Advantages of having > 1GB Ram?

[UptheMiddle]

Currently, I have 1 GB of RAM. Is there any advantage to going beyond that if I just use my computer for serious gaming?

If a person is using dual channel DDR RAM at 1GB (2x512MB), if more RAM is added, does that also have to be the pricey stuff in order to utilize the dual channel capabilities? The RAM in question is Kingston HyperX DDR400.

I realize the performance gains don't translate into superb %age speed increases, but lets say another 512MB were added as one stick, is all the RAM now seen as NOT being dual channel? Or would it be best just to add 2x256MB worth of the same HyperX RAM?


My sys:
Athlon XP 3000+ 400Mhz FSB
1 GB HyperX RAM DDR400
FX 5700Ultra
Gigabyte GA-7N400-L1 MB (4 RAM slots, 2 dual channel sets)

Thanks!

 

[screw3d]

I think current games are perfectly fine with 1GB, and many would be in the near future.

If gaming is all you are considering, save you $$$ and stay with 1GB.

 

[pspada]

I've got 1.5 gig of PC3200 in dual channel with my 3000+ @ 11.5x200 - so my system powns you! Seriously though, every bit helps the enhance performance by some tiny margin - so I'd have 3 gigs if I could justify it as a business expense - but my accountant won't hear of it. Unless I upgrade his machine up from 256Mb first.

Like money, you can never have too much memory. I mean, what possible downside is there?

 

[Elcs]

Originally posted by: pspada
Like money, you can never have too much memory. I mean, what possible downside is there?

No money to buy other parts perhaps?

 

[BlueWeasel]

Definately save your money or use it to upgrade another part of the system. The increase in performance from the extra RAM over 1gb would be marginal, and I doubt you'd even be able to tell a difference.

 

[lifeguard1999]

For gaming? There is no benefit to having more than 1 GB of memory right now. However, for video editing, photoshop, etc., then more is better.

 

[TGHI]

512 does me just fine for games, photoshop and divx encoding - I could go higher, but based on cost versus performance gained, there's not a big enough margin for me to justify it.


TGHI

 

[joe2004]

There is very little gain in terms of application use, unless you are using editing movies and such.
It is also not easy to find motherboard that can stable handle non-ECC memory of more than 1 Gig, in fact you are likely to see decrease in performance as far as timings and bank conflicts go.
If your intention is registered ram, like the one for 940 socket then the story is different, though that is very expensive investment.

 

[WobbleWobble]

I didn't notice much improvement going from 512MB to 1GB of RAM myself.

Also, don't worry about keeping your RAM in dual-channel configuration. The performance difference is minimal. I believe your board has 4 slots and it's risky running 4 RAM slots as it's difficult for motherboard makers to implement successfully so you may have some funny errors.

 

[joe2004]

Also, don't worry about keeping your RAM in dual-channel configuration. The performance difference is minimal.

That is for AMD. On Intel boards the difference is huge.

 

[WobbleWobble]

Originally posted by: joe2004

Also, don't worry about keeping your RAM in dual-channel configuration. The performance difference is minimal.

That is for AMD. On Intel boards the difference is huge.

And he is using an AMD chip, an Athlon XP 3000+.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: lifeguard1999
For gaming? There is no benefit to having more than 1 GB of memory right now. However, for video editing, photoshop, etc., then more is better.

I agree with lifeguard. I've got 1GB and I don't see any excessive swap file usage.

 

[edmundoab]

users having 1GB compared to 512MB have noted some performance increase for windows XP.
but I dont know for more then 1GB. Like the guys said... unless you want to use it for video editing and what not. then it will make a difference

 

[vshah]

2gb...i'd only get it for bragging rights, cause some loser in my dorm has 1.5gb of pc100, and thinks he is better than me

-Vivan

 

[JackBurton]

When you run a VMWare session with Windows 2003 Server, I would recommend nothing less than 1GB.

 

[Mav3N]

id save the 200 bucks ud spend on more quality ram and spend it on raptor 10000 rpm sata hd

that give more noticeable performance than any memory upgrade over 1gig

 

[BlueWeasel]

Originally posted by: vshah
...cause some loser in my dorm has 1.5gb of pc100, and thinks he is better than me

-Vivan

You're joking, right? PC100?

 

[mikela78]

If anything there is a small performance hit going from 1GB to 2GB. I think this is because the task of addressing the larger space is given to the CPU in unregistered DIMMS. Also, you won't be able to overclock as high with 4x512MB, it puts a huge strain on the northbridge. This lostcircuits page gives some actual benchmarks for a Pentium 3.2GHz with 2x512MB and 4x512MB configurations in a gaming context: http://www.lostcircuits.com/memory/2gb/4.shtml

I'll probably be able to tell you myself soon enough. My memory arrives tomorrow and I'll have 3GB total, just enough for serious CAD and 3Dfx...

 

[myocardia]

Originally posted by: mikela78
If anything there is a small performance hit going from 1GB to 2GB. I think this is because the task of addressing the larger space is given to the CPU in unregistered DIMMS. Also, you won't be able to overclock as high with 4x512MB, it puts a huge strain on the northbridge. This lostcircuits page gives some actual benchmarks for a Pentium 3.2GHz with 2x512MB and 4x512MB configurations in a gaming context: link to lostcircuits article on having more than 1GB of ram.

I'll probably be able to tell you myself soon enough. My memory arrives tomorrow and I'll have 3GB total, just enough for serious CAD and 3Dfx...

Just thought I'd make your "link" into an actual link.