How much memory is enough?

[BentValve]

I never though I would ask this but I want to buy some higher quality memory for my mobo.
Right now I have 512mb of PC2100 , its ok if you don't press it too hard but I want some XMS 3500 or so.

I play UT2K3 and a few other graphic intensive games and have my motherboard set at 128mb apature.

I might run Kaaza , one webpage and Photoshop at the same time but that is about the extent of my multitasking.
I also run a few other programs in the background like Asus Probe, Pop-up ad filter etc.

Right now I am running just this page and my background stuff .

Although right now I am only using 256K of my memory just to see if its enough........now it reads:
Total 261664
Available 103712
cache 115556

Funny but it seems when I have the 512mb in the system it uses more to run this same set of programs. Does Windows XP have some sort of memory saving ability in case you have less than the desired amount?
Say I had 1024mb of ram...would XP just pig out on ram and go nuts?

I would like to able to get a single stick of Corsair XMS 3500 and call it a day but if I have to have 512mb then that is what I have to have.

THanks in advance.

 

[CrazySaint]

What CPU do you have? Motherboard? Do you plan on overclocking? PC3500 is probably overkill as you will likely not be able to take full advantage of it.

 

[BentValve]

I just need memory that can work at a high FSB with ram timings 2.0cas , 2,2 and 5....

If I run both of my 256mb sticks (one is Kingston one is Crucial) I can run with the above timings but the FSB has to be under 140mhz

I I run just the Crucial I can get the FSB to 146mhz and keep the above timings but its not the most stable.

Right now I am running 140fsb with the single Crucial stick and the above timings........it run really well and I am getting a solid 9400 3D Marks ...I would like to bump
up my FSB to around 150mhz so that is why I am looking at getting some better memory.

 

[WTT0001]

Remember, PC2700 can handle up to 166Mhz Bus within spec (it is rated at 166Mhz). If you want to get to 150Mhz, PC2700 is plenty.

My recommendation is to pick up 512Mb or more of Corsair 2700 or Samsung 2700.

 

[CaptnKirk]

You wil be constrained by the slower of the two RAM's in the system. Crucial PC2100 should run up to about 145, which would be about 10% over its design an yield a
DDR rate of about 290-295. The Crucial PC2700 starts at 166 design, but should be able to run the 10% over to 183, and yeild a DDR rate of about 386, but I have heard
that it can reach as high as 395. The Samsung will occasionaly hit the 400 mark, so that is why Samsung is being handpicked and rel-abled as "Other" performance RAM.

 

[Woody419]

Originally posted by: BentValve


Funny but it seems when I have the 512mb in the system it uses more to run this same set of programs. Does Windows XP have some sort of memory saving ability in case you have less than the desired amount?
Say I had 1024mb of ram...would XP just pig out on ram and go nuts?

Well yes, sort of. Memory is there to use. What good would it be if you had 1024Mb and Windows never used it? You should be happy Windows is using all the memory available. Less hdd paging. Much faster response. Windows XP is much more advanced than DOS, where you needed to reserve enough memory or a program would not start.

 

[CrazySaint]

Originally posted by: BentValve
I just need memory that can work at a high FSB with ram timings 2.0cas , 2,2 and 5....

If I run both of my 256mb sticks (one is Kingston one is Crucial) I can run with the above timings but the FSB has to be under 140mhz

I I run just the Crucial I can get the FSB to 146mhz and keep the above timings but its not the most stable.

Right now I am running 140fsb with the single Crucial stick and the above timings........it run really well and I am getting a solid 9400 3D Marks ...I would like to bump
up my FSB to around 150mhz so that is why I am looking at getting some better memory.

Unless you've got a P4 and want to use the memory dividers, some good PC2700 should be plenty. Remember, that PC3500 is DDR433 or 217MHz FSB, so if all you want is straight 150MHz FSB PC3500 is HUGE overkill. The only exception is if you plan on upgrading to a 400MHz FSB Barton or 667/800MHz FSB Prescott and plan on recycling parts from your current system.