How much ram exactly is my system using here?

[BentValve]

Based on a few recommendations from a few Everquest 2 players I upgraded from 512mb to 2gbs of ram.

Some say I bought way more than I need and some say its a nice amount.


This looks like I am using almost a gb of ram and I am not even in a busy area plus I just got started.
Though I am not sure how windows reports the used ram so it may be using less.
The only program running is Everquest in this screenshot..

LINK


I am looking for more advice because I could always sell a gb of ram and take that money and put it into something else.

 

[gobucks]

I doubt that you'll notice any difference between the two. In a year or 2, that may change with new games. Of course, it depends on how many sticks you're using and whether or not you're using dual channel. If you're running dual channel, then going with 1 stick will drop performance. Of course, you could sell both sticks and get a pair of 512MB modules, which would be better for dual channel, and probably for latencies as well. However, if you have 4 sticks, then definitely get rid of 2 of them. You'll save some dough, plus you can run your memory at full speed and with good timings (most mobos drop down to DDR333 with 4 sticks, plus have to use relaxed 2T memory timings), which might actually be faster. My personal opinion with something like ram is that if you don't need it, don't buy it. Buying ram for "future proofing" is pretty pointless. By the time you need the extra memory, it's likely that it will be cheaper, more overclockable, and have better timings. If you save $200 or so, put that money away, and put it towards a memory upgrade later down the road.

 

[BentValve]

I have 4 x512mb sticks, both pairs in dual channel operation and it appears to still be at 400 according the the benches I have done.


Its just Corsair Value ram so 2 x 512mb sticks were well under $200 so I am not out a whole lot...but if there is any chance it will be of any use then I may as well keep it...if not then I guess Ill sell it or put in in my other PC.

 

[James3shin]

i really don't think 2gigs will make a noticeable improvement, a better graphics card would have been alot more substantiable.

 

[gwai lo]

two gigs of RAM is overkill for pretty much anything...

 

[mechBgon]

Look at your Peak Commit Charge there. Looks to me like your pals might've been correct about 2GB being useful.

 

[BentValve]

Yes I think so, Windows XP gladly took a good dollop off the top of that new ram and still left enough for the game to take whatever it wants.

I am glad I went with 2 gigs after all. 🙂

 

[Adul]

Originally posted by: gobucks
I doubt that you'll notice any difference between the two. In a year or 2, that may change with new games. Of course, it depends on how many sticks you're using and whether or not you're using dual channel. If you're running dual channel, then going with 1 stick will drop performance. Of course, you could sell both sticks and get a pair of 512MB modules, which would be better for dual channel, and probably for latencies as well. However, if you have 4 sticks, then definitely get rid of 2 of them. You'll save some dough, plus you can run your memory at full speed and with good timings (most mobos drop down to DDR333 with 4 sticks, plus have to use relaxed 2T memory timings), which might actually be faster. My personal opinion with something like ram is that if you don't need it, don't buy it. Buying ram for "future proofing" is pretty pointless. By the time you need the extra memory, it's likely that it will be cheaper, more overclockable, and have better timings. If you save $200 or so, put that money away, and put it towards a memory upgrade later down the road.

where do you get this speed dropping down for memory? timings yes, but ram speed...

 

[Matthias99]

Originally posted by: Adul

Originally posted by: gobucks
I doubt that you'll notice any difference between the two. In a year or 2, that may change with new games. Of course, it depends on how many sticks you're using and whether or not you're using dual channel. If you're running dual channel, then going with 1 stick will drop performance. Of course, you could sell both sticks and get a pair of 512MB modules, which would be better for dual channel, and probably for latencies as well. However, if you have 4 sticks, then definitely get rid of 2 of them. You'll save some dough, plus you can run your memory at full speed and with good timings (most mobos drop down to DDR333 with 4 sticks, plus have to use relaxed 2T memory timings), which might actually be faster. My personal opinion with something like ram is that if you don't need it, don't buy it. Buying ram for "future proofing" is pretty pointless. By the time you need the extra memory, it's likely that it will be cheaper, more overclockable, and have better timings. If you save $200 or so, put that money away, and put it towards a memory upgrade later down the road.

where do you get this speed dropping down for memory? timings yes, but ram speed...

Some chipsets can't run at DDR400 speeds (or aren't guaranteed to run above DDR333) with four RAM sticks. Intel's more recent ones (like the 865 and 875 variants) can only do it with single-sided DIMMs -- if you install four double-sided DIMMS, it forces it to DDR333.

I believe the memory controller in the A64 is only guaranteed to do DDR333 with four DIMMs installed (although most seem to do DDR400 in that configuration without a problem).

 

[uOpt]

Well, you know the Win2K system monitor displays RAM usage for you?

It's not anywhere as useful as the Unix-based ones, only dispaying the total, but it will be good enough to tell what you want.

 

[Sideswipe001]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Look at your Peak Commit Charge there. Looks to me like your pals might've been correct about 2GB being useful.

Yep, after looking at that screen shot, I wouldn't get rid of any RAM. Amazing how hungry games are getting. But EQ2 doesn't surprise me as being a memory hog.

 

[Cook1]

Haven't read the other posts, but for EQ2, no 2 gigs is NOT overkill. I haven't been able to purchase it myself yet, but for EQ1 I had 1.5 gigs and ran everything on high.