A simple question about memory

[SamzAthlon]

Hi,

Im currently running on PC3200 DDR400 1gb Corsair Value Select 2.5CL (512x2). I have 2 additional slots free for upgrade and was wondering what are my best options? I play a lot of BF2 and need 2gb ram. I know someone already asked a similar question, but noone responded.

1) Should I put one additional 1gb Corsair 3CL?
OR
2) two more of the same 512 dimms I have already have?
or
3) Put a different brand like kingston? Would different timmings of other brands matter if I do combinations?

thanks

Sam

 

[tRaptor]

Originally posted by: SamzAthlon
I play a lot of BF2 and need 2gb ram.

I would say you need a new video card before you need another GB of ram. I've been playing on a X800XL with only 768mb and it runs great with most settings maxed. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Mogadon]

I'd probably get a new video card before adding RAM too.

If you want to get the RAM, the perfect solution would be to by 2*1GB sticks and sell your present RAM, that way you won't have to drop the command rate to 2T, which is a substantial performance loss. I don't know how having 2*512MB and 1GB sticks would work out, though I imagine it would be better to have another 2*512MB sticks so you can run in dual-channel, maybe someone else can give you more info regarding that option.

Regarding the timings - you cannot have different sticks running at different timings, the RAM will run at the slowest timings (or whatever you set as long as it can). You're generally less likely to have compatibility issues running the same type of RAM together although you may well be fine running different brands / models.

 

[SamzAthlon]

9800xt might not sound much, but I can pull out 55 avg fps on high settings 1024x768. Its the loading time which is slow, thats why I need 2gb ram.

 

[tRaptor]

Is there a reson you think that it'll make that much difference? I dont have any experience in the load time problems of BF2 but I would think that the HD is your bottleneck there

 

[SamzAthlon]

Originally posted by: Mogadon
I imagine it would be better to have another 2*512MB sticks so you can run in dual-channel, maybe someone else can give you more info regarding that option.

Regarding the timings - you cannot have different sticks running at different timings, the RAM will run at the slowest timings (or whatever you set as long as it can). You're generally less likely to have compatibility issues running the same type of RAM together although you may well be fine running different brands / models.

That rules out the corsair 1gb CL3 one stick module. Then maybe I might as well get 2 more identical modules even though it will max out my motherboard slots for future upgrades. I cant sell these man, I just bought this a few months back...lol

Thanks for you replies

 

[SamzAthlon]

Originally posted by: tRaptor
Is there a reson you think that it'll make that much difference? I dont have any experience in the load time problems of BF2 but I would think that the HD is your bottleneck there

I dont think its the harddrive. The loading time is poor because the game starts to page on the harddrive when the system runs out of ram. Even if you have the fastest sata harddrive and low ram there is no way it can make up for the ram speed.

 

[Mogadon]

Originally posted by: SamzAthlon

That rules out the corsair 1gb CL3 one stick module. Then maybe I might as well get 2 more identical modules even though it will max out my motherboard slots for future upgrades. I cant sell these man, I just bought this a few months back...lol

But effectively you wouldn't be selling them, as long as you could get a decent price for them you'd effectively be "trading" them, if you get what I mean. From what I understand you're saying that the 2GB helps with the loading times in BF2, while this may be true (I don't know) you'd actually be sacrificing in game performance with the drop in command rate from 1T to 2T.

 

[SamzAthlon]

Originally posted by: Mogadon

Originally posted by: SamzAthlon

That rules out the corsair 1gb CL3 one stick module. Then maybe I might as well get 2 more identical modules even though it will max out my motherboard slots for future upgrades. I cant sell these man, I just bought this a few months back...lol

But effectively you wouldn't be selling them, as long as you could get a decent price for them you'd effectively be "trading" them, if you get what I mean. From what I understand you're saying that the 2GB helps with the loading times in BF2, while this may be true (I don't know) you'd actually be sacrificing in game performance with the drop in command rate from 1T to 2T.

Wait, isnt my system already on 2T? I thought whenever you have more than 1 module in the mobo, the system automatically goes on 2T? I dont know beyond this. I check bios and it reports auto settings on 1T/2T.

 

[Mogadon]

I am certain that it is only when running 4 sticks that the 1T command rate cannot be acheived, that is why so many people recommend running 2*1GB as opposed to 4*512MB. Running 2 sticks you should be running 1T, check it in CPU-Z, if you're not running 1T try and change it in the BIOS, hopefully your memory will handle it OK.

 

[Shenkoa]

Read this.

 

[Ryland]

I upped my 2x512MB sticks of GEIL Value memory to 4x512 and was able to run at DDR400 2T on my motherboard. Im do have 2x1GB sticks of OCZ Platinum memory on the way to drop back down to 1T. I did have to go into the bios and change it back to DDR400 from DDR333.