an old 2004 era AMD laptop that's doing this. With 2 GB of RAM, and judicious use of sleep to RAM, his computing experience with Win7 is far better than with XP. That's with a slow a$$ 2004 era 4200 RPM HDD. Some SD flash cards are faster than that HDD!

 

[DawsonsDada]

Win7 can be run between 3 to 6 months without activation. You can even find legitimate ISOs from Microsoft online. Check the notebookreview forums. The good old slmgr -rearm command still works for 3 months. After that do the registry edit and slmgr command monthly to extend it another 3 months. You'll be able to instructions off Google easily.

If you can organize your data to simplify back ups you won't mind those 'annoyances' at all and only do an install every 6 months until you can get a new machine.

I have a cheap buddy (but has money) with an old 2004 era AMD laptop that's doing this. With 2 GB of RAM, and judicious use of sleep to RAM, his computing experience with Win7 is far better than with XP. That's with a slow a$$ 2004 era 4200 RPM HDD. Some SD flash cards are faster than that HDD!

I thought about that but my own personal code of ethics won't allow me to "bend the rules" that way. I will keep saving my change until I get the money to buy a fully licensed copy.

Thanks for the ideas though! Hadn't heard of that before but will do some reading on it