4GB DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) vs 2GB DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500)

[Washoe]

I'm going to get this motherboard:

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35

It supports up to DDR2 1066.

I want to take advantage of that DDR2-1066 ... but then, I also want 4GB memory. Unfortunately, I can't have both. I don't want to push the budget over $100 for memory.

So I'm looking at either of these sets of memory:

Patriot Viper 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) for $74.99, $60 after MIR.

and

G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) for $79.99.

I do play games sometimes and I also do a lot of web design work... with photoshop and often a bunch of adobe cs3 apps open... browser windows, ftp, email, etc. The game I am into mostly is everquest 2 but I've been known to fire up some of the latest fps games as well. Can anyone offer some advice?

Edited to add: I am planning out a pretty major system overhaul. Looking to replace motherboard, cpu, video card and memory. For cpu, most likely a mid-range Core 2 Duo and for video card something along the lines of a Radeon HD 3870

 

[Binky]

OCZ Reaper 4gb PC2-8500 (1066mhz) for $110AR
http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...8035&prodlist=celebros

 

[Zap]

4GB is much better than faster 2GB for what you are doing, IMO.

 

[Yellowbeard]

Originally posted by: Zap
4GB is much better than faster 2GB for what you are doing, IMO.

I agree 100% even on a 32 bit OS. What OS are you using or planning to use?

 

[TC91]

for ram, quantity > speed in almost every case. only under synthetic benches you will notice any notable difference in performance with the 1066 compared to the 800.

 

[imported_wired247]

In my book, you get faster RAM when your current RAM is not keeping up with your CPU overclocking goals.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Washoe
I'm going to get this motherboard:

GIGABYTE GA-P35-DS3L LGA 775 Intel P35

It supports up to DDR2 1066.

I want to take advantage of that DDR2-1066 ... but then, I also want 4GB memory. Unfortunately, I can't have both. I don't want to push the budget over $100 for memory.

So I'm looking at either of these sets of memory:

Patriot Viper 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 1066 (PC2 8500) for $74.99, $60 after MIR.

and

G.SKILL 4GB(2 x 2GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) for $79.99.

I do play games sometimes and I also do a lot of web design work... with photoshop and often a bunch of adobe cs3 apps open... browser windows, ftp, email, etc. The game I am into mostly is everquest 2 but I've been known to fire up some of the latest fps games as well. Can anyone offer some advice?

Edited to add: I am planning out a pretty major system overhaul. Looking to replace motherboard, cpu, video card and memory. For cpu, most likely a mid-range Core 2 Duo and for video card something along the lines of a Radeon HD 3870

Multiple CS3 applications open at once? get 8GB minimum! I am not kidding. Get 8GB for that. Forget the 1066, that gives you maybe a percent or two more performance. Lack of RAM SLAUGHTERS your performance.
Basically:
Faster ram gives you maybe a percent or two faster performance.
more ram then you NEED gives you NOTHING
less ram then you need makes your computer grind to a screeching painful halt.

If you do such heavy tasks as running multiple CS3 apps at once then you will be running out of ram on 4GB machines. Graphic design is the most intensive RAM chewer there is.

Originally posted by: wired247
In my book, you get faster RAM when your current RAM is not keeping up with your CPU overclocking goals.

QFT