6GB of ram is the new norm?

[Koudelka]

I've been out of the scene for roughly 2 years now. Last thing i bought was my ASUS A8V Deluxe the day it came out when it was on backorder for weeks from every website and the 8800 when it was $600+.

I've been reading a lot of articles and trying to familiarize myself again but i keep reading about 6GB, 12GB, 24GB and even 48GB RAM compatability on motherboards being released or being worked on.

I'm just curious, is 6GB the standard now for a gamer with Vista64?

2 years ago, 4GB was considered top of the line and most of the time too much. But then again... thats technology for you.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Koudelka
I'm just curious, is 6GB the standard now for a gamer with Vista64?

For Core i7 MBs (socket 1366), that have triple channel memory support, the "norm" is becoming 6GBs (3 x 2GB).
For the Core 2 Duo MBs (socket 775), that have dual channel memory support, it's still basically 4GBs (2 x 2GB).

 

[Tarrant64]

A lot of configurations coming from Dell and HP (if they're using all 4 slots) are 2x2GB and 2x1GB. Odd, but I guess it works. A lot of the AMD setups are coming like that.

 

[TexRanger]

I ordered a Core i7 Dell last week and the options were 6, 8 or 12 GB. I initially stuck with 6 but later changed it to 8 thinking I would get 2 x 4GB with 1 slot empty for an easier upgrade later, but after completing the order I found out it was 4, 2, 2 instead. Oh well.

 

[jae]

For i7 6GB is the norm. While the rest is 4GB because of the cheap prices and sweet spot performance for Vista. But I see most PC manufactures using 3GB so customers still get 32-bit OS.

 

[HumbleDan]

Are there any reasonably price 4GB DDR3 stick for sale anywhere ? Those i7 motherboard can take upto 24GB from 6 slots DIMM, but the only 4GB DDR3 stick I've seen was an ECC variant, which is alot more expensive.

 

[AstroManLuca]

Originally posted by: jae
For i7 6GB is the norm. While the rest is 4GB because of the cheap prices and sweet spot performance for Vista. But I see most PC manufactures using 3GB so customers still get 32-bit OS.

I have 32-bit Vista and my computer sees all 4 GB I have installed. It's only XP 32-bit that doesn't like more than 3 GB (3.25 GB actually - my brother recently upgraded his RAM and that's what XP saw before he installed the 64-bit version).

I thought about going to 6 GB or more but I figured it wouldn't be worth the hassle of reinstalling. I'll probably do it the next time I do a major system upgrade.

 

[Blain]

Originally posted by: Blain

For Core i7 MBs (socket 1366), that have triple channel memory support, the "norm" is becoming 6GBs (3 x 2GB).
For the Core 2 Duo MBs (socket 775), that have dual channel memory support, it's still basically 4GBs (2 x 2GB).

 

[betasub]

Originally posted by: AstroManLuca
I have 32-bit Vista and my computer sees all 4 GB I have installed. It's only XP 32-bit that doesn't like more than 3 GB (3.25 GB actually - my brother recently upgraded his RAM and that's what XP saw before he installed the 64-bit version).

AFAIK, MS "patched" Vista32 to show correctly the amount of system RAM installed (even >4GB), but that doesn't mean that the OS can address more than 4GB total (including CPU/mobo & graphics requirements). Although it probably has saved OEM helplines a lot of irate calls asking why "my new system shows only 3.xGB when i paid for 4GB".

 

[imported_Scoop]

On a 32-bit OS, 6GB is rather useless.

After reading the first post, I guess you could just as well go for 6GB as you've obviously got some cash to burn and a couple hundred won't make a difference in a Core i7 system.

 

[JackMDS]

6GB of ram is the new norm? No.

The fact that memory of this size can be installed on some platforms, and that memory is less expensive than it used to be does Not make it a Norm.

If you describe what you plan to do with your computer in functional terms, then someone can tell you whether 6GB would be useful or Not.

Because of the constant changes in computer technology buying hardware that is Not really functionally needed is Future Proofing for losing money.

 

[jae]

Originally posted by: JackMDS
6GB of ram is the new norm? No.

The fact that memory of this size can be installed on some platforms, and that memory is less expensive than it used to be does Not make it a Norm.

If you describe what you plan to do with your computer in functional terms, then someone can tell you whether 6GB would be useful or Not.

Because of the constant changes in computer technology buying hardware that is Not really functionally needed is Future Proofing for losing money.

6GB isnt the norm for i7 platforms?

 

[videogames101]

Originally posted by: jae

Originally posted by: JackMDS
6GB of ram is the new norm? No.

The fact that memory of this size can be installed on some platforms, and that memory is less expensive than it used to be does Not make it a Norm.

If you describe what you plan to do with your computer in functional terms, then someone can tell you whether 6GB would be useful or Not.

Because of the constant changes in computer technology buying hardware that is Not really functionally needed is Future Proofing for losing money.

6GB isnt the norm for i7 platforms?

6GB is the enthusiast norm because i7 has triple-channel capabilities and that requires 3 sticks of RAM, and 2GB sticks are standard.

 

[palladium]

Originally posted by: videogames101

Originally posted by: jae

Originally posted by: JackMDS
6GB of ram is the new norm? No.

The fact that memory of this size can be installed on some platforms, and that memory is less expensive than it used to be does Not make it a Norm.

If you describe what you plan to do with your computer in functional terms, then someone can tell you whether 6GB would be useful or Not.

Because of the constant changes in computer technology buying hardware that is Not really functionally needed is Future Proofing for losing money.

6GB isnt the norm for i7 platforms?

6GB is the enthusiast norm because i7 has triple-channel capabilities and that requires 3 sticks of RAM, and 2GB sticks are standard.

Lol, true enthusiasts get 12GB ( 6*2GB), admittedly it's pretty much useless unless you have several VMs running at any one instance.